While expanding our tapioca business in Thailand, Cargill is constructing homes, building libraries and teaching English.

Two years ago, shortly after Cargill acquired the Chai Charoen tapioca flour factory in central Thailand, the company announced a $75,000-a-year project to improve local tapioca cultivation. The goals included doubling yields and increasing farmers' income by 50 percent. The tools involved in this project included 10 demonstration farms, free agronomic services and propagation programs for improved hybrids.

Tapioca, a traditional source of starch in Asia, provides a neutral-tasting, gluten free starch that can substitute corn starch. Unlike corn, however, tapioca cannot be stored. It must be processed within 24 hours. The challenge for Cargill? Developing a system of regular delivery containing quality roots to run an efficient business.

The Chai Charoen factory is an integral part of Cargill's strategy to serve the booming food market in China and other parts of Asia.

The Chai Charoen factory is an integral part of Cargill's strategy to serve the booming food market in China and other parts of Asia. With this acquisition, Cargill gained a growing business and made an ongoing commitment to an entire community — from children's education to housing to new farming practices.

An initial investment of $3 million brought the plant up to Cargill’s employee-safety standards and installed the quality systems to produce food grade starch. Another $8 million is being invested to expand plant capacity by 50 percent.

Indeed, “Cargill has invested a lot of U.S. dollars in improving the plant,” explains Paitoon Uthaisang, the general manager of Starches & Sweeteners Thailand. “To run efficiently, we need a steady supply of root. We saw, clearly, that wouldn't happen unless we also invested in our community.”

Serving the community

While the business addresses suppliers with its farmer programs, Cargill is dedicated to serving the community with school literacy projects and Habitat for Humanity. Various programs have been implemented in the workplace as well to educate employees on safety, performance measures, employee engagement and customer satisfaction. Cargill also added a scholarship program for employees' children; 10 scholarships are awarded each year.

This Habitat for Humanity build near Cargill's tapioca plant is just one of many community-focused projects.

Children use a new library built by Cargill.