For the crater good: food execs trek volcano for Farm Africa

This January, 13 leading food industry figures will leave the UK to face a gruelling seven-day hike up and across Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano that straddles the Uganda-Kenya border, to raise funds for Farm Africa.

The group, which is led by Farm Africa Chair Richard Macdonald CBE, is flying out on Friday 26 January. Along the way, the team will visit Farm Africa projects in both Uganda and Kenya to see first-hand how the money they raise will positively impact the lives of farming families in eastern Africa.

“This trek will be one of the most physically demanding challenges many of us will face in our lifetimes. But we’ll be spurred on every step of the way in the knowledge our efforts will help families in rural Africa escape poverty,” said Richard Macdonald. “It’s fantastic to see leading figures of the UK food industry unite to show such strong support for Farm Africa’s vision of a prosperous rural Africa.”

Upon arrival, the group will travel to Teso sub-region in eastern Uganda to visit Farm Africa’s Sweet potatoes for prosperity project. The food industry experts will meet local farmers working with Farm Africa, and gain an insight into how the organisation is helping local people earn more from their agricultural efforts through improved production, post-harvest handling and marketing of vitamin A rich orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.

The group will then embark on the six-day hike up Mount Elgon. The 100-kilometre route, which will have never been walked before, will take them through the thick montane forest, into deep gorges and up the mountain’s four peaks and into Kenya. The trek will be mentally and physically challenging, with the team sleeping in tents along the way, carrying heavy bags and walking at high altitudes. Between them, the team aims to raise £100,000 for Farm Africa.

Stefanie Pfeil, Farm Africa’s Director of External Relations, added: “We’re thrilled to have the dedicated support of the UK food industry for Farm Africa’s work bringing long-lasting change for farmers in eastern Africa. I extend our heartfelt thanks to all the trekkers for taking on such a gruelling challenge to raise funds to help smallholder farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more, while protecting the environment for generations to come.”

To wrap up their trip, the team will visit Farm Africa’s Growing Futures project, which is funded by Aldi UK. The visit will enable Jon Neale, Aldi’s Managing Director of Buying, to personally meet some of the young farmers who are being given support to develop profitable horticulture businesses and see the difference the project is making to their lives.