Google Hangout: Conversation with the Ashoka “Nutrients for All” Gurus

 

Today, Ashoka, the world's largest organization of social entrepreneurs, announces the launch of "Nutrients for All" - a global movement to encourage leading social entrepreneurs and innovators to look at nutrients as the core deliverable and design direct nutrient interventions at each stage of the agricultural and food value chains:  in ecosystems, farming, food production, and wellness, to join in building this movement.  The question we ask is what would the world look like if nutrients themselves had real, tradeable, and investable potential? 

 

 

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Tags: #featnutrition

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BFP TeamPermalink Reply by Zahid Torres-Rahman on February 21, 2013 at 13:24

Really looking forward to this discussion.  As many of the UK-based members of Business Fights Poverty will know, hunger and nutrition have been put centre-stage by the UK Government as part of their G8 Presidency this year, and a coalition of NGOs has framed its campaign around tackling hunger.  For those particularly interested in the positive role that business can play in making "nutrients for all" a reality, then check out the Business Fights Poverty Nutrition Zone, supported by the Global Alliance on Improved Nutrition.

Permalink Reply by Marzena Zukowska on February 21, 2013 at 14:32

I'm particularly interested to hear everyone's thoughts on the regional breakdown of this broader nutrient value chain. What are the gravest nutrition problems facing Europe? How can a holistic approach to environment, agriculture, food, and health be the long-term solution?

Business is at a focal point - the connector of supply and demand. How can frame the conversation in a way that incentives all key players: farmers, consumer, and industry.

Permalink Reply by Liz Cullen on February 21, 2013 at 17:50

I think women entrepreneurs can provide a number of solutions to these issues.  For example, WEConnect International is bringing a number of entrepreneurs to markets who are selling gluten-free, sodium light products and selling to major retailers. There is a nutrition case and a business case!

Permalink Reply by Business Fights Poverty on February 21, 2013 at 16:56

If you've logged onto this page already to join the Google Hangout, please refresh your page now!  The video is now active, and we're nearly ready to start!

Permalink Reply by Marzena Zukowska on February 21, 2013 at 17:05

Hi everyone! We're starting in 5min. Apologies for the delay


BFP TeamPermalink Reply by Beth Jenkins on February 21, 2013 at 17:51

An idea for building a "nutrient replete population":  KeBAL, franchise based healthy food carts in Indonesia where grocery stores are limited, kitchens small or non existent, people have a habit of snacking on street food.  A partnership between Mercy Corps, Rabobank Foundation, and DSM:

http://www.globalenvision.org/2012/12/20/healthy-partnerships-make-...

Permalink Reply by Marzena Zukowska on February 22, 2013 at 16:48

BFP TeamPermalink Reply by Zahid Torres-Rahman on February 21, 2013 at 17:55

Can anyone share any examples of social entrepreneurs working in partnership with large companies to deliver better nutrition for low income communities?

Permalink Reply by Marzena Zukowska on February 21, 2013 at 18:01

The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food: nyti.ms/154Tqde

Given today's conversation around "nutrients" being the focal point of environment, food, health, finance...

What are everyone's thoughts?

Permalink Reply by Caroline Ashley on February 21, 2013 at 19:44

Moringa is an under-utilised nutritious tree crop.  We are working with three businesses that are seeking to develop commercial nutritious moringa-based supplements and products, but one of them is particularly interesting for this debate as is not targeting the export market but the local Madagascan market.   elimentaire sarl  is aiming to boost local nutrition through their sales. As with many such initiatives selling 'new' products to BOP markets, the strategy has to be a blended approach to markets: ie don't just rely on the base of the pyramid customers.  elimentaire sarl is exploring a range of markets, from school feeding programmes to middle-income customers.  At the IAP awards ceremony in November, where they were shortlisted, they recognised it is immensely ambitious!    They also kindly shared some of there strategies in a presentation here.  Their approach highlights the core problem that nutrition is 'nice' but does not yet have market value for the customers we want to reach.

elimentaire sarl is supported by Innovations Against Poverty to develop its marketing strategies.  More detail on moringa as a nutritional product is provided in relation to a different project, Moringa Miracles, which is  aiming at export markets, supported by Business Innovation Facility.   Both are on the Practitioner Hub on Inclusive Business.

Permalink Reply by Marzena Zukowska on February 22, 2013 at 17:10

Wow - really interesting. So growth, production, AND distribution/sale of Moringa in part occurs locally? I'd love to hear more about how you're involved with elimentaire sarl. At Ashoka, we're looking for these types of innovations that we can then connect to other projects along this broader "Nutrient Economy" value chain. We're inviting thought leaders like you and businesses/organizations like elimentaire to begin creating a larger and more holistic conversation around the topic of nutrition - not only that it's necessary, but that we need to know how to measure it and market it. The question of financing a "nutrient economy" is one of the main focal points of the "Nutrients for All" campaign that we just launched. It would be great to get your insights on the two pieces we published on our campaign site: http://www.changemakers.com/nutrientsforall


This one might be of particular interest: http://www.changemakers.com/nutrientsforall/blog/new-business-model...

Permalink Reply by Teyei Pam on February 21, 2013 at 20:59
Nutrients especially from agricultural farm produce can go a long way in the development of people and communities. Its value is large and can be achieved in various aspects and stagies. Organistions, governments and individuals in Nigeria are encouraging community based cooperative farming by providing technical trainings, high yield seedlings and exposing local farmers to potential markets.

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