CSR - A Fad or Necessity

In recent decades the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) turns out to be a vital strategy for companies to survive in a ruthless market environment. Adopting a CSR strategy is seen to be emerging as a survival tool in a condition where the market’s shift and customers’ preferences become more unpredictable & complex. Corporate Social Responsibility is essentially a concept whereby the companies emphasize & integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis. With high CSR standards, the companies testify its operational performance & demonstrate an ethical and sustainable approach of dealing with the environment & social impacts.

In India, the practice of CSR is gradually moving from institutional building to community development through various projects. Forasmuch as global influences and communities are becoming more active, CSR is turning out to be strategic and is getting linked with business. The Companies Act, 2013 has introduced the idea of CSR to the forefront that aims to promote greater transparency and disclosure.  Now companies have to comply with the requirements of spending 2% of their profits on CSR projects. This move inexorably places India in league with the global countries which follow robust CSR policies. It is no more an optional “add on” to business core activities but about the way in which business is conducted & managed.

Types of Corporate Social Responsibility Events:

Environment: The business corporations as part of their CSR initiatives voluntarily alter operating procedures to combat their environmental impact. The government has also stepped in to regulate carbon emissions and apply stringent rules to waste disposal.

Fiscal: Fiscal responsibility apropos corporate social responsibility extends beyond mere profit generation. The objective is to engage the most efficient procedures to minimize wasted capital.

Human Rights: The globalization of manufacturing has placed corporations in a precarious position with regards to human rights. Socially responsible corporations often make commitments not to purchase from overseas manufacturers that employ child labour or have poor safety records.

Philanthropic Works: Corporate philanthropy attempts to leverage investments in the community. The common instances of corporate philanthropy generally adopted include supporting or fully funding educational initiatives, scholarship programs and community beautification projects. Corporate philanthropy also signals the consumers that the business views itself as part of a social fabric, that tends to improve the entity’s own support system and enhances the loyalty of its workforce.

The companies are lately realizing the fact that CSR is not just about compliance with the New Companies Act, it is rather a strategic decision. HL Agro is one of those socially responsible companies that intrinsically links CSR to the concept of sustainable development and cautiously takes account of the economic, social and environmental impact of its activities on all the stakeholders. It has actively supported corporate social responsibility activities in its corporate governance. The entity maintains a colossal green zone area to preserve nature, strictly monitors the industrial pollutants/ emissions & enforces the advance waste management/ water treatment facilities to regulate its overall environmental performance. Dhamma Kalyan Centre is yet another example of HL Agro’s philanthropic CSR indulgence. The charitable meditation center set up on the outskirts of Kanpur is seamlessly engaged in imparting Vipassana meditation, the most ancient “Art of Living” technique & helping thousands around the world to overcome stress, depression & violent tendencies.

CSR brings full load of benefits aside from “ego-trip” as others thought.

Globalization in the present era, force many companies including small and medium enterprises to adopt CSR in order to remain competitive locally and in the international market. Moreover, buyers would want to know that the product they buy did not come from companies and manufacturing processes that caused or even poses threat to the environment. The companies having a good track record of offering fair wages, conducive working conditions and the alike earn pleasant stories in the media. Achieving Industrial peace, legitimacy, and access to markets is yet another consequence of a good CSR strategy.

CSR programs also help in responding to an emerging concern edging the difficulty of companies in retaining highly skilled and competent personnel or luring them to work in their companies. Companies with good business practices have clear advantages in convincing investors as well.

Deemed to be in the long-term interest of the business, CSR firmly contributes in building corporate reputation & trust once executed well.

HL Agro expands its global footprints via SIAL Paris 2018

Exhibits its processed array of Sesame Seeds, Corn Starch & Sweeteners at Booth F082

Kanpur, 04 October 2018: H.L. Agro Products, an accredited manufacturer & exporter of sesame & corn derivative products, today announced its programmed presence at SIAL Paris, the world's leading international trade fair for the food and beverage industry. The participation in such international food and beverage fairs is a pragmatic attempt of the entity to leverage the global outreach of its processed line of products & garner lucrative business opportunities.

SIAL Paris is the largest food innovation tradeshow dedicated to the agri-food industry, food retail, and institutional and commercial catering. This session of SIAL promises to the exhibitors & to the visitors the coherent global connections spanning the entire food industry, presenting ingredients, intermediary and finished products. More than 3,00,000 products, 160,000 buyers, and 7,020 exhibitors will be part of the show.

Running from 21 October-25 October 2018 at the Paris Nord VillePinte convention centre, this year’s event will be business as usual by bringing together Europe’s biggest food figures with the international customers who matter.  HL Agro returns to be a part the global food conglomeration with the vision to network with the food industry stalwarts & position its products directly with the import, manufacturing & distribution segments of the worldwide territories. At SIAL, HL Agro will be presenting its extended range of sesame seeds, corn starch, liquid glucose, & corn derivative products over their booth space F082 in Hall 5A.

Speaking on the participation, Mr. Akhilesh Sahu, Director of the company said, “SIAL is the world’s largest food innovation observatory to verge upon our potential buyers and we anticipate some rewarding global connections with the seasoned food manufacturers, buyers & thought leaders.” “With our participation at this edition in Paris, we intend to yet again be a part of a prolific platform and co-create trends that define the future of food industry,” he added.

Over the years, HL Agro is seamlessly driven by the passion to devise customer centric solutions for the food and ingredient industry. We have evolved as a renowned producer, marketer and supplier of sesame seeds, starch & corn-based food ingredients including native starch powder, liquid glucose syrup, maize fibre, germ and gluten.

* Pre-register as a visitor & find more information about SIAL 2018 -  https://www.sialparis.com/. 

* To avail free invites to the event, reach us on – info@hlagro.com

About HL Agro:

HL Agro Products Pvt. Ltd is the flagbearer of six decades old HL Group of companies headquartered in Kanpur, India. A company with a stronghold in agri business, HL Agro is known for manufacturing & consistently delivering a high-quality range of sesame seeds, corn starch, liquid glucose & other corn derivatives to the markets across & outside India.

The processing units at HL Agro are fully automated and well equipped with state-of-the-art technology, imported machinery making it truly the 21st century in its accomplishment. Built on the norms of Good Manufacturing Practices & HACCP guidelines, the plants are capable of processing 22000 MT sesame seeds annually & grinding 300 MT corn daily. HL Agro's sesame seeds processing unit is an SGS certified entity listed with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India Organic, USFDA, Kosher, Halal & USDA Organic and Export Promotion Council. HL Agro now endeavours to burgeon globally by elevating its starch & corn sweeteners portfolio with an array of, malto-dextrin, dextrose monohydrate, sorbitol, high-maltose corn syrup amongst others.

Healthy Oils to enrich your Cooking

Cooking oil is a vital and basic ingredient in any Indian dish. Whether it is a serving of mixed greens or main course, oil is used for cooking and to add flavors to any cuisine. However, picking the right cooking oil can spare you from heart infections, chlosterol blockages, stoutness and processing issues. Here is a combined pick of some health promoting cooking oils that can be used to prepare finger-licking dishes in the Indian cuisine:

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of sunflowers is known as It has a high quantity of vitamin E, which makes it excellent for being used in and cosmetic products. Sunflower oil is a mixture of monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids. It has a high smoking point, which means that sunflower oil holds onto its nutritional content at higher temperatures, which is probably why this oil is widely used in deep frying chips, samosas and vegetables.

People with diabetes may need to be careful about sunflower oil as it may lead to the possibility of increasing sugar levels

Groundnut Oil

Groundnut oil or peanut oil is got a good combination of fats, and has the good monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and is low in bad saturated fats. It’s a good all-purpose oil for cooking and I think it works particularly well for Asian Foods that are prepared in the wok.

Mustard Oil

Has a near ideal fat composition but not very good as it contains high amounts of erucic acid ranging from 35 to 48%. It is recommended that you don’t use mustard oil as the sole cooking medium. It has a high smoking point so it’s very good for deep frying.

