Bunge, a leading global agribusiness and food solutions company connecting farmers with consumers across the world, is expanding its Global Volunteer Program following its recent merger with Viterra. The company’s expanded initiative marks a renewed commitment to tackling hunger and strengthening community resilience in honor of World Food Day 2025.
Under the theme “Hand in Hand,” Bunge employees across the globe are dedicating the month of October to advancing food security and supporting the communities where they live and work. This year’s expanded program takes place across 148 cities in 26 countries, bringing together thousands of volunteers and over 100 community organizations in a coordinated effort to reduce hunger, waste, and inequality in food systems.
Empowering Communities Through Local Action
At the heart of Bunge’s Global Volunteer Program lies the belief that food security begins at the community level. Employees collaborate with local organizations, food banks, and charities to provide tangible support for families in need. From food drives and charity cookouts to educational workshops and urban garden projects, Bunge’s volunteers are using their expertise and compassion to build stronger, more sustainable local food systems.
In Hungary, where Bunge operates an oil pressing and refining facility in Martfű, employees organized a series of community-centered activities that reflect this hands-on approach. Workers from Bunge’s Martfű and Budapest offices launched their third annual non-perishable food collection, rallying employees to contribute essential food items to local families.
To amplify the impact, Bunge itself donated its Vénusz brand sunflower cooking oil, a staple product in Hungarian households, to ensure families received nutritious ingredients alongside the collected food. On October 17, the donations were officially handed over to the Martfű group of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, a long-standing partner organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable groups.
Cooking with Compassion: Nourishing Families Together
Building on the success of previous initiatives, Bunge colleagues from Budapest and Martfű also participated in a charity cookout on October 21, in collaboration with the Hungarian Food Bank Association. This event marked the second consecutive year of the charity cookout, following its positive reception in 2024.
During the event, employees joined hands to prepare and serve fresh, nutritious meals to local residents facing food insecurity. The 2025 cookout specifically supported the Szarvas Family and Child Welfare Center, providing warm meals and a sense of connection for families struggling to make ends meet.
“This event has become a meaningful tradition for our teams,” said one of the Bunge volunteers. “It allows us to not only provide food but also share kindness, dignity, and solidarity with the people who make up the communities where we work.”
Global Impact Through Collective Effort
Since its launch in 2022, Bunge’s World Food Day Global Volunteer Program has grown from a regional initiative into a worldwide movement of employee-driven impact. Hundreds of volunteer events have been organized across continents—from Latin America and Europe to Asia and North America—each tailored to address local food security challenges.
The expansion following the Bunge–Viterra merger has further strengthened the company’s ability to reach more communities, combining two global networks of employees, partners, and supply chains under one shared purpose: ensuring that everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
Through partnerships with food recovery organizations, agricultural cooperatives, and local NGOs, Bunge is helping to reduce food waste, improve nutrition education, and support community-based farming initiatives. These collaborations amplify the effect of individual volunteer actions, turning them into long-lasting change across the food system.
A Commitment Rooted in Shared Values
“World Food Day reminds us that when we work hand in hand with our communities, we can make a real difference,” said Gabriella Herzog, Bunge’s Director of Global Social Impact. “We embody our value of ‘Our actions are driven by compliance’ by uniting an even larger global team to address the key challenge of food security. It is inspiring to see our colleagues around the world dedicating their time and energy to supporting food security. Their actions reflect not only our values but also a shared belief that building stronger food systems starts locally, with each of us contributing where we can.”
Herzog’s message underscores the essence of Bunge’s corporate responsibility strategy: empowering employees to take direct, meaningful action while aligning volunteerism with the company’s long-term sustainability goals.
Bunge’s global teams are encouraged to identify and address the most pressing local needs—whether that means supporting rural farmers, distributing surplus food, or teaching communities about sustainable nutrition and agriculture. This decentralized approach ensures that each initiative is relevant, effective, and rooted in genuine community engagement.
Celebrating World Food Day: A Global Call to Action
Observed every year on October 16, World Food Day is an international day designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to raise awareness and inspire action on food security, hunger, and sustainable agriculture.
For Bunge, the day is more than a date on the calendar—it’s an opportunity to reaffirm its role as a connector between farmers, food producers, and consumers. The company uses this global moment to remind stakeholders of the urgent need to create equitable and resilient food systems capable of feeding a growing population amid climate challenges and economic pressures.
By participating in World Food Day activities across six continents, Bunge demonstrates that large-scale change can start with simple acts of generosity and collaboration. Each meal served, each bag of food donated, and each volunteer hour contributes to a broader mission: ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against hunger.
Building a Sustainable Future Together
Bunge’s commitment to food security extends beyond its volunteer initiatives. The company continues to invest in sustainable sourcing, regenerative agriculture, and innovative supply chain solutions designed to make the global food system more efficient and resilient.
Through partnerships with farmers and cooperatives, Bunge promotes responsible agricultural practices that protect soil health, conserve water, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions—ensuring that future generations can thrive on a sustainable planet.
The Global Volunteer Program complements these long-term goals by engaging employees directly in the communities that sustain Bunge’s business. Whether through local food drives or international partnerships, the company’s message remains consistent: true sustainability requires shared responsibility.
As World Food Day 2025 shines a light on the global hunger crisis, Bunge’s volunteers are proving that meaningful change starts with people who care. Through compassion, collaboration, and collective action, the company’s employees are not only feeding families but also nurturing hope, community, and the belief that together, the world can build a future free from hunger.
Source link:https://bunge.com/
