Mission
The mission of SALT International is to be a catalyst for economic and social development by establishing and supporting sustainable agri-businesses in lesser developed nations.
Background
The operation in Laos was started in 1995 under the name of Natural Products International, Inc. (NPI, Inc.). The first step was to set up a feed mill and teach over 1,000 farming families to grow soybeans. For many of those families, soybeans represented their first cash crop, in some cases nearly doubling their annual income.
The model in Laos gradually expanded to include selling seed soybeans, buying the harvest from the family farmers, processing the soybeans into animal feed and oil, and selling the feed. In addition, NPI, Inc. set up a hen house for egg production, and began work to establish farmer-owned layer farms.
Corn-Soy Blend
In 2005, NPI, Inc. set up a second mill to make human food using locally grown soybeans, rice and corn. This is the most profitable of all processing, but requires a great deal of training, and more expensive equipment. NPI, Inc. recognized this was the most dramatic way to impact a region’s ability to feed itself, and the surest way to ensure profitability and sustainability. NPI, Inc. continued producing corn-soy blend until 2006, when it ended its operations in Laos.
SALT International
In 2006, SALT International was established to take the lessons learned in Laos and apply them in other countries. SALT is currently operating in Northern Iraq and Afghanistan.