The Foodgrains Bank is a multi-denominational agency that raises money for food projects in Third World countries. Some of the fundraisers are grow projects, which involve local farmer volunteers using corporate donations of agricultural inputs. The crops are sold and the proceeds may be matched by the federal government on a 4-to-1 basis for humanitarian work, up to $25 million per year.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank had a multi-year partnership with Viterra. It would match donations of $5 a tonne to the crop donations directed by the producer to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Viterra also allowed Foodgrains Bank volunteers to use small plots of land it owned to grow grain for the charity. Three of those plots were in Saskatchewan: 60 acres each at Balgonie and Raymore, as well as 16 acres at Grenfell. In Alberta, there was 95 acres at Lethbridge and 36 at Trochu.

Last year, the merger between Viterra and Bunge received regulatory approval.  Christina Philips is the Foodgrains Bank Director of Resources and Public Engagement.

Philips says the five grow projects on the donated Viterra land generated about $80,000 to $85,000 annually for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.