New Business Models to Help Eliminate Food and Nutrition Insecurity: Roadmap for Exploration
J.B. Cordaro
This paper will explore the hypothesis that food manufacturers can deliver nutrition solutions to help eliminate global food and nutrition insecurity. The hypothesis will be tested by examining three interrelated aspects of the food and nutrition insecurity problem: (1) the statistics and grim consequences of hunger and malnutrition; (2) the obstacles that often present roadblocks for business to effectively utilize its range of expertise and capabilities to successfully market nutritious products to needy people in developing countries; and (3) the lack of successful experiences by food companies in building new business models to deliver market-based nutrition solutions. Next, the paper will express today’s more optimistic perspective for successfully addressing food insecurity, perhaps even eliminating malnutrition by 2030, and describe the growing momentum to do so through: (1) increased recognition of the need and value that development agencies, international organizations and other stakeholders see for supporting more transparent and essential roles for the private sector, particularly food manufacturers; (2) increased recognition of the adaptability of tools, expertise and capabilities of food companies to address food insecurity; and (3) a greater recognition by food companies of the longer term values of efforts to build new business models adapted to existing conditions among the underserved in developing countries, including inclusive and other innovative characteristics that involve local communities. Finally, the paper will offer a new methodological tool for business and other stakeholders to use in order to help overcome existing problems and obstacles by thorough assessments that seek to better understand consumer demand, supply requirements and specific enabling components and partnerships to reach success. This Roadmap is detailed in the form of a Decision-Tree Mapping Matrix (Tree) as the framework to help guide food companies and others in exploration of new business models for launching sustainable and resilient nutrition solutions. The Tree provides a roadmap for winning the battle against food and nutrition insecurity for hundreds of millions of vulnerable individuals in developing countries.