Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 463,055 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,971 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,971 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,215 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 463,055 cutting edge ideas.

Heirloom Sri Lankan Rice

Rural Returns Creates Market Solutions to Poverty

— December 27, 2011 — Social Good
Rural Returns is a social business that aims to alleviate poverty through market solutions. The first product that the team has created is heirloom Sri Lankan red rice. The actual design of a development-focused innovation can make all the difference. Execution and intention, of course, both have tremendous consequences (positive or negative) on whether an initiative fails or succeeds.

"We believe the best way to help such people achieve sustainable economic development is through their own efforts -- and by linking them with the resources and the markets to make the best of their abilities," Rural Returns writes on their website.

The red rice is now on sale in selected retail locations both in the United States and in Sri Lanka.

Contact Information:
Rural Returns website
Rural Returns on Twitter
Trend Themes
1. Market-based Poverty Alleviation - The trend of using market solutions to alleviate poverty presents an opportunity for businesses to create innovative and sustainable social impact.
2. Development-focused Innovation - The trend of incorporating development-focused innovation in product design opens up disruptive opportunities for businesses to address social challenges.
3. International Market Expansion - The trend of expanding market reach internationally offers businesses the chance to tap into new markets and increase their social impact.
Industry Implications
1. Social Entrepreneurship - The social entrepreneurship industry can leverage market-based poverty alleviation to create sustainable business models that address social issues.
2. Food and Beverage - The food and beverage industry can explore development-focused innovation to create unique and socially impactful products like heirloom Sri Lankan red rice.
3. Retail - The retail industry can benefit from international market expansion by sourcing and selling products from social businesses across different countries.
0.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness