When was the last time you thought about where your food comes from? And I don’t mean from your local supermarket… Well, according to the U.N. Food & Agriculture Association, 70% of food consumed globally comes from so-called “smallholder” farmers.
There are an estimated 570 million of them, and nearly half live and operate in the world’s poorest countries. In most developing markets, agriculture contributes anywhere from 15 to 35% of GDP. Without this constellation of farming communities, unemployment would soar and economies would crumble.
Not surprisingly, there’s a political dimension to supporting the smallholder farmer. This requires governments throughout the region to make constant adjustments – balancing local subsidies against foreign food imports.
Into this socio-economic brew enters Corteva Agriscience, a company that a little over two years ago spun off from the chemical giant DowDupont in order to focus exclusively on agribusiness. Today, the company produces high-yield, pest-resistant hybrid seeds, land management, and digital solutions. As my guest, Elizabeth Hernandez, explains, the timing and focus of their market entry offers a unique opportunity for farmers and investors alike.
This is the latest in a series of episodes we have planned featuring companies that are delivering on Corporate Purpose. Two episodes back we featured another Corporate Purpose leader, T.C. Ng, Asia Pacific Managing Director of the iconic tech company, HP. If you missed that episode, you can listen or read about it by visiting www.insideasiapodcast.com.
In coming weeks, we will feature on this program conversations with leaders of other purpose-driven institutions. Our discussions are founded on in-depth case studies created in a three-way partnership between Inside Asia, The Conference Board, and the Center for Creative Leadership.
One year ago, we came together to introduce the Asia Corporate Leadership Council, which today is comprised of 20 plus Asia-based CEOs, Regional Managing Directors, and heads of family-run businesses. It’s a select group of senior individuals representing best-practice corporate purpose. The case studies – and these accompanying podcasts – are designed to demonstrate what Corporate Purpose in action looks like.
Ziyang Fan: Digital Trade and Cross Border Data Flows
Toby Ouvry: Center Yourself
Nelson Cunningham: Trump, Asia, and Trade
Jeremy Wagstaff: Tech in Asia, Indonesia, the Alipay Question
Jing Bing Zhang: The Rise of the Robots
Jeremy Wagstaff: New Kids on the Block Chain
Entrepreneurship in North Korea: The Choson Exchange
Alibaba’s HeMa Department Store: data, eCommerce, Chinese Retail
David Goldstein: Disruption of Media Delivery in Asia
Mack Banner: Digital Remedies for the Consumerization of Healthcare in Asia
Elisa Mallis: China Going Global
Mikko Niemela: Asia, Cyberattack, The Dark Web
Rucina Ballinger: Bali Prepares for Mount Agung Eruption
Kent Wertime: Fukushima, Bali, Corporate Philanthropy
Gaurav Sinha: Innovation and Humanity in Hospitality
David Hoffman: China's Economy at the Crossroads - Caged Songbird or Winged Dragon?
Peter Alexander: Asset Management in China
Rosaline Chow Koo: The Birth of an Innovator
Deborah Elms and Steve Okun: The Trans-Pacific Partnership
Eric Olander: What is China Doing in Africa?
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