The winner of the Producer category in 2022 was Hilltribe Organics (HTO) – a high impact social enterprise formed to sustain rural farming villages in Thailand through organic and regenerative agriculture.

HTO’s successful business model, which addresses more than two thirds of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, involves every aspect of the value chain. It not only helps farmers – many of them women - get into production by supplying the hens and feed, but also helps market the organic eggs to consumers and retailers. This provides a regular income and financial stability for the hill tribe people.

By driving the organic egg market, HTO has helped to significantly reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides (down by 70% and 80% respectively) leading to cleaner soil, water, and air.

In addition, HTO promotes reforestation and rewilding, utilising local agro-ecological conditions to the full. The hens are raised in the hills with plenty of access to trees and shelter; there is no use of antibiotics and they grow turmeric to improve hens’ immune systems.

This social enterprise is truly inspirational and provides a successful business model which could be scaled up and adopted in other parts of the world.

We have always believed in the highest animal welfare and the most sustainable and organic farming practices and that they can benefit both the environment and the hill tribe people while supporting a successful business model. We are gratified to see the HTO model is even starting to attract farmer family children back to the hills.

Our farms require relatively little land compared to other agricultural uses and helps protect wildlife habitats in the areas around our farms. This award will help us continue to improve the lives of hill tribe people, to increase the market for organics (further reducing the use of chemical fertilisers/pesticides) and to strengthen the model to the point where we can expand to new markets.

Richard Blossom, Co-Founder and CEO of HTO

Sustainable Food and Farming Award