Canola Oil

A recent entrant into the Indian market, Canola is flying off the shelves. Canola oil, which is made from the crushed seeds of the canola plant, is said to be amongst the healthiest of cooking oils. It has the lowest saturated fat content of any oil. It’s seen as a healthy alternative as its rich in monounsaturated fats and is high in Omega 3. It has a medium smoking point and is an oil that works well for fries, baking, sautéing etc. I use it liberally in Indian food, which it seems to embrace quite well.

Olive Oil

If you use Olive Oil regularly, you are consuming monounsaturated fats that will help you lower your risk of heart disease and breast cancer, and that’s possibly because of its high monounsaturated fat content, which lowers cholesterol. I find olive oil brilliant for any Mediterranean dish, brilliant with pastas and risottos, and it’s my top pick for breakfasts, works like a dream with eggs, pancakes, you name it.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is a light yellowish oil derived from the raw and toasted sesame seeds. Sesame oil comes in two colors. The lighter one is used in India and the Middle East, and is pressed from untoasted seeds. It has a mild flavour and a high smoking point. The darker variety has a distinct nutty aroma and taste and works very well in Asian food as a marinade or in stir fries.

Both types of oils are high in polyunsaturated fat but they should never be heated for too long. Sesame oil also contains magnesium, copper, calcium, iron and vitamin B6.

Coconut Oil

This oil is full of saturated fat. Studies suggest that diets high in coconut oil do raise total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Coconut oil also seems to raise HDL (good) cholesterol and it has the advantage that it behaves very well at high temperatures.

Eat Sesame Seeds to fortify Blood Sugar Levels

A large population of people these days suffer from high blood sugar level or a condition known as diabetes. But before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have a condition that is termed as prediabetes. Prediabetes is basically a situation in which a person has blood sugar higher than the normal amounts but definitely not as high as that found in diabetics. This condition is thus also known as impaired glucose intolerance and even impaired fasting glucose. Both diabetes and prediabetes can be risky and may pose a risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. But one natural food which can help tackle both is sesame seeds.

For prediabetics, early treatment can help prevent a full blown diabetes and lower risk of cardiovascular diseases too. Besides sesame seeds, nuts, whole grains and other seeds too can help reduce the risk significantly mainly because of the presence of fiber. Both white sesame seeds and black sesame seeds also contain antioxidants, minerals and phytosterols which too prove beneficial in reducing blood sugar levels. In a research conducted on about 20 persons suffering from prediabetes, a certain percentage of people were given a trademarked blend of sesame seed lignan extract and these individuals were later found to have improved glycemic levels. These individuals also have a reduction in total cholesterol, fasting blood sugar and oral glucose tolerance test.

For diabetics and prediabetics, the four minerals which are of extreme importance are zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium. In just about a quarter of a cup of sesame seeds, there is about 44.5% of daily requirement of manganese, 73.5% of daily requirement of copper, 18.6% of daily requirement of zinc and 31.5% of daily requirement of magnesium. Consuming all these four minerals on a daily basis can alter the metabolism of a person as these are associated with insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.

In order to make the most of natural sesame seeds or organic sesame seeds as far as treating diabetes is concerned; experts suggest that one must add them to a batter of homemade bread, cookies or muffins. Another way to incorporate sesame seeds in your diet is to consume it in the form of tahiniover breads or with other savoury snacks. There are numerous ways in which these seeds can benefit you and can be added to your diet. Diabetes and prediabetics must go an extra mile in trying to have them on a daily basis to find relief from heart threatening conditions.

Sesame Seeds: An essential ingredient of Asian & Middle Eastern Pantry

 

Sesame is an annual wild flowering plant domesticated and grown in the tropical regions of the world mainly for its edible seeds. All nature is of course magic and all magic is perhaps nature and nothing exemplifies this more than food. Sesame, one of the oldest known plants (and certainly one of the oldest known oilseeds), is native to India and has always been used in many different food preparations. Being a source of fat, it has been traditionally valued as a warm and life-giving food.

