On April this year The Dole Sunshine Company has announced its charity collaboration with acclaimed artist David Datuna, an NFT Series titled ’Take a Bite out of Hunger’.
Their aim is to increase awareness of food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide, while raising funds toward alleviating hunger.
Inspired by Datuna’s viral banana-eating moment, which earned him the moniker of “The Hungry Artist,” this series aims to further the brand’s goal of making nutritious foods accessible for 1 billion people, as nearly one-quarter of the world’s population experiences food insecurity while globally one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted.
In addition, Dole is working to limit the environmental impact of the NFT sale by partnering with decarbonisation advisor, Aerial, to create a climate positive solution without impacting the amount of funds raised by the auction and ensuring any future sales are appropriately offset.
This NFT series drop is part of the overall global Dole Promise, which aims to increase access to good nutrition, decrease food waste, plastics in packaging and greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020 Dole launched a partnership in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, including the local Boys & Girls Club, to bring nutritious food and education into underserved food deserts. Proceeds from the NFT sales will be donated to Boys & Girls Clubs to fund nutrition and hunger-focused programming.
Datuna will create a five-part series focused on the intrinsic connection between nutrition and food security. The NFTs will represent people coming together to take a bite out of hunger. The fifth and final piece, Sunshine for All, is a pop-art inspired montage of the first four pieces highlighting the importance of closing the gaps to good nutrition for all. This work will also live as a physical piece featuring Datuna’s signature lens technique, a layered composition signifying society’s individual viewpoints.
“I’m a big fan of companies that understand their responsibility for stewardship and admire Dole’s goals to support ending hunger, achieve food security, end food waste and promote sustainable agriculture. My NFT collection for Dole, along with the physical artwork, tells this story through symbolic animations, sound and imagery.” - David Datuna
You can find the NFT series on Rarible, May 6th at 3:30pm PST, and additional details dropping on the 28th. The fifth montage piece will be at auction through May 8th, and will be on display in Decentraland as well as a physical location in New York City.
“Our promise to provide access to good nutrition to 1 billion people by 2025 is one we cannot accomplish alone. This is why we seek out partners like David Datuna and the BGC that are closely aligned with our values,To create systemic change, we need to converge purpose with creativity, innovation and technology. This effort is the best representation of how we want to make a difference in this world. As a brand that can literally eat its purpose, David’s perspective on using art and digital technology as a platform for awareness and societal change, is one that clearly resonates and inspires us.” - Pier-Luigi Sigismondi, global president, Food and Beverages Group.
You can find the NFT series on Rarible, May 6th at 3:30pm PST