Recently, I saw a post on an external blog and the hyperlink is right after my article.

As the course taught us, the concept of shared value can be defined as polices and operating practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing the economic and social conditions in the communities in which it operates.

There are a great number of typical small farmers living in rural areas across the globe. However, more than 70 percent of the world’s population are currently suffering the insecure food problem whom we rely on to produce about 70 percent of the global food supply.  How did some commercial giants help those people get rid of hunger?

Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee retailer, is building the capacity of smallholder coffee produces through loan programs, technology transfer and market access. Starbucks is devoted to cooperate with its supplier Keurig Green Mountain to provide tools and training to reduce hunger and poverty in the communities where they source coffee.

The shared value strategy of Starbucks is based on the increase of the productivity of smallholder farmers with combination of solving those smallholders’ living problem. With the increase of those farmers living standard and assurance of the food security, the total productivity is enhanced to some degree at the same time.

References:

External blog hyperlink:

Baldwin, C. (2014, October 16). How Starbucks and Green Mountain serve up shared value. <http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/10/16/world-food-day-starbucks-green-mountain-build-shared-value>

Course material:

http://www.waterhealth.com/sites/default/files/Harvard_Buiness_Review_Shared_Value.pdf