Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Nestlé comments to e-consultation: Call for examples and good practices on investments for healthy food systems

Nestlé would like to thank the Committee on World Food Security for opportunity to share experiences and examples of good practices on investments to promote healthy food systems.

To give our submission some context, we would like to share with you some background. Nestlé touch billions of lives worldwide; from the farmers we work with to the individuals and families who enjoy our products, the communities where we live and work, and the natural environment upon which we all depend. Their challenges are our challenges. Their success is success in which we all share. Inspired by the scientific breakthrough of our founder, Henri Nestlé, guided by our values and with nutrition at our core, we work alongside partners to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. This means that for individuals and families, we offer products and services that enable healthier and happier lives. For our communities, we help develop thriving and resilient communities and support better livelihoods for those we live and work with. For the planet, we shape sustainable consumption and steward resources for future generations.

With regards to promoting healthy food systems, we understand that achieving nutritional balance remains a significant global challenge. Millions of people lack access to the right nutrition, while millions more over-consume foods and beverages that are high in key nutrients of concern, such as sugar, salt and fat. Addressing all forms of malnutrition – undernutrition, micronutrient fortification, and overweight and obesity – as well as encouraging healthy diets, requires concerted collective action from governments, public health authorities, industry and civil society. Nestlé would like to share a few brief examples on how it is addressing nutritional challenges and contributing to healthy food systems.

Addressing overconsumption through product innovation and renovation

Public health evidence shows that diets with lower salt, sugars, saturated fat and trans fats can improve health outcomes and decrease non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We aim to reduce the levels of these nutrients in our foods and beverages through science-based product renovation and innovation. Our research activities focus on understanding consumer habits, and seek to deliver tastier, healthier choices compared to others on the market. We continually work to reduce the levels of salt, sugars and saturated fats in our foods and beverages, to add more vegetables, whole grains and fibre, and to fortify them with micronutrients where they are deficient in the local population.

Last year our efforts included the following results:

- We reduced our added sugar content by 8%, the equivalent of 39000 tonnes. Our efforts in this area will continue through our new commitment to further reduce the sugars we add in our products by 5% by 2020.

- We reduced sodium content by 10.5% in our foods and beverages, equivalent to an overall salt reduction of 2700 tonnes. While this means we have exceeded our 10% reduction objective, our efforts in this area will continue through our new commitment to further reduce the sodium we add in our products by 10% by 2020.

- We reduced the saturated fat content by 6.5%, equivalent to 6200 tonnes. Developing new technologies, working with suppliers and farmers on new fats and oils, carrying out stability studies and investing in equipment are required to reduce saturated fats across our portfolio.

In addition to the aforementioned activities, we share our insights on global health and nutrition challenges, and engage with policy-makers, stakeholders and key opinion leaders, to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas and solutions that could positively impact millions of individuals and families.

Nestlé Nutritional Profiling System

We seek to continually improve our foods and beverages for children by assessing them all through the Nestlé Nutritional Profiling System (NNPS) criteria. Our consumer testing programme ensures a taste preference by at least 60% of consumers, while the NNPS guarantees our recipes make a positive nutritional contribution. Together, they form our 60/40+ programme. Our work begins with the NNPS criteria, which we use to determine how our foods and beverages fit into a child’s or adult’s daily dietary intake. We consider nutrients such as added sugars, saturated fats, trans fats, salt and energy content, as well as ensuring the nutritional contributions from calcium, protein, fibre and whole grain sources. When all the criteria for a specific category are met, a product is considered to represent an appropriate choice in the context of a balanced diet, thereby achieving Nestlé Nutritional Foundation (NF) status. Around 88.5% of our total portfolio has been assessed through the NNPS, and 95% of our foods and beverages for children achieved NF status in 2016.

In fact, two papers were published in April, 2017 on NNPS. The first paper is entitled “Nutrient profiling for product reformulation: the benefit for the consumer” (Authors: Undine Lehmann, Véronique Rheiner Charles, Antonis Vlassopoulos, Gabriel Masset, Jörg Spieldenner) and was published in the Journal Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (IF 4.7). The second paper is entitled “Testing the Capacity of a Multi-Nutrient Profiling System to Guide Food and Beverage Reformulation: Results from Five National Food Composition Databases” (Authors: Emilie Combet, Antonis Vlassopoulos, Famke Mölenberg, Mathilde Gressier, Lisa Privet, Craig Wratten, Sahar Sharif, Florent Vieux, Undine Lehmann, Gabriel Masset) It was published in Nutrients (IF 3.8).

