MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- General Mills (NYSE: GIS) today launched the General Mills Feeding Better Futures Scholars Program, which asks youth to share their ideas to help solve the challenge of feeding a growing world population. Feeding Better Futures will serve as a catalyst in addressing hunger relief and sustainable agriculture issues by championing the bright ideas of today's youth. Young innovators are invited to pitch their in-action solutions for the opportunity to present at the Aspen Ideas Festival, be partnered with industry mentors, and earn up to $50,000 to further their program and education.

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Today, 842 million — nearly 12 percent of the world's population — struggle with hunger, including 13 million kids and teenagers in America. By 2050, it is projected there will be 9.2 billion people on the planet and recent estimates suggest food production will need to increase by 70 percent to feed everyone. With this clear need to find solutions now to feed more people today and for generations to come, General Mills has launched Feeding Better Futures — as recognition that many small steps equate to big change.

"At General Mills, we're inspired by the ingenuity of today's youth and know that, while they have immeasurable ability to positively impact the world, they don't always have the resources to support their potential," said Jeff Harmening, chairman of the board and CEO, General Mills. "We're thrilled to launch Feeding Better Futures to empower young innovators and encourage new perspectives on an ongoing global issue where action is imperative."

To get involved, young people, ages 13 to 21, are asked to share a short video that explains a solution or program they have initiated that addresses issues in hunger relief and/or sustainable agriculture. A panel of experts will review the video submissions and select five finalists. From these five finalists, General Mills will engage the public's help in selecting a grand prize winner.

To launch the program, General Mills has teamed up with DoSomething.org, the largest nonprofit organization for young people committed to social change, to rally youth across North America to address these issues. Both General Mills and DoSomething believe in the power of today's young people and, through this partnership, will provide resources for teens and young adults to make a difference in their own communities.

Through the General Mills Foundation, General Mills has been active in hunger relief and sustainable agriculture for years, serving as a leader in promoting environmentally and socially responsible practices across its supply chain, as well as providing resources to food insecure communities. Some of these initiatives include:

  • Partnering with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore and protect pollinator habitat across hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland in North America.
  • Committing to sustainably source all 10 of the company's priority ingredients by 2020. Today, the company is already 69 percent of the way there.
  • Serving as a founding partner of Feeding America, the Global Foodbanking Network and Partners in Food Solutions, and enabling more than 201 million meals through food donations globally since 2010.
  • Acting as a founding sponsor and advisor to numerous food banking efforts and non-profit organizations.

For official rules or to enter in-action solutions for General Mills Feeding Better Futures, visit www.feedingbetterfutures.com.

About General Mills
General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its brands include Cheerios , Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2017 consolidated net sales of U.S. $15.6 billion, as well as another U.S. $1.0 billion from its proportionate share of joint-venture net sales.

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SOURCE General Mills