One of the world's largest producers of guar oil, which is used in everything from paint to toothpaste, has teamed up with a foundation in India to help the country's small farmers.
The SM Sehgal Foundation and Ashland, a specialty ingredients company, have been working together since 2021 to help farmers in the Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan increase the yield of guar, which is used to make everything from paint to flour, reports CNBC.
The effort has resulted in a 30% increase in crop yield, reduced production costs, and expanded the local economy, per a press release.
"In this instance, providing STEM skills and education both on and off the field to small farmers is having a very real, positive impact in their lives and in their small village communities," says Guillermo Novo, chair and CEO of Ashland, which has around 4,000 employees around the world.
The initiative is part of Ashland's Responsible Solvers program, which the press release calls "a focused innovation culture, sustainability-aligned technology portfolio, goals for the environment, social initiatives, and continued strong ethics, compliance, transparency, and governance."
The company says it plans to work with 5,000 farmers by 2025. Read the Entire Article
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
The Guardian has compiled a list of responses to its latest open thread, and has announced the winner of the social enterprise gift hamper packed with presents.