Viterra is donating the use of land around six of its grain terminals in Alberta and Saskatchewan to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

The nearly 400 acres will be farmed by volunteers in the different areas, and the proceeds of the crop will be used for initiatives to end world hunger.

Director of Resources and Public Engagement with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, John Longhurst, said Viterra approached them about a year ago.

"We had been talking to them about different ways they could be supportive, and they suggested that they had land around terminals, and they wondered if by making it available to us, it might be useful and if we could then find someone to farm it. Of course, we jumped at the opportunity."

Viterra donated a total of 42 acres around its terminals in Stettler, Alberta and Balongie, Saskatchewan last year for two pilot projects.

"The pilot projects went very well," Said Longhurst. "We, of course, were watching to see what would happen. The key thing was finding farmers who would be willing to do that and farm the land, and we were able to do that, and they were really helpful, supportive, ambitious, and made sure that everything was taken care of."

After last year's success, Viterra donated about 400 acres around its Alberta terminals in Lethbridge, Trochu, and Stettler, and its Saskatchewan terminals in Balgonie, Raymore and Grenfell for the 2018 growing season.

Viterra will also provide the Foodgrains Bank with a donation of $5 for each tonne of crops donated to the organization through any of its grain elevators across Western Canada.

Longhurst said, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank really all goes back to Canadian farmers.

"It was the farmers that had the vision for the Foodgrains Bank 35 years ago, and it's farmers who keep it going today. We're just really grateful to them and the Canadian ag industry."