(NewsDakota.com/NAFB) – The Collaborative Sorghum Marketing Transformation Program Tuesday announced the launch of a venture capital platform.

The platform is dedicated exclusively to attracting capital for companies, projects and innovations that create opportunities for sorghum farmers. Board Director JB Stewart of Oklahoma says, “The number of opportunities to add value to sorghum farmers by attracting capital to our industry is truly unprecedented.”

The program matches private capital with funding to support startups and established companies investing in sorghum and facilitates a network of private investors seeking opportunities for competitive returns in agriculture. Fueled by relationships across the sorghum industry and the supply chain, the program leverages knowledge and financial flexibility to support startups, existing companies and investors bringing innovation to the sorghum industry.

Known as cSmart, the program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that comes alongside private investors by providing funding to startups and established businesses seeking to add new value to sorghum farmers.