Arkema launches Fund to support castor farming communities in India

Arkema is proud to announce the creation of the Castor Farmer Education Fund (CFEF), a collaborative initiative designed to support castor farming communities in India. The CFEF aims to raise funds to further accelerate the adoption of innovative and resilient farming techniques across the region by empowering farmers through education and training, generating lasting environmental and social impact.

The fund will support projects that improve livelihoods, encourage regenerative agriculture, and foster long-term environmental stewardship in castor-growing regions. Open to all stakeholders, customers, brands, and partners across the castor value chain, the fund offers a unique opportunity to take meaningful, collective action. Together, contributors will help scale up farmer education programs, with the ambition of training 100,000 to 150,000 farmers by 2030.

Arkema will serve as an anchor donor and intends to remain actively involved throughout the initiative. A dedicated Steering Committee will guide the fund’s strategic direction and partner TTFA and Solidaridad in selecting and executing impactful projects.

TT Foundation Advisors (TTFA) will administrate the fund to ensure transparency and impact, as well as provide advisory services, donor stewardship and management of the fund. TTFA is the philanthropy advisory arm of Temasek Trust, the philanthropic branch of Singapore-headquartered global investment company Temasek. It provides specialized advisory and management services to philanthropic foundations, family offices, business corporations, philanthropists, and charities.

Solidaridad will be the initial grantee and will oversee training, monitoring, and project sourcing to ensure consistent and high-quality implementation. Solidaridad is an international civil society organization with a strong 55-year track record of supporting farming communities to become more resilient and is a long-standing partner of Arkema in building a more sustainable castor value chain.