Halle Berry presents startup prize

(USA)

Oscar-winner Halle Berry has presented a startup striving to ‘end small-scale farmers’ poverty’ with a $400,000 cheque at a major awards event in Los Angeles.

Thai company Siam Organic was named winner of the Chivas Venture – the $1 million international hunt by Chivas Regal for pioneering young companies passionate about building a ‘better future for society’.  Siam Organic provides training in organic farming methods to enable farmers to grow a type of rice, called Jasberry rice, more profitably.

Peetachai (Neil) Dejkraisak – from Siam Organic – said: “I am so happy and grateful – this will have a massive impact. We have extremely limited resources, so to have funding like this from the Chivas Venture is just incredible. It will fast-track our project by 3 or 4 years – and save me a lot of grey hair and sleepless nights.”