Enhancing the micronutrient profile of its foods and beverages through fortification

The adequate and appropriate dietary intake of essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements (also referred to collectively in this document as micronutrients) are key to meeting nutritional requirements necessary for maintaining health and wellness at all life stages. It is estimated that worldwide more than 2 billion people suffer from some degree of micronutrient deficiency, the most prevalent being iron, vitamin A, iodine and zinc.

Ideally, nutrients that are essential for health should be obtained from a balanced and varied diet. For a number of reasons this is not always possible. Nestlé has over the decades acquired considerable experience in enhancing the micronutrient profile of its foods and beverages through fortification.

We fortify foods and beverages such as condiments, children’s milks and cereals to provide additional nourishment for vulnerable groups such as school-age children and expectant mothers. These products are all effective carriers for micronutrient fortification because they are consumed widely and frequently, building on existing eating habits. We focus our efforts on regions that face some of the largest burden of micronutrient deficiencies such as Africa and South East Asia. Of the 207 billion servings provided in 2016, 121 billion were fortified with iron (an annual increase of 23%), 113 billion with iodine (an 8% increase), 27 billion with zinc and 42 billion with vitamin A. Products can be fortified with one or several micronutrients.

For example, the popularity and market reach of our Maggi product range give us a solid platform for helping tackle micronutrient deficiencies at scale. Almost 103 billion individual servings of Maggi soups, condiments, seasonings and noodles were fortified in 2016, of which 59 billion were fortified with iron.

Biofortification to improve nutritional value of food crops

Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional value of food crops is improved through biological means such as conventional plant breeding. It differs from direct fortification in that biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during a plant’s growth stage, rather than through being added during processing. As such, biofortification could be used to reach populations where direct fortification may be difficult to implement. In addition, farmers who supply us with raw materials like rice and wheat will also have access to these fortified foods.

Biofortification requires a detailed study and analysis of the many factors that determine how a crop grows, working closely with the farmers that will grow it. We are collaborating with agricultural research institutes in several countries, working to develop and establish supply chains for biofortified crops, to ensure that commercial quantities will be available in the future. This is a complex process that can take years, and requires a careful and collaborative balance between stakeholders in difficult circumstances.

We are focusing on the most promising biofortified crops and have streamlined development work at our R&D centres from six staple crops in 2013 to four in 2014: maize, wheat, sweet potato and rice. For example, we are establishing a supply chain for vitamin A-rich maize in north Nigeria, where the average yield of maize in Nigeria is only 1–2 tonnes per hectare. Our aim is to significantly improve yield while at the same time providing the fortified crop for our own supply chain and for direct consumption by the local community.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share with your our work. The health of our company is intrinsically linked to the health and resilience of the society we operate in. For more information please visit http://www.nestle.com/csv

Dear All please find enclosed "The Italian National Program of Iodine Prophylaxis"

proposed by Ministry of Health - DGISAN and OSNAMI - ISS, Rome

Kind Regards

Denise Giacomini

Proponent

Ministry of Health – DGISAN  (General Directorate for Hygiene, Food Safety and Nutrition) and OSNAMI (Italian National Observatory for Monitoring Iodine Prophylaxis) ISS, Rome



Date/Timeframe and location

2017, Italy



Main responsible entity

Ministry of Health



Nutrition context

The Italian National Program of Iodine Prophylaxis.

To eradicate iodine deficiency disorders, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended salt iodization as the preferred strategy. Salt iodization is safe, equitable, largely self-financing and extremely cost - effective.  In Italy, a nationwide salt iodization program on a voluntary basis was implemented in 2005 after the approval of the law n.55/2005 aimed at preventing endemic goiter and other iodine deficiency disorders. According to the Law, iodine is added to course and table salt at 30 mg/kg in the form of potassium iodate and the availability of iodized salt in food shops and supermarkets is mandatory, whereas no iodized salt can be sold only on costumers’ request. Moreover, the law permits the use of iodized salt in the food industry and communal eating areas. In 2009 a nationwide monitoring program of universal salt iodization was implemented and the Italian National Observatory for Monitoring Iodine Prophylaxis (OSNAMI) was established at the Italian National Institute of Health with the aim of evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the nationwide program of iodine prophylaxis.