Makar Sankranti, the day when the sun moves into “maker” or Capricorn, signifying the end of winter, traditionally also a time for the new year in many agrarian communities around India, is associated with “til” or sesame. In some lores, this is the seed blessed by Yama, god of death, and hence associated with immortality. In others, it symbolizes Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort who brings in prosperity. It is easy to see the agrarian references. As a warming food and being rich in fat (and according to modern science, and good ) it is but natural for til to be a symbol of both longevity and prosperity and thus one of those ingredients that find pride of place on “auspicious” days such as Sankranti, when the darkness of winter is over and the sun is reborn to bless us with life and fertility.

Til is donated around time of the year traditionally and, of course, we all get to sample the joys of til laddoos, til pattis, and sweets like rewari in northern India.

Keeping health reasons aside, I love the nuttiness of these seeds. As such they are invaluable in dressings for salads and on sauteed vegetables, breads or buns. You can use the sesame seeds for any of these preparations even if you don’t want to make traditional the mithais out of them. Indian cuisines apart, sesame seems most predominantly used in Arabic foods as well as in Japan, where tan and black sesame seed varieties are roasted and used to make gomashio flavouring.

Gomashio is actually a fairly easy-to-make seasoning that you can put on the table and use as a sprinkling on just about anything — from rice and tofu to soups. You can toast unhulled sesame seeds and grind them with sea salt in about a 10:1 ratio. It is used to sprinkle on endamame too.

The all-pervasive, all important Tahina paste that goes into dips such as hummus. The taste of the chickpea dip is balanced and a note of complexity is added with the Tahini that is spooned into the mix. The oily paste made from toasted and hulled sesame seeds goes into not just hummus but also baba ganoush and all the Arabic halvas.

Why Tahini is a good for you nourishing treat

Tahini is a butter made from hulled, ground, and toasted sesame seeds. It is commonly used in North African, Greek, Iranian, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Tahini is a protein-rich paste that adds a heavyweight presence to any dish It is a major ingredient in hummus and baba ghanoush, a dip similar to hummus, made with eggplant rather than chickpeas.

Fast facts about tahini:

• Tahini is a paste or butter made from ground sesame seeds.
• It is a key ingredient in hummus and in baba ghanoush, an aubergine dip.
• It provides good amounts of protein and various minerals.
• Tahini is also high in calories, and it should be eaten in moderation.

Nutrition:

Tahini contains more protein than milk and most nuts. It's a rich source of B vitamins that boost energy and brain function, vitamin E, which is protective against heart disease and stroke, and important minerals, such as magnesium, iron, and calcium.

Most people prefer the paler type, made from hulled (skinned) seeds. The darker sort, made from unhulled sesame, is stronger-tasting and slightly bitter, but arguably healthier because many of the nutrients are in the husk. An alternative view is that the fiber in the husk impairs mineral absorption. Either way, tahini is nutrient-dense.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, a 2-tablespoon (tbsp) serving of tahini made from roasted sesame seeds and weighing 30 grams (g) contains:

178 calories
16.13 g of fat
6.36 g of carbohydrates
2.8 g of fiber
0.15 g of sugar
5.1 g of protein
That same 2-tbsp serving provides:

8 percent of magnesium
22 percent of phosphorus
14 percent of iron
12 percent of calcium

Tahini seems to contain large amounts of fat. However, only 2 of the 16 g found in a 2-tbsp serving are saturated. The rest are mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, known to be beneficial to the heart and overall health.

Sesame seeds also contain more phytosterols than all other nuts and seeds. These are important for their cholesterol-lowering and cancer-blocking effects.

There are many other nutrients in sesame seeds, but it is difficult for the body to absorb them due to their hard outer layer, or hull. Consuming sesame seeds in the paste form of tahini allows the body to absorb the nutrients they provide more efficiently.

Benefits: Tahini boasts a range of health benefits to enrich any meal.

 1.) Heart health

Being made from sesame seeds means that tahini can provide some of the benefits of sesamin and sesamol. These are lignans, antioxidant nutrients that can help support the immune system and balance hormone levels. Tahini is high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Studies have shown that consuming these types of fats can lower harmful cholesterol levels as well as lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The calcium and magnesium in tahini may also work to decrease blood pressure naturally.

