Concerns related to food touch all our lives deeply and personally. Food shapes people’s sense of dignity; its scarcity can breed conflict and violence; its distribution raises issues of justice; it can threaten communities and individuals; and impacts environmental sustainability — all are part of MMA’s Stewardship Investing Core Values.

MMA has been in recent dialogue with food companies regarding the safety and security of their supply chain. MMA co-filed a resolution with Yum! Brands in December, calling for a thorough sustainability report on the company’s supply chain. MMA withdrew the resolution in April due to the Yum!’s responsiveness and willingness to dialogue. Yum! Brands is the parent company of fast food restaurants including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Long John Silvers.

MMA met with Hormel managers in February to discuss their latest sustainability report and suggest improvements, and help strategize about ways to decrease energy use and pollution. MMA also has continuing conversations with ConAgra management about improving the environmental impact of their operations. Hormel and ConAgra are two of the nation’s largest food corporations, owning hundreds of household food brands.

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