People value growth. But sometimes we focus on growth too narrowly. Ironically, more often than not, the success of what we do is also what gets humanity into trouble.

Just picture being a beverage company, a cement company, or a chemical company 70 years ago. We were providing people with a sweet drinkable treat. We were supplying building materials essential for post-war reconstruction. We were making powerful agents available for applications across a wide spectrum of industries.

But since, the world has changed. Our products are now relied upon so extensively they have practically become an institution. And with the consequences of growth - the overconsumption of sugar, the overreliance on agrochemicals - comes great human challenges, such as diabetes, or soil depletion/desertification to name a few.

Growth is only truly rewarding, when it occurs constructively. But unintended consequences, sometimes called 'industry externalities', tend to reveal themselves only with time.

In today's world, there are many sustainability voices that seek to mobilize change through alarmist speech or even casting blame. At AGCTI, we believe that necessity is more compelling than urgency. People who find their reason to care are naturally driven to take responsibility beyond a narrow scope of performance or growth. Embracing a sense of responsibility is different from compliance, because we pursue sustainability by  choice. And that choice is the key to unlocking passion and meaning.