William Jackson helps improve food security in Malawi

The Hull-based food firm, which owns Abel & Cole, Aunt Bessie’s, Jackson’s Bakery and MyFresh, said the project will help a community of up to 1,000 farmers become self-sufficient by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and equipment needed to create a sustainable livelihood through organic farming techniques.

​Norman Soutar, chief executive of William Jackson, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, so to be able to apply our expertise to the important pursuit of food security in Malawi is a powerful use of our knowledge and skills.”

The first set of funds will be used to buy seeds and livestock, as well as start training programmes. The planning process has been in place for more than a year, and a dedicated project manager from ​William Jackson​ has visited Malawi to ensure the initiative will deliver tangible, long-lasting results for the village.

Working alongside The Cooperative College and Malawi Organic Growers Association, ​William Jackson said the project will deliver substantial benefits for the Ntcheun people.

In the short-term, the goal is to ​give​ farmers the knowledge and support to become self-sufficient in producing their own food within the next 12 months.

“Corporate social responsibility is so much more than simply being a responsible business – with projects like this one demonstrating the positive humanitarian effect we can achieve too​,” said Mr Soutar​. ​“​To be able to help those less fortunate and empower them with the means to improve their lives is something we’re immensely proud to be implementing.”