Cargill in the Community

We work to be the best at delivering competitively-priced, quality fertilizers and crop-protection products to farms and farm retailers worldwide in environmentally responsible ways beneficial to the community. We are dedicated to carefully managing the raw materials we use and consistently support the protection, preservation and enhancement of natural resources.

Reclamation.
With the goal of restoring the mined land to an even better condition than its natural state, we engage in an active reclamation program. Throughout the mining process, a comprehensive reclamation plan is developed and reviewed. We work closely with local, state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure our methods of land reclamation meet or exceed current environmental standards. Most reclamation begins within two years after mining ceases, but company engineers and biologists work within the first year to begin to return things to normal.

Hookers Prairie.
Our Hookers Prairie wetlands reclamation project restored more than 800 acres of sawgrass marsh to their original beauty. Our reclaimed agricultural lands not only provide food, but also provide jobs and other agriculture-related services. Citrus, for instance, is grown on reclaimed land, resulting in a higher economic return than upland pastures as we harvest and sell hundreds of thousands of boxes of fruit annually.

The South Parcel.
Across the Alafia River from our Riverview plant is a 300-acre wetlands area known as the South Parcel. It is the largest restoration project in the Tampa Bay area and is a leading example of how a public-private partnership can restore the environment and natural habitat of Florida. The project was made possible through the efforts of Cargill, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a Citizens Advisory Committee.

Alafia Banks or "Bird Islands"
Across from the South Parcel are two islands, known as the Alafia Banks or "Bird Islands." We lease these islands to the National Audubon Society for one dollar a year and provide funding for management of the islands. Home to over 25 species of birds, it is one of the largest bird colonies in Florida and the most diverse colony in North America.

Conservation Efforts.
As part of an industry-wide concern with water conservation, Cargill drastically reduced its fresh water use by capturing rainfall and process water and recirculating it through fertilizer manufacturing operations. Further, in 1987, Cargill built a co-generation facility. This facility captures electrical power from the steam created in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. With the co-generation facility, we are able to supply 100 percent of our own power needs, even supplying power to Tampa Electric Company during peak demand periods.



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