WHAT WE DO
WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE TO ENSURE PEOPLE CAN THRIVE THROUGH AGRICULTURE.
40+ YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN 80+ COUNTRIES
Since 1981, we’ve worked in more than 80 countries around the world to deliver market insights and technical expertise to agricultural development projects.
Through our affiliation with Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of the United States’ largest farmer-owned agribusinesses, we’re strengthening agricultural systems to improve livelihoods. Rooted in the 100+ year old dairy cooperative, our work in livestock systems is just the start of our efforts to feed a growing population. We strengthen economies by improving local agriculture, helping agribusinesses create jobs, boosting trade, and linking farmers to markets. We foster innovative, climate-smart practices that help people adapt to climate change. From design to implementation, we take an inclusive approach to engaging and empowering all members of society.
2023 BY THE NUMBERS
OUR PROVEN TRACK RECORD
WE HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY RESULTS FOR BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE-SECTOR PROGRAMS
With more than 40 years of agricultural development programming around the globe, we’ve got a powerful approach to transforming agricultural systems.
View Our ProgramsWE ARE A PROUD AFFILIATE OF
Through our strategic partnership, we are:
Adapting groundbreaking Land O'Lakes technologies to deliver impact globally
Partnering with Land O'Lakes technical experts and business units to design and execute our work
Leveraging world-class Land O'Lakes volunteer expertise across our projects
Providing access to cutting-edge agricultural trends and insights
CHAMPIONS FORGROWTH
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT:
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT:
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT:
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT:
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT:
qatest
37%
A Cooperative Effort to Feed the World
THAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF EARTH'S LAND WHERE THE FARMERS CAN GROW THE CROPS AND RAISE THE LIVESTOCK THAT FEED OUR WORLD. IT'S ALL WE'VE GOT.
The world’s population will be nearly 10 billion by 2050. Yet, we have limited resources and land to feed a growing population. We’ve got to work together — across continents, cultures, and markets — to make nutritious food abundant, so that everyone can realize their full potential.
Venture37 is uniquely positioned to do just that. That’s because we tap into the people and power of Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of the largest farmer-owned cooperatives with diversified agribusinesses in dairy, livestock and crops, and agricultural sustainability. Pair this with local insights from 40 years of agricultural development, and we’ve got what it takes to unlock the potential of dairy, livestock, and crops farms and agribusiness ventures around the world. Our integrated solutions promote competitive markets, resilient systems, nutrition-secure communities, and inclusive societies.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Technical Director
DAI HARVEY
Dai Harvey embarked on his career with Venture37 in 2004 in his home of Zambia, with a focus of growing private sector involvement in the dairy industry. Since then, Dai has provided technical and management oversight for all types of agricultural projects in over 40 countries worldwide. Now based in the United Kingdom, he still has interests on the family farm in Zambia, where his brothers manage rain fed crops, livestock and tourism operations. Dai is passionate about creating opportunities for improving consumer access to safe, nutritious food and endeavoring to ensure farmers capture more of the final price to consumers.
Human Resources Director
MAT AYAGA
Mat Ayaga joined Venture37 in 2019. Born and raised in Asembo, Western Kenya, Mat has worked with various global development organizations in Africa and the United States. She has more than 15 years of experience supporting development projects in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. At Venture37, Mat leads the development, implementation, and delivery of strategic Human Resources initiatives and practices across the organization. She loves connecting with people and creating new relationships. Mat is based in Washington DC and enjoys spending time with her family.
Group Director of Strategic Growth and Partnerships
GISELLE ARIS
Giselle joined our team in 2011, after spending two years designing, scaling, and managing a smallholder farmer-owned dairy enterprise in South India. She brings over a decade of experience in facilitating inclusive private investment and accelerated business growth in emerging markets. Giselle loves dreaming up new types of shared value partnerships for advancing global agriculture development and food security — so if you have ideas on ways we could co-invest towards these goals, get in touch! Giselle is happiest when she’s climbing a mountain, riding her bike, reading a book, or cooking and eating in good company.
