More than 6,000 people died and 135,000 houses were damaged during a May 2006 earthquake near the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This area is home to Monsanto’s Klaten seed production site, and many farmers in the area produce seed for Monsanto. The Klaten team quickly identified the more than 900 farmers affected. In addition to loss of 50 percent of the seed crop, there were 63 deaths and 149 injuries among the farmers’ families. The team respected the emotional needs of these families during this challenging time, but knew that the farmers would suffer even further without a successful harvest.

The team developed a program to benefit the farmers, coordinating the donation and distribution of food, equipment, and supplies. Farmers who had lost their homes were given tents for temporary housing.

In addition, the team worked closely with the Monsanto Fund to arrange for the donation of $30,000 to rebuild schools.⁷ This project brought significant economic relief to the affected farmers, who went on to produce a successful harvest. Their communities also benefited through the speed at which the farmers were able to return to productivity, which provided some stability during a challenging time.