Cross-posted from The Chronicle of Philanthropy
This is the first in a series of interviews with the eight semifinalists in the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change contest.
Given the ambitious goal of the MacArthur Foundation’s $100 million grant competition — to find and fund a feasible, long-lasting solution to a major global problem — Harvest Plus’s place among the eight semifinalists should come as no surprise. As Beverley Postma, the charity’s chief executive officer, explains in this Business of Giving interview, HarvestPlus tackles “hidden hunger,” a particular kind of malnutrition that affects 2 billion people worldwide.
“That’s when people are getting enough food on their plates … but they’re just not getting enough micronutrients — the vitamins and minerals,” she says. Especially crucial is a lack of vitamin A, iron, and zinc that causes major problems in children’s health and development and reduces overall productivity in many nations.