Nonthaburi, Thailand
September 23, 2026
East-West Seed has been recognized on Fortune’s 2026 Change the World list, an annual ranking of 50 global companies driving positive social and environmental impact through their core business strategies.
Fortune highlighted East-West Seed for its commitment to sustainable market development and the work of its independent foundation, East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT). By pairing hands-on agronomic training with access to high-quality vegetable seeds, EWS-KT equips smallholder farmers across 11 tropical countries in Asia and Africa to turn small-scale farms into competitive, profitable agricultural businesses.
Measurable impact
Operating at a cost of approximately $40 per farmer, EWS-KT directly trains nearly 200,000 smallholders annually, having reached over 1 million farmers directly since 2015.
Key annual impact figures include:
- Income growth: Participating smallholder farmers achieve average yield increases above 50% and earn over $260 in additional annual net income.
- Inclusive reach: Women represent 44% of trained farmers, while youth aged 18 to 34 account for 53%.
Digital extension: Over 1.7 million social media followers, with additional farmers benefiting through GrowHow digital learning platform (with resources available in 32 languages) and the VeggieTap learning app
Building resilient local food systems
Beyond direct agricultural training, EWS-KT fosters local support networks that sustain farmer growth. Recent initiatives include technical skills certification in Uganda, enabling commercial banks to approve 99% of certified farmer loan applicants with a 97% repayment rate, and marketing cluster integration in the Philippines and Cambodia to secure direct buyer contracts. Additionally, ongoing collaborations with Wageningen University and Research have introduced leguminous cover crops to naturally restore soil health and reduce fertilizer costs.
Having previously been recognized on Fortune’s Change the World list in 2020 and 2024, East-West Seed is very honored to receive this award once again in 2026: a distinction dedicated above all to the hardworking smallholder farmers who inspire our mission every day.
The full Fortune 2026 Change the World list is available today at Fortune.com.
About East-West Seed
Founded in 1982, East-West Seed is a global leader in tropical vegetable seeds. The company is dedicated to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through high-quality seeds, innovative agronomic practices, and market development.
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