For the second year, Organic India USA has earned the “Best for the World Overall” B Corp designation, placing it in the top 10 percent among all certified B Corps.

As a “Best for the World Overall” B Corp, Organic India USA has broken new ground in proving that non-exploitative business models can be successful. Candidates for the award are evaluated for social and environmental performance, labor practices, governance, environmental sustainability and community contribution.

While Organic India USA won high scores in all sectors, of particular significance are its scores for “Supply Chain Poverty Alleviation.” Also called “Global Value Chains,” international supply chains traditionally offer the highest benefits to buyers but perpetuate poverty for suppliers in third world countries. Research shows that profits for buyers do not translate to economic advantages for suppliers or alleviate poverty in the global trade environment.

During the 1960s, India underwent a national campaign to industrialize agriculture, called the “Green Revolution.” The introduced seeds, fertilizers and pesticides brought disastrous environmental and economic results—so catastrophic that tens of thousands of farmers were ruined by debt and poverty.

In the early 1990s, Organic India USA began innovating strategies to upgrade its value chain by working with farmer partners to return their land to certifiable organic status and acquire their crops at fair market value. After 18 years, these methods have brought sweeping economic, cultural, and environmental recovery and significant social change, such as equal pay for women.

Organic India USA dedicates this year’s award to its first farmer partner, Kailash Singh. When the Organic India founders approached farmers with a proposal to cultivate tulsi, also known as holy basil, the farmers were deeply suspicious, remembering the disasters of the Green Revolution. Singh embraced Organic India’s vision of environmental and economic recovery despite the risk. The following year, one more farmer asked to participate—when asked what changed his mind, he said, “I have seen birds return that I haven’t seen since I was a child.” Organic India now works with more than 3,000 farmer partners.

For more information, visit https://organicindiausa.com.