2.) Cancer prevention
Lignans have a similar structure to estrogen. The sesamin and sesamol lignans in tahini can bind to estrogen receptors, which may protect against hormone-related cancers.

If you have a history of cancer it is important to talk to your doctor about adding supplements to your diet.

3.) Arthritis
A study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases saw patients with knee osteoarthritis given either glucosamine plus Tylenol twice a day, a standard treatment for osteoarthritis, or 40 g per day of powdered sesame seeds, comparable to 2 tablespoons of tahini.

The group consuming sesame scored higher on measures to test the inhibitions associated with knee osteoarthritis, reported less pain, and did not experience the side effects associated with Tylenol.

4.) Bone health
The high magnesium content in tahini is beneficial for maintaining healthy bones. Adequate magnesium intakes are associated with a greater bone density and have been effective in decreasing the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

One review of existing studies showed that magnesium might boost bone mineral density in the neck and hip.

5.) Diet
Tahini is a major component of classic hummus, a popular dip based on chickpeas. Anytime you add traditional hummus to a meal, you are eating tahini and gaining benefits from its sesame seed content.

Here are some quick tips for adding tahini to your diet:

• Top salads with a quick dollop of tahini.
• Make your own salad dressing using tahini.
• Dip vegetables into a tablespoon or two of tahini.

H.L Agro takes center stage at Iran Agro Food Fair in Tehran from 29 June -2 July' 2018

 

HL Agro Products, the noted manufacturer & exporter of food ingredient products, today announced it’s participation to the 25th edition of Agro food trade event befalling in Tehran Fairgrounds in Iran. The event expected to run for a course of four days between 29 June – 2 July’ 2018 visions to congregate the key market players, food manufacturers, industry experts & thought leaders to connect, share & ideate under one roof. Iran Agro Food, known as the largest and most famous international Food, Food Technology & Agricultural event in the Middle East, assimilates four specialized segments of the industry viz. –Iran Food + Bev Tec, Iran Bakery + Confectionery, Iran Food Ingredients, & Iran Food + Hospitality.

At the approaching session of Iran Agro Food, HL Agro will feature its flagship products – sesame seeds, corn starch, liquid glucose and attempt to grow its customer base amidst the import/ distribution segments in Iran & Middle East including food manufacturers, supermarkets/ hypermarkets, wholesalers, foodservice providers & importers/ trade agents.

HL Agro Products specializes in producing & delivering an agricultural gamut of food ingredients that are hygienically processed & stringently quality tested to bear the international standards of product quality & food safety. The company holds the necessary capacity to produce & meet any scale of demand for natural/ hulled sesame seeds, corn starch, liquid glucose & corn derivatives helmed by its technologically advanced automated processing units & robust supply chain mechanisms. This has gradually strengthened HL Agro’s overall performance and international existence, thus opening opportunities for the exploration of new markets.

With this year’s Iran Agro Food, the company visions to meet, explore the market trends and network with the decision makers in the food industry to align & garner business opportunities for its sesame & starch repertoire.

Speaking on the occasion, the Company’s Director, Mr. Akhlilesh Sahu said, “With increasing preference for the Indian origin agricultural products, our offering becomes all the more important for the above mentioned markets, hence to develop this further and improve our customer’s food manufacturing & culinary experience, we take pride in bringing upgradation & innovation to these categories.”  “Iran Agro Food represents an opportunity for us to showcase our globally competitive sesame seeds, corn starch, syrups & sweeteners and have more access to the opportunities in the Asian & Middle Eastern markets.” he added.

Iran Agro food promises 25 years of valuable business contacts between world market leaders from around the globe and professional trade visitors from all over Iran and its neighboring countries. HL Agro will leverage on this much-anticipated food confluence in a fit to secure global visibility & reach to the international markets.

HL Agro will be held at the Stand 31A.3 in the food sector Hall 31 A. The attendees interested in pre-scheduling a meeting at the show may write to us on info@hlagro.com.