The Mosaic Company Wins 2013 Excellence Award In Corporate Philanthropy

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) today received a 2013 Excellence Award in Corporate Philanthropy from The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP). The CECP President's Award recognizes Mosaic's success in helping smallhold farmers in Guatemala, India and eight African countries break the cycle of insufficient crop yields and poverty through The Mosaic Villages Project.

President and CEO of The Mosaic Company, Jim Prokopanko, accepted the award today at The Annual Excellence Awards ceremony at The McGraw-Hill Companies in New York City. IBM also accepted The CECP Chairman's Excellence Award in Corporate Philanthropy for their IBM Smarter Cities Challenge. CECP recognizes these companies' commitments to the communities around them and for exemplifying the Award's four rigorous Standards of Excellence: CEO leadership, partnership, dedication to measurement, and innovation. 

"The independent jury that selected these two Excellence Award winners was deeply impressed by the widespread impact the corporations have had through the success of their programs," said Daryl Brewster, CEO of CECP. "We congratulate the winners for applying their core business strategies to addressing some of the world's most pressing problems—and positively impacting individuals, families and cities around the world through corporate societal engagement."

In partnership with non-governmental organizations, The Mosaic Villages Project works to bridge the gap between food security and water scarcity. Participating farmers are granted no-interest loans to buy crop nutrients and receive agronomic education, including the 4Rs (right time, right place, right source and right rate) of nutrient application. Farmers then repay their loan through the sale of surplus crop yields at harvest. On average, farmers participating in The Mosaic Villages Project have seen crop production increase three to five times over traditional farming practices.

Additionally, Mosaic works with its implementing partners to address unique cultural and community development needs, including:

• Supporting HELPS International install water filters and energy efficient stoves in Guatemalan villages to improve the health and well-being of farmers and their families; Mosaic also provided technical, science-based work to develop a Mayan heirloom seed bank with HELPS.
• Partnering with The Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD) to build aquifer-recharging check dams in India that support both community drinking water and irrigation needs for farmers and their families.
• Working with Millennium Promise to bag and transport more than 2,600 tonnes of fertilizer each year to African smallhold farmers in remote, water-stressed regions; existing supply channels are fragmented and do not fulfill farmers' needs.

"As a global leader in crop nutrition, Mosaic sits at the nexus of two of the world's most pressing problems—food security and water scarcity," Prokopanko said. "In order to fulfill our mission of helping the world grow the food it needs, Mosaic has a responsibility to bring its financial resources, innovative spirit and expertise to the table through strategic partnerships with effective organizations."

Learn more about The Mosaic Villages Project at www.mosaicco.com, and watch videos about each Guatemala, India and Africa project at www.youtube.com/MosaicCompany.

About CECP and Excellence Awards in Corporate Philanthropy
CECP draws together and empowers senior executives of the world's leading companies to achieve unprecedented progress on society challenges while driving business performance. Through high-powered connectivity and the platform to multiply investments in solving the world's most pressing issues, CECP is an irreplaceable tool catalyzing the forces that drive big change. CECP has presented Excellence Awards annually to more than 25 companies and non-profit partners since 2000. The awards jury comprises representatives from corporate, nonprofit, government, investment, consulting, media, and academic communities. www.corporatephilanthropy.org

About The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation
The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash. Driven by its mission to help the world grow the food it needs, Mosaic is committed to strengthening global food security and protecting critical water resources. The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation make investments in and partner with best-of-class leaders in the focus areas of food, water and local community investments. www.mosaicco.com

SOURCE The Mosaic Company