Before VOLD Had a Name, There Was a Belief

Some ideas begin as businesses. Others begin much earlier — as beliefs, values and conversations passed quietly from one generation to another.

For Gurnam Singh Likhari, the belief was simple: *nature gives us more than we realise, and its goodness should be respected, understood and made accessible.*

The thought feels especially relevant today.

Consumers around the world are becoming increasingly conscious of what they put into their bodies. The global organic food and drink market crossed *€136 billion in retail sales in 2023, with almost **99 million hectares of agricultural land* under organic management, according to FiBL and IFOAM–Organics International.

But wellness is not simply about putting the word natural or organic on a label. It is about knowing where ingredients come from, how they are produced, how they are handled and whether quality is being protected throughout the journey.

That matters particularly when it comes to herbs and traditional wellness. The World Health Organization recognises the widespread use of traditional medicine and emphasises the importance of *quality, safety, regulation, good agricultural and collection practices, and testing for contaminants and residues* in herbal products.

Even something as fundamental as spices requires care. India's FSSAI notes that ground spices can be vulnerable to adulteration and has documented examples ranging from starch and sawdust to artificial colours and other fillers. Its guidance encourages consumers to choose trusted, properly packaged sources and pay attention to labelling.

This is where an old belief meets a modern need.

*Pure ingredients deserve more than tradition alone. They deserve research.*

And research becomes meaningful when it is combined with traditional knowledge, responsible sourcing, quality standards and a willingness to keep learning.

This is the thinking that sits behind VOLD Energy USA — *rooted in nature, informed by traditional wisdom, and driven by research and modern thinking.*

But there is another important part of the story.

VOLD is also creating space for women to become part of this journey — learning, researching, contributing, creating and building. Many of these women come through the larger vision of the Likhari Foundation, where opportunity, guidance and skill development are central to the idea of empowerment.

Perhaps that is what legacy really means.

Not simply leaving something behind.

*But leaving a belief that continues to move forward — through people, through purpose, and through the next generation.*

— Inspired by a note from Gurnam Singh Likhari