I’d like to speak directly to this as a long-time Ag industry insider whose experience does not support these suspicions. I know that some will dismiss this perspective assuming I am biased, but one has to balance potential for bias with actually having first-hand experience from which to speak.  Over the last 32 years I’ve work for or with most of the companies, large and small, that provide agricultural technologies.  Fourteen of those years have been as an independent consultant so I get to know what is going on inside of many companies in a given year.  I have still only had direct knowledge of a subset of what happens, but in all of that exposure I’ve never witnessed an unethical decision or action - not even the consideration of one.  I’ve seen certain decisions that were short-sighted.  I’ve sometimes seen decision-making processes that are more driven by fear than by opportunity.  I’ve seen missed opportunities because vision was lacking.  I’ve occasionally seen failures to take advantage of synergies that could have been realized between divisions of large organizations. I’ve seen problems, but I believe that some level of dysfunction is inevitable in any organization involving people.  Still, unethical behavior isn’t something I’ve seen so I disagree that it is automatically likely just because of the characteristics of the company.  

On balance I’ve also seen these organizations, large and small, frequently make important contributions to society in terms of the productivity and safety of our food supply.  I’ve seen these companies continue to do that in an environment of constant activist attack and very limited public understanding because so few people farm.

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At the annual conference of America’s Health Insurance Plans, (the corporate lobbying group that recently released a threatening report about how any inclusion of a public option in health care legislation would cause private insurers to grossly inflate their rates even more), attendees were entertained by the Billionaires for Wealthcare with their clever rendition of the ever hopeful song “Tomorrow“.

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Häagen-Dazs has a vested interest in preserving and rescuing honeybees, since nearly 40% of their flavours rely on fruits and nuts pollinated by bees.  But we shouldn’t dismiss this as mere self-serving business interests.  If anything, we should wonder why this sort of investment is not much more common.

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ExxonMobil, which has been hit before with environmental charges, will pay a $6.1 million penalty for failing to comply with pollution regulations in refineries in California, Louisiana and Texas. The company had agreed to reduce pollution in four refineries in those states, but came up short.

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Consider the gift of a green book this Holiday season.

Ecobrain, a green publishing company offers ebooks, the ideal green reading choice.  Ebooks can be instantly downloaded to your desktop. Ecobrain has a series of ebooks that make ideal reading for Ecopreneurs.

The Next Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-in, by Bob Willard ($16.95)

This book provides a compelling business case emphasizing the importance of how sustainability is presented to corporate leaders. It applies effective selling techniques to reposition sustainability strategies as a means to achieving existing corporate ends, rather than as a separate priority to worry about. It sells sustainability as a solution, a business strategy, and a catalyst for business transformation.

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For those of you who do not know already, Green Options Media has added a new blog to its blog network. The Inspired Economist is a business resource for the “New” Economy. It is the perfect read for individuals and companies who are passionate about economic, social, and environmental challenges.

The Inspired Economist was launched in response to the need for a business publication that covered the growing opportunities and issues surrounding sustainable business. The Founder, John-Paul Maxfield, is excited about joining the Green Options Network saying, “A partnership with Green Options is an incredible opportunity for the Inspired Economist and our readers. It will allow us to gain further visibility, as well as leverage a very talented writer base. It will effectively spread our mission to become the authority on a growing new approach to capitalism and the business framework that is sure to follow.”

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Via: CNN Money

Image:  Greenpeace

To find out the answers to these and other key questions, listen in when Linda Feinholz of Feinholz & Associates interviews green business expert Jeff Hayes, Principal of The Vector Group, on Thursday, May 17th at 10am (PDT). It's a free conference call, but you do need to register in advance (registration link is at the bottom of the page).

They will spend the hour discussing topics of importance to this growing segment, including the "gotchas" for emerging green businesses, such as how to seek the right kind of investors. They will also talk about how business service providers like CPAs and attorneys can intentionally attract a green clientele. One tip: green clients expect you to walk-the-walk. Just being able to spout the latest green catch phrases won’t cut it.

Having served small businesses since 1968, The Vector Group now helps their clients improve all three elements of the triple bottom line: profit, people, and planet. The company boasts experience in many varied industries, from a skateboard manufacturer to a beer producer to an exotic surf travel business.

Some of The Vector Group’s clients have seen revenues jump 40% in less than 12 months, and are now singing the company’s praises. Tony Guido of the industrial design firm grow-design calls Hayes "a personal trainer for green business" and Caroline Duell of Elemental Herbs just calls Hayes "my boss". If these testimonials are any indication, one hour of your time might just make a big difference in the success of your green business.