WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA - In June 2020, Dole launched The Dole Promise, with which the company has driven both global awareness and immediate action with initiatives that will support strategic partnerships and innovation. On February 24, 2021, Dole held a virtual event during which company leadership discussed their forward-looking strategies. To get the inside scoop, I had a chance to chat with Pier Luigi Sigismondi, President.

“Last month, we introduced The Sunshine for All Fund to support global strategic partnerships and innovation in the crucial areas of sustainability, food access, and waste,” Pier began. “We invited media and influencers from around the globe to join us and our partner, Forum for the Future, to discuss the growing systemic issue of food insecurity and the actions we all can take globally to address this.”

Pier told me that collaboration with external partners is the key to unlocking not only The Dole Promise, but true systemic change. The company will invest in the best thinking around the globe to ensure it is driving tangible solutions and supporting strategic partnerships to address the global barriers to good nutrition.

“We’re looking for partners from entrepreneurs, start-ups, and strategic thinkers to social impact enterprises and NGOs to bring their expertise in food production, nutritional science, compostable packaging, supply chain, logistics, sustainable agriculture, and fast-moving consumer goods,” Pier continued. “While we don’t have all the answers we need today, we are on the lookout for partners who share this passion to join us.”

Dole’s fund commitment is $2 million for the first year. The company plans to assess its priorities and identify the best ways of working with each ecosystem for maximum impact in the long run. Building on the Fund, its Sunshine for All program brings fresh produce, meals, and education to communities that need it the most in an effort to address the food insecurity crisis.

The fund is being launched in tandem with The Growing Distance, a short film that addresses the critical gaps the company sees as barriers to good nutrition for all.

“We are investing in impactful pilots and partnerships based on identified focus areas or problem statements,” said Pier. “Each project or opportunity will be evaluated by our leadership team based on various criteria that are dependent on the problem to solve, the partnership model considered, the scalability, or the potential impact expected.”

On top of these efforts, Dole recently completed the installation of more than 33,000 square meters of solar panels at facilities in Thailand and the Philippines to generate renewable energy annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by over 100,000 metric tons over the next 15 years. Actions like this will continue as it works to bring The Dole Promise to life.

I suspect that there is plenty more in store for The Dole Promise, so keep reading ANUK to get the latest updates.

Dole