In 2022, The Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit heeded the call of its first global client, Got Produce Franchising Inc., the first fresh produce franchise to grow hydroponic fresh fruits and vegetables, helping to earn the company its Certified B Corporation (B Corp) accreditation for its operation in Namibia.
A B Corp is a business that meets certain high standards in social and environmental impact and accountability established by the non-profit B Lab, which is highly coveted accreditation among investors.
A company must score at least an 80 out of 200 on the B Lab’s B Impact Assessment to become certified. The assessment enables companies to measure, manage, and improve their impact by answering a series of questions about business practices and outputs. In April 2024, Got Produce achieved its certification with a score of 129 with the help of the Fowler Center and the students who supported their mission along the way.
Over the course of four semesters, groups of three to five students from Case Western Reserve University and the Weatherhead School of Management, worked tirelessly with Got Produce’s CEO and founder, Deborah Walliser, providing a roadmap for the company to substantiate its sustainability efforts using hydroponics to improve agriculture productivity in the country known as one of the driest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. Namibia's agricultural sector is important because it contributes to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and provides a livelihood for most of the population.
Walliser is an internationally known and respected agronomist with a background in greenhouse production and space biology. Each semester she worked with a new cohort of students to get closer to the official certification.
“I couldn’t be happier with the work and energy,” Walliser said. “Just knowing they were there to assist and answer questions made the journey so much easier.”
Megan Buchter, director of the Fowler Center for Business, was introduced to Got Produce through Epoch Pi, a Cleveland based purpose-driven investment bank. She said working with Got Produce to achieve the B Corp certification provided students with real-world experiences that continues to have a direct impact on real-world problems.
“Vertical hydroponics technology was pioneered by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to help people in countries like Namibia develop their own farms,” Butcher said. “Our students assisted in the process of getting Got Produce recognized for their work in hydroponics to become B Corp certified, which is a first for a company in Namibia.”
B Corp companies must get recertified every three years, which the Fowler Center and its students will facilitate along with managing sustained goals.
Merry Ding, a Case Western Reserve undergraduate student, double majoring in Accounting and Finance and minoring in Art History, played a consultant role, pouring through an extensive amount of data and consolidated key metrics while communicating with analysts at Got Produce.
“Working on helping Got Produce achieve its B Corp certification combined my love of social impact and business,” Ding said. “It’s profit-for-purpose.”
Arjun Gopinath, a Weatherhead School of Management student getting his Master of Business in Analytics and Intelligence, worked on data verification and quantifying data from Got Produce to develop insights and validate the company’s social and sustainability initiatives. He helped create a dashboard that consolidated the data and which updates in real time.
“The experience provided unique access to people who are achieving things beyond the possible,” Gopinath said. “If driven by a noble calling, the universe can make things happen.”