Sustainable Castor Association hosted an international round table in Mumbai on February 14 which was attended by more than 100 attendees from across the globe.

The event was preceded by a field trip for its 30 member companies to the farms in Gujarat where attending guests could see first-hand the impacts of the SuCCESS farming code.

The round table event was also an opportunity for customers to network and share ideas for the future of the Sustainable Castor Association. Several new initiatives were presented, including a comprehensive jurisdictional study on labor practices, which is now officially launched.

During the round table, Sphera Solutions presented a summary of their comprehensive field study of 10,000 farmers in the India castor region during 2022-23 of several hundred farmers in certified and non-certified farms within the same region. SuCCESS certified farms demonstrated approximately 30% improvements in GWP/Climate change, resource use (fossil fuel depletion), and WSF (water scarcity footprint) according to ISO 14040/44 standards and EU PEF categories. 

Compared to regional averages, farmers who have been educated and certified by the SuCCESS sustainable farming code demonstrated improvements in all major LCA impact categories of approximately 30% (ISO 14040/44 Standards – cradle to farm-gate perimeter). 

Additionally, a commissioned impact assessment report by TTC was presented which demonstrated that SuCCESS training and certification for farmers resulted in significant farmer benefits such as 15% cost reduction, 25% crop yield increase, and 30% overall farmer income increase compared to conventional farming.

“We are delighted to share these exciting results with our members and downstream stakeholders. These are proven benefits for the farmers, the industry, and especially for the environment,” said Karin Wagner, Global Category Manager, Direct Procurement, BASF & Chairperson, Sustainable Castor Association.

Abhay Udeshi, Chairman, Jayant Agro & Director of Sustainable Castor Association said, “We are beyond proud to see the enthusiastic response from our members. It has taken us more than 8 years of demonstrated commitment to bring us to today’s results. We are energized and excited to bring this benefit to more farmers and more global customers. It is a win-win scenario for everyone.”

“The SuCCESS code’s demonstrable results in improving smallholder resilience to climate impact, restoring soil health and securing their livelihoods over a sustained period of time shows that farmer-civil society-industry collaboration with the right intent can be a win-win-win proposition for all actors in the supply chains,” said Prashant Pastore, Head - Water & Sustainable Agriculture Programmes, Solidaridad Asia & Director, Sustainable Castor Association.

“We believe in a holistic approach to castor sustainability improvement. Reaching more farmers is a high priority. We now have the proof to share with them. It is also a time to inform more downstream users,” commented Guido M. Dona, Director, Sustainability Strategy High Performance Polymers – Specialty Polyamides, Arkema & Director, Sustainable Castor Association.

Jonathan Kaplan, Co-president, Alnor Oil Company Inc. & Director, Sustainable Castor Association said, “The topic of sustainability is one that is growing in the United States and we are excited to be at the forefront of the castor industry with regard to responsible sourcing. Having the opportunity to speak with farmers, who have seen tangible benefits following the SuCCESS code, and having the opportunity to exchange ideas with various industry leaders has us energized to continue this push with our customers.”

“At Aurorium, we are thrilled to have participated in the Sustainable Castor Association Roundtable. This gathering provided invaluable insights and fostered meaningful discussions on advancing sustainable practices within the castor industry. Our commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation has been further strengthened through the collaborative efforts and shared vision of all attendees,” said Steve Tattum, Vice President, Specialty Solutions, Aurorium & Director, Sustainable Castor Association.