FAO and the Kuehne Foundation join forces to support rural livelihoods through improved logistics


“With logistics you can move and change the world”, Kuehne Foundation Managing Director says

02/10/2014 - 

FAO and the Kuehne Foundation, the Swiss-based foundation focusing on training, education and research in the field of transport and logistics, are committing to cooperation in capacity building and knowledge exchange in logistics for agriculture - in emergencies and for development of efficient food and agricultural systems.   

A memorandum of understanding signed today by FAO’s Director of Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division (AGS), Eugenia Serova, and the Managing Director of the Kuehne Foundation, Martin Willhaus, sets a broad framework of programmes to: 1) alleviate suffering of populations affected by the growing number of crises, ranging from natural disasters to conflicts, that impact food security; and 2) assist multiple actors of food supply chains improve mechanisms to deliver quality and safe food to consumers. This will be achieved mainly through capacity building activities for FAO staff and partners, who will receive the support of Kuehne Foundation logistics specialists to improve the logistics systems in FAO country operations.

“This is a key collaboration to reduce food insecurity; we cannot do it alone,” remarked Director Eugenia Serova. “We need each other’s expertise in order to strengthen the inclusiveness and efficiency of agro-food systems, to support efforts to reduce food losses and waste, as well as to implement programmes to improve food supply chains to rapidly expanding urban areas” she added. 

“This is an opportunity to learn from each other to reduce costs and improve the systemic problems that affect growth in developing nations. The food industry will need logistics to save costs and increase efficiency in moving things along, and we are here with FAO to make it happen,” Willhaus added.

The organizations’ combined efforts will include capacity development activities on logistics in developing countries for humanitarian emergency preparedness and development of programmes for optimal food systems, also in  urban areas.

FAO Director of Emergency and Rehabilitation Division Dominique Burgeon reaffirmed Kuehne’s role in responding to adversity: “This partnership complements FAO’s efforts to increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises. With the Kuehne Foundation’s support, we will increase FAO’s capacity to respond to crises and emergencies worldwide by ensuring that key inputs arrive on time and that trained staff are on the spot”.

About the Kuehne Foundation

Kühne-Stiftung (“Kuehne Foundation”) is a private foundation established by the Kühne family in Switzerland in 1976. The deed of the foundation is the support for training, further education, scholarships and research in the fields of transport and logistics as well as the support for medical sciences, humanitarian, charitable and cultural projects.