Key characteristics of the food system(s) considered

Micronutrient and Food System.

The recently published WHO guidance on dietary salt consumption in population recommended maximum 5 g/day salt in adults and even less in children 2–15 years of age. However, the WHO promotes both the implementation of programs to reduce population salt intake, as one of the cost-effective strategies to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases, and universal salt iodization to prevent and control iodine deficiency disorders. An optimal implementation of each program is ensured by promoting their commonalities and complementarities. Commonalities between the two programs are that both are aimed at improving public health; both programs adopt a multi-stakeholder approach and concern health promotion and prevention; both involve working closely with the food industry.

Over the years, the iodine nutritional status of the Italian population has improved.  Data collected by the Observatory OSNAMI showed that iodized salt sold in 2016 was 60% of all sold salt, whereas it was only 30% in 2005. This increment was essentially due to a multi-stakeholders approach, which implied a proactive involvement of scientific societies and civil associations, particularly the associations of patients with endocrine pathologies. However, despite of the increased sale of iodized salt, data provided by Observatory OSNAMI have recently shown that some Italian regions are still mildly iodine deficient and goiter is still prevalent in these areas.



Key characteristics of the investment made

In the last two years, the Italian Ministry of Health, DGISAN, has invested resources for research projects (developed by the Italian National Institute of Health) with the aim to monitor iodine nutritional status of the Italian population and to evaluate regional interventions. Again, the General Directorate for the Hygiene, Food Safety and Nutrition (DGISAN) organized, in cooperation with the Italian National Institute of Health, the first National Consensus Conference on the use of the iodized salt (6th April 2017). During the conference 13 Scientific Societies operating in the field of endocrinology, gynecology, pediatrics, and nutrition signed a POSITION Statement, on the safety of use of iodized salt in adults and children.



Key actors and stakeholders involved (including through south-south/triangular exchanges, if any)

The National Coordinating Group promoted this initiative for the Iodine Prophylaxis. This National Group was established at the Italian Ministry of Health (DGISAN) with the aim to provide a national strategy of the nationwide program of iodine prophylaxis. In the past iodine prophylaxis was an issue almost exclusively covered by endocrinologists because iodine deficiency disorders are frequently thyroid disorders, especially goiter which is the most frequent consequence of iodine deficiency.



Key changes (intended and unintended) as a result of the investment/s

With the signature of the aforementioned Position Statement, iodine prophylaxis in our country has become “a field of action” also for gynecologists, pediatricians and nutritionists.



Challenges faced

For the future, to improve the iodine nutritional status of the population and to simultaneously reduce population salt intake, DGISAN foresees to involve the food industry and the communal eating areas more actively, upon the principle of a multi-sectorial and multi-stakeholders approach, as recommended by WHO. In fact, recent data of the Observatory OSNAMI have shown that the use of iodized salt is less than 10% in the food industry and about 25% in the communal eating areas. These low percentages imply that the iodized household salt is still the major contributor to iodine intake in our country. Since in industrialized countries only 10-20% of the consumed salt is household salt, whereas most of the daily salt intake is due to salt used in food production, it will be critical to convince the food industry to use iodized salt in their products to successfully correct iodine deficiency in Italy.



Lessons/Key messages

According to these WHO recommendations, in the last years DGISAN and OSNAMI have implemented policies to synergize salt reduction and iodine fortification strategies. Currently these are focused on: i) the engagement of different  departments in support of universal salt iodization and effective policies and regulations to reduce salt consumption; ii) communication to population by promoting campaigns  sharing messages emphasizing the importance of reducing salt and optimizing iodine intake.

Please find below an example submitted by Switzerland, responding to the call for examples and good practices on investments for healthy food systems.

