The United Nations in Canada honored Murad Al-Katib for his work in providing food distribution in countries struggling with political and social unrest
TORONTO — Saskatchewan’s farmers and agriculture industry play an important role in global food security.
This was the theme of a United Nations in Canada (UNA-Canada) event that took place in Toronto April 21, honouring Murad Al-Katib, chief executive officer of Regina-based AGT Food and Ingredient, with its annual Global Citizens Award.
The award is presented annually to a Canadian who has made a significant contribution to corporate citizenship through their work, philanthropy and community building efforts, says UNA-Canada president Kate White.
“This is one of the important ways that we meet our mandate of promoting and showcasing Canadians who are making a difference in their community and their world,” she says.
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“A global citizen can be a person who is building his community in a way that may seem very local but always with an awareness of the wider world.
“Murad has done this by building a successful company around pulses while also contributing back to his community, whether in Sask-atchewan with the farmers he works with, with the university and the broader community, and with the work he has done with humanitarian aid through the World Food Program.”
AGT Foods, formerly Saskcan Pulse, was founded in Regina in 2001 with a vision to connect local producers to the world.
The company has since grown to become one of the largest suppliers of value-added pulses, staple foods and food ingredients in the world, with offices and operations in six countries and exports going to more than 120 countries worldwide.
Although primarily an export company, AGT is also focused on food distribution in countries struggling with political and social unrest, having supplied bagged and bulk pulses and staple foods to the World Food Program and the International Committee of the Red Cross for several years now.
“We practise a corporate philosophy of what we like to term ‘compassionate entrepreneurialism,’ meaning that we truly care about the world around us while we conduct and grow our business,” Al-Katib says.
“We are not exploitive traders. We are focused on creating value in the value chain and we share this profit with all members of the chain. That’s how we have become a multi-billion-dollar company in a very short time.”
Last year AGT provided about four million family food parcels to families in need in Syria, Iraq and more, in partnership with the United Nations, the ICRC and other non-governmental organization programs.
According to the United Nations, it is estimated these food parcels have fed approximately 15 million refugees.
“We estimate that this supply chain initiative saved tens of millions of dollars in costs and losses in distribution, and added to the agencies abilities to react to crises,” Al-Katib says.
Canada also plays an important role in meeting the world’s demand for essential vegetable protein, as the number one exporter of pulse crops to the world.
Current forecasts estimate 2016-17 production of Canadian lentils and peas will be about 10 million acres.
