Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA
October 30, 2014

• Organization helps farmers in Africa work toward self sufficiency
• Mama Ada mission consistent with aims of The Good Growth Plan from Syngenta
• Initiative connects churches, schools, leaders and friends in Kenya and the United States

Syngenta Seeds, Inc. President and Syngenta Region Director-North America Ponsi Trivisvavet has joined the board of The Mama Ada Foundation. The organization, located in Hopkins, Minnesota, creates education and entrepreneurship opportunities and provides seed and tuition funds for people living in the Rift Valley Province in Kenya.

Based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Trivisvavet has a uniquely global perspective on agriculture having most recently served as head of Syngenta’s Southeast Asia territory, where she led agricultural business operations in five major countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Trivisvavet’s primary focus is on leading the Syngenta team in marketing and development of solutions for North American farmers.

“The Mama Ada Foundation is instrumental in helping farmers and students in the Rift Valley Province work toward self-sufficiency,” Trivisvavet said. “Over 2.5 billion people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Smallholder farmers are critical to the world’s food security, yet they often face high financial risks and low returns. Ensuring that farming is a viable and attractive occupation will help to create vibrant, productive rural communities.”

Syngenta first announced a partnership with The Mama Ada Foundation during 2012, responding to a need for funding to provide seed to local farmers. The Mama Ada Foundation was recently awarded a $20,000 grant from Syngenta to pilot a new diagnostic process tool aimed at identifying the local barriers to empowering smallholders and improving rural communities.

"We heartily welcome Ms. Trivisvavet to our board at The Mama Ada Foundation and are grateful for her passion to work on behalf of small-scale farmers around the world,” said Julie Keller, President of The Mama Ada Foundation. “The farmers living near Mama Ada in Kenya have faced exceedingly difficult obstacles to an adequate harvest, especially these past few years. Ms. Trivisvavet brings knowledge of the constraints they face, as well as ideas for ways they might achieve increased food security for their families."

For more information about Syngenta visit www.syngenta-us.com. For more information about The Mama Ada Foundation visit www.mamaadafoundation.org. Join the conversation online – connect with us at social.SyngentaUS.com.

About Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers, we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us, please go to www.syngenta.com.

About The Mama Ada Foundation
The vision of The Mama Ada Foundation is to release the Rift Valley Province in Kenya from the bonds of poverty. The foundation’s mission is to stimulate economic development; creating education and entrepreneurship opportunities for people living in the Rift Valley by joining hands with churches, schools, leaders and friends in Kenya and the United States. For more information about The Mama Ada Foundation please go to www.mamaadafoundation.org. 
 

Website: http://www.syngenta-us.com/home.aspx

Published: October 30, 2014