Executive Director
JOHN ELLENBERGER
John leads Land O’Lakes Venture37, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1981 by Land O’Lakes, Inc. He assumed the role in 2017 after leading the Land O'Lakes, Inc. U.S. Dairy Foods teams since 2008. Before joining Land O’Lakes, John led corporate marketing at American Medical Systems and spent 15 years in various marketing leadership roles at General Mills. He earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Minnesota. John was recently appointed as a board member of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) and serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for ServeMinnesota. He previously served on the Board of Directors for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare.
WE KNOW AGRICULTURE
WE KNOW HOW AGRICULTURE FITS IN.
Whether it’s animal nutrition, dairy foods, crop insights, or sustainability, we leverage expertise and resources from one of the United States’ largest cooperatives, working with some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production.
OUR WORK IS MARKET-DRIVEN.
We’re rooted in America’s heartland, with branches around the globe. Whether we’re partnering with the private sector, government officials, or academic institutions, we take an agile approach to our market-driven approach.
BY BOOSTING FOOD SECURITY ABROAD, WE HELP BUSINESS PROSPECTS AT HOME.
We know that a prosperous world is in our best interest – leading to stronger markets, business opportunities, trade, and global security. It’s a win-win for everyone.
OUR HISTORY
WITH ROOTS IN MINNESOTA, WE’VE MADE AN IMPACT IN 80+ COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE.
In 1981, a group of farmers gathered in a Minnesota board room of Land O’Lakes, Inc. to discuss a bold idea: international development. As members of a cooperative dating back to 1921, these farmer-members knew from experience that uniting to improve agriculture can lead to healthier communities and stronger economies — both abroad and at home in the United States. They agreed that fostering food security and economic prosperity globally was a win-win for everyone: for business ventures, for trade, and for a more secure world.
This is how Venture37 got its roots.
WE WORK ALONGSIDE GOVERNMENTS, REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MAKE AGRICULTURAL GOODS SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE.
Our Approach
Our programming protects consumers from agricultural hazards, increases trade volumes of safe products, and lowers the cost of trade. We take a private-sector approach to food safety and quality,
partnering with producers to address hazards that may threaten consumer health and helping them strategize about target markets. We leverage volunteer expertise from Land O’Lakes, Inc.’s Food Safety and Quality team to provide cost-effective advisory services to businesses.
When it comes to trade, we support governments as they develop and enforce standards and regulations that reduce risk and efficiently manage the flow of goods across borders. We partner with regional economic trade blocs and national governments to harmonize their practices with international standards.
On the producer side, we partner with market actors to implement improved food safety practices and risk management systems that improve their ability to reach new domestic and international markets.
OUR OUTCOMES
THROUGH OUR END-TO-END APPROACH WE:
Protect consumers from unsafe food
Build stronger markets for international trade
Expand business for agricultural producers
Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture
In Ethiopia, successful agricultural transformation hinges on expanding access to healthy, nutritious diets, sourced from sustainable systems. It’s also critical that actors within Ethiopia’s agriculture and food systems can adapt to a rapidly changing socio-environmental landscape, including shifting demographic trends, socio-cultural preferences, and weather-related shocks. Funded through USAID, Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture is a five-year activity led by RTI International with support from Venture37, First Consult, and WI-HER. The program is influencing and inspiring the country's agriculture and food system actors to sustainably improve the diets of 7 million people, particularly women and children, living in 132 target woredas (districts) across the country.
Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture is identifying consumer preferences for nutritious foods and is leveraging that information to influence and incentivize market actors to improve business practices, expand networks, and re-think norms, thus re-orienting the agriculture
and food system to become more demand focused. Together, these efforts are making safe, diverse, nutritious foods more available, affordable, convenient, and desirable, while improving the competitiveness, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the food and agriculture system. Venture37 is leading the livestock production and food safety and quality activities under the program.
