Corus International joins the Agribusiness Market Ecosystem Alliance (AMEA) to promote the professionalization of smallholder farmer organizations

BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON—Corus International is proud to announce that it has joined the Agribusiness Market Ecosystem Alliance (AMEA), a global network dedicated to accelerating the development of professional farmer organizations reaching over 11 million smallholder farmers in more than 80 countries.

The professionalization of farmer organizations is one of the cornerstones of Corus’ rural economic development and livelihoods strategy. In addition to partnering with cooperatives and other farmer associations to achieve this end through its subsidiary Lutheran World Relief, Corus undertakes impact investing to spur systemic change in the agricultural sector though its subsidiary, Ground Up Investing.

“Corus International views smallholder supply chains as a critical link in alleviating rural poverty and bolstering the potential of enterprise-led development,” said Paul Macek, associate vice president and senior technical director for rural economic development and livelihoods. “We look forward to interacting with the AMEA membership to exchange learning and tools that can improve our current capacities in impact investment and rural livelihoods. We are especially focused on smallholder-dominated commodities such as coffee, cocoa, and sesame in Latin America and Africa.”

In line with its REAL strategy, Corus identifies and supports market players that have the motivation and ability to influence market systems in favor of marginalized farmers and rural communities. Social enterprises like farmer organizations can generate the most direct benefits for the small-scale farmers they represent as facilitators of improved access to resources, knowledge and buyers. Corus builds the capacities of farmer organizations to effectively intermediate between farmers, local and international buyers and auxiliary service providers to address the market issues that keep many farm families living in poverty.

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Corus International is the parent of a family of long-serving organizations committed to ending poverty and building healthy communities in the world’s most challenging places. Drawing on a heritage of nearly 150 years, Corus connects and catalyzes non-profit and for-profit subsidiaries that include Lutheran World Relief, IMA World Health, Charlie Goldsmith Associates, Ground Up Investing and LWR Farmers Market Coffee. Alongside communities in fragile settings, their dedicated experts integrate disciplines, approaches and people to grow local economies, eliminate extreme poverty, ensure access to quality health care, mitigate climate change and respond to humanitarian crises.