U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) AWARDS ROOTS OF PEACE WHEAT FLOUR PROGRAM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Applauds Horticultural Efforts of NGO Roots of Peace in Afghanistan Since 2001

April 7, 2009—Kansas City, Missouri—As the USDA and USAID International Food Aid Conference convenes in the "breadbasket" of America today, Roots of Peace, a California based humanitarian NGO, announced the award of a major grant for 12,500 metric tons of wheat flour estimated at $4 million. The bounty they shared between Afghan farmers through this USDA/ROP program given in the form of wheat flour will be directly donated and sold to fund local development projects —a resource providing food security and horticultural programs to fund the creation of 5,000 new orchards and grape vineyards in the challenging war-torn South Central Afghan provinces of Ghazni, Wardak and Logar.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi who attended the “launch” of Roots of Peace over a decade ago and joined with Founder & CEO Heidi Kuhn at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on February 21, 2009, stated, “Through ‘Mines to Vines,’ Roots of Peace brings hope to the people of Afghanistan by replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful agricultural fields. Their work is an outstanding example of how an organization committed to improving the lives of the Afghan people can bring about positive change.”

Since 2001, Roots of Peace has removed over 100,000 landmines and UXO to create fertile grounds for peace and trained over 120,000 Afghan farmers to grow alternative agricultural crops to poppies. Through innovative programs such as MINES TO VINES and POPPIES TO POMEGRANATES, the funding from USAID and other international agencies has created successful export markets for Afghan farmers- often doubling their income through sustainable horticultural programs to teach the next generation.

“Farming is an act of hope. This is ‘why’ nothing could be more important to an American wheat producer than knowing they can make a difference in an Afghan farmers’ life by sharing a bountiful harvest—providing sustainable alternative agricultural crops to poppies by empowering families to heal the wounds of war and ultimately ‘breaking bread’ with neighbors again. The Dari word for wheat is ‘naan’ and we aspire for the bread of life to rise again,” says Heidi Kuhn, Founder and CEO.

For further information, please visit www.rootsofpeace.org and www.fas.usda.gov.

Heidi Kuhn at speaker Pelosi’s Inaugural, Washington, D.C. – January 4, 2007

Afghan Farmer and Heidi Kuhn – June 20, 2008

Roots of Peace is a San Rafael, CA based nonprofit organization whose mission is to rid the world of landmines and other remnants of war by transforming toxic minefields into thriving farmland and communities.

1299 Fourth Street, Suite 200 San Rafael, CA 94901 • Tel: 415.455.8008 • www.rootsofpeace.org