August 11th 2023.
The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Cargill have announced the opening of applications for the second cohort of their Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture Initiative. This program was created to help develop Black farmers annually and consists of two elements: a learning program and strategic business support.
The initiative is part of the Black Farmers Equity Initiative, which was created to provide a pathway for emerging Black farmers to achieve parity in the agriculture industry. This includes providing learning solutions, certification, lending, networking, and new contracts. Studies have found that less than 2% of U.S. farmers identify as Black or mixed race, a significant drop from 14% a century ago. Additionally, these farmers represent less than 1% of total U.S. farm sales.
The 12-week course that participants will complete focuses on growing capacity to take on major national contracts with corporate members. The course will provide Black farmers with the tools to get certified as a minority business enterprise and how it can open opportunities for them, as well as assisting with capital, loan options, acreage management, growth planning, and negotiation skills.
The strategic business support portion of the program will provide access to a customized online learning community, assistance in completing certification with NMSDC, and microloans through the Business Consortium Fund. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in mentoring and matchmaking sessions with corporate members, which will help build direct relationships and increase contract opportunities.
Those interested in the program can apply here before the Oct. 30, 2023 deadline. This is an excellent opportunity to help create parity in the agriculture industry and provide Black farmers with the resources they need to be successful.
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