Technology in Water and Agriculture

Greg Allgood - Technology in Water and Agriculture

Mon, Mar 30, 2009

Discussion Summary:

Proctor and Gamble wanted to develop a technology to clean water for the poorest, and reverse engineered the process of a municipal water cleaning plant. The final product, called PUR, came in a small packet. It kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites while also filtering out heavy metals, pesticides, and organics. Communities that used PUR reduced diarrhea by 50%.

The product did not produce a financial return, so P&G spun-off a non-profit to distribute the product. Today, PUR is donated for humanitarian crises and is sold in local markets.