On 15 September 2023, I am flying to Tanzania to take part in a sponsored trek with several senior food and drink industry colleagues to raise money for Farm Africa. 

This brilliant charity is one of three The Grocer supports. And having worked particularly closely with FareShare and GroceryAid in recent years, I’m hoping to use The Grocer’s reach to promote Farm Africa’s brilliant work. 

In simple terms Farm Africa reduces poverty in East Africa by empowering smallholder farmers to grow more food - tea and coffee, sesame and sunflower seeds, poultry, wheat, fruit and veg, even aquaculture - and to sell it at a higher price. 

In doing so it helps to empower women too, and reduces youth unemployment.  

And crucially it helps farmers build resilience to climate change, and prevents the loss of habitat that comes from the pitifully low crop yields from which chronic underinvestment and poverty have resulted  

The trek I’m making is in the Mahale Mountains in West Tanzania, on the border of Lake Tanganyika, and involves a hike of 60 miles (in 35C heat) over five days in which we will help forge pathways and trade routes through incredibly remote forest and bush land, while also learning about the work of Farm Africa via visits to projects it has set up. 

I’ll also be talking to the senior industry colleagues (from the likes of Aldi, Arla, Barfoots, Booker, Moy Park, Pilgrim Foods, Sainsbury’s etc) who are accompanying me. So if you sponsor me I’ll ask them a question and will answer it - hopefully via the podcast I’m planning to chart my journey. 

I also plan to name check individual companies who are working in East Africa in support of this wonderful charity. If they sponsor me that is  

But I’ll give a shoutout to any company that supports me. 

And anonymous donations will also be gratefully received . 

Your donation can make an incredible difference to families and businesses in rural areas, and it will also help the planet and the diverse animal habitat in East Africa. 

Here's how your donation could help:

£100 - could help one farming family establish a home garden to ensure food security and nutritious vegetables.

£500 - could help 17 farmers tap into the potential of drought-resistant crops and protect their family against drought.

£1,000 - could provide a training centre for 31 farmers with climate-smart agriculture skills to build resilient and sustainable livelihoods.

£2,000 - could help 51 farmers to develop their financial management skills, so they can build stronger, more robust businesses.

But any amount, big or small,, is hugely appreciated. 

Thank you for your support!