With best regards,

Marlene Heeb

Programme Officer

Global Programme on Food Security

Department Global Cooperation

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA)

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Proponent

Switzerland



Date/Timeframe and location

2015-2018, Zambia - Uganda



Main responsible entity

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)



Nutrition context

Micronutrient deficiency is particularly prevalent in countries where diets consist heavily of starchy staples. Limited availability and accessibility of nutrient rich foods such as fruits and vegetables throughout the year and low recognition of the value and importance of a diverse diet for improved health reduces their consumption. High levels of malnutrition are also associated with high levels of gender inequality.  Among others, the distribution of nutrients within a household is often biased towards the male head of household and not favoring the household members most in need, i.e. children and lactating mothers.

Chronic and acute malnutrition affects over 200 million children under 5 years of age and more than two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiency.

Zambia has one of the highest rates of stunting in the world with 40% among children under five. Micronutrient deficiencies among children are 54% for vitamin A, and 53% for Iron. In Uganda, 29% of the children under five are stunted, while 11% are underweight and 4% are wasted. Aside from the moral imperative with poor development and lost lives, the economic cost of malnutrition has been estimated to be as high as US$775 million between 2004 and 2013 in Zambia. In Uganda, the incentive to invest in nutrition is high. Every Dollar invested in nutrition result in economic benefits at least six times more.



Key characteristics of the food system(s) considered

In Uganda and Zambia, the food systems are diverse with both local (short) and long value chains, affected by seasonal variations, current consumer demand and cultural, regulatory, social and economic factors.

Zambia: About 60% of the Zambia population live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for livelihoods and food. However, Zambia is marked by relatively low agricultural productivity and diversification. Maize production predominates, and is the main cash and subsistence crop. The lack of crop diversity is reflected in dietary practices, which are predominantly staple cereal based with little diversity and hence is one of the main contributors to the high malnutrition rates. Some foods, e.g. fish are subject to seasonal availability and have begun to decline for a variety of socio-ecological pressures. Mono-cropping also affects the ecosystem, and climate change, reduced crop yields, livestock disease and reduced fish supply are adding to the challenges that communities face. The commercialization of small-scale agriculture, which dominates the rural economy, is an important element in Zambia’s economic growth strategy. Over 300,000 smallholders are linked to agribusinesses through more or less vertically integrated value chains, and the supply chain almost always incorporates intermediary traders. Although, there is a concern that commercialization may not benefit the smallholders, public private partnerships in extension, for example, could improve value chain and increase benefits going to smallholders. Additionally opportunities exist in the horticulture sector, offering an incentive for farmers to diversify and also providing these nutritious foods at an affordable price to poorer consumers.[1] In Chinsali and Isoka, where the investment is made, the food systems are ‘traditional’ (i.e. ‘low external input-intensive food systems’)[2] Crop yields and livestock productivity are generally low and if sold in local markets, commodities are relatively unprocessed. Agricultural production, commodity and food trading and processing takes place in small-scale operational units, which have little or no commercial linkages outside the local region. Typically, market relations are spot exchange, in which commodities are traded for immediate delivery. The majority of the food consumed comes from within the local area and consumption patterns are often seasonally dictated.

Uganda: In the Western region, where the investment is taking place, high rates of malnutrition persist and diets lack diversity, although the region is fertile with high agricultural production and potential for diversification. With stunting levels of 41% compared to 28% national average,  Tooro region has the highest levels of stunting for the under 5 in the entire country Growing pressures on farming households to sell nutritious produce for cash is a factor. Additionally increased cash cropping affects the soil and the gap between actual and potential yields is widening. The annual cost of environmental degradation, including agricultural driven encroachments, soil erosion and water pollution, is high. Over 73% of all households and the majority of the poor in Uganda depend directly on agriculture. Although there is more diversified food production in Uganda compared to Zambia, the diets are still mainly composed of cereals, starchy root crops and plantain, illustrating that the linkage between production, household food security and nutrition, particularly amongst vulnerable groups is complex. However, there is an opportunity to develop food system interventions which address the impact pathways to improved nutrition, including gender, and social and behavior change. This is relevant to Uganda where food systems are changing. For example rapid urbanization and improvements in roads and infrastructure are driving a massive growth in trade from the rural hinterlands to the capital [3]



Key characteristics of the investment made

The investment consist of a project aiming to improve food and nutrition security through the adoption of agro-biodiversity and dietary diversity at the intra household level.

