ASSIST was awarded Silver for the Best CSR & ESG Leadership Award at the 17 Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit and Awards 2025 for its AgriSagana project, a collaboration with Cargill. Organized by The Pinnacle Group International and the Sustainable Innovation Centre, the summit is Asia’s most prestigious recognition program for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) excellence. The awards honor companies for outstanding, innovative, and world-class projects that demonstrate ethical business practices, environmental responsibility, and social impact.
Cargill and ASSIST share a common goal of improving the lives of Filipino farmers and their families by enhancing their capacities and empowering them with tools necessary to thrive in an evolving socio-economic landscape. The AgriSagana project, inspired by the Filipino word sagana, meaning “bountiful,” aims to provide sustainable agricultural opportunities to smallholder corn farmers in Cagayan, Isabela and Quirino. Through a combination of training programs, infrastructure support, cooperative strengthening and market linkages, the initiative is helping farmers adopt sustainable practices, improve productivity, and secure better incomes.
At the heart of AgriSagana is its commitment to capacity-building and knowledge-sharing. The project aims to train 12,000 farmers through its CornVentions and Cooperatives GA (General Assembly) Caravan. Additionally, the project has strengthened 15 farmer cooperatives, improving their organizational management and governance, enabling them to provide better services to their members and gain accreditation as suppliers to institutional buyers.
To expand its reach and impact, AgriSagana launched the Corn Academy e-learning portal, designed to provide accessible and scalable agricultural training. By leveraging digital solutions, AgriSagana ensures that farmers—regardless of their location—can access valuable training materials and improve their farming techniques.
The project also emphasizes infrastructure development and sustainability. AgriSagana established six solar-powered post-harvest facilities, providing farmers by lowering operational costs and reducing their carbon footprint. By integrating renewable energy into post-harvest processes, AgriSagana is not only improving efficiency but also promoting climate-friendly agricultural practices.
Winning the Silver Award for the Best CSR & ESG Leadership at the Global CSR & ESG Summit and Awards 2025 is a testament to ASSIST’s commitment and AgriSagana’s impact on Filipino corn farmers in Northern Luzon as well as the broader agricultural sector. This recognition underscores the project’s role in strengthening food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and improving farmer livelihoods. This award-winning initiative, driven by Cargill and ASSIST, is planting seeds of change and shaping a more inclusive and prosperous future for Filipino farmers—one that ensures sustainability and security for generations to come.