It’s implemented in 4 districts in Uganda and Zambia: Kasese and Kyenjojo in Uganda and Chinsali and Isoka in Zambia. The Project has reached 4900 households in Zambia, a total of 25’480 people, and 12’310 households in Uganda, covering a total of 66’532 people.

The intervention model is based on four integrated pillars

1. Triggering demand: This is achieved through building capacities among local leaders and district level service providers for triggering and maintaining demand for intra household dietary diversity.
2. Behavioral change: Effective behavioral change communication nuanced to all varied target groups, such as pregnant and lactating women, is anchored in local practice and is community owned to ensure long-term sustainable behavior change in improved dietary diversity, nutrition and agro-biodiversity at intra household level
3. Diverse supply: Appropriate, affordable and diversified nutritious products are available at scale supported by locally-available and locally-managed inputs, extension services and market linkages
4. Governance: national multi-sectoral governance capacity for intra household dietary diversity and improved nutrition is strengthened through the establishment and/or strengthening of district level nutrition coordinating committees. The Right to Adequate Food is a human right and as governments are duty bearers for realisation of that right, the project anchors its work in local and national structures to ensure sustainable change and scalability to national level.

See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j0PgN6u1FE



Key actors and stakeholders involved (including through south-south/triangular exchanges, if any)

National Partners:

• SUN Focal Point of the governments of Zambia and Uganda
• District Nutrition Coordinating Committees
• Health and Agricultural service providers (Village Health Teams, Extension Services, etc.)

International Partners

• SNV Netherlands Development Organization
• Wageningen University CDI
• Royal Tropical Institute KIT

​​​​​​​Key changes (intended and unintended) as a result of the investment/s

Outcome 1: Capacities among local leaders and district level service providers for triggering and maintaining demand for intra household dietary diversity at scale built.

At the start of the project, capacity amongst various district staff to create demand for nutrition at the village level was limited, but has significantly improved since and district staff has now the capacity to implement and upscale the approach as part of their own district plans.  Gender being a critical component of the project, triggering sessions addressed communities as a whole, involving men and women, elders, adolescents and children.

This provided a unique opportunity for men to become sensitised to the impact of malnutrition on their children. Often nutritional counselling involves only mothers when they take the children for growth monitoring visits at the local health centres.

Outcome 2: Effective behavioral change communication nuanced to all varied target groups, such as pregnant and lactating women, is anchored in local practice and results in improved dietary diversity, nutrition and agro biodiversity at intra household level

The triggering of the villages resulted in first tangible and measurable behaviour changes. The BCC campaigns reached the majority of households in the intervention area and the following results are observed after 1.5 years of intervention: 61% of the households from target population in Zambia and 78% in Uganda eat 3 meals a day. Dietary diversity has improved, from being largely staple cereal based.

Outcome 3: Appropriate, affordable and diversified nutritious products are available at scale supported by locally-available and locally-managed inputs, extension services and market linkages

In Zambia 48% of the targeted households and 72% in Uganda established gardens, producing various types of vegetables and other crops, like green Amaranthus, carrots, rape, black night shade, orange fleshed sweet potatoes, cow peas, cassava, maize, pumpkin leaves, beans, groundnuts cow peas. Local input system has also improved, producing its own seed for sale and extension services include nutrition dimensions in their service provision.

Outcome 4: national governance capacity for intra household dietary diversity and improved nutrition is strengthened

The establishment of two District Nutrition Coordinating committees, one in Zambia and Uganda each led to combined district nutrition plans whose implementation is well coordinated. Intersectoral coordination has greatly improved, with individual departments sharing resources, skills and monitoring district progress in a coordinated way. This has improved district performance and increased efficiency in implementation of activities.



Challenges faced

The multi- and inter-sectoral implementation of the approach at the district level was challenging and during the course of the project, it was recognized that another coordination layer was needed at the sub-district level i.e. A Hub level Nutrition coordination committees (HNCC). This created greater ownership and has made project implementation and monitoring very cost effective and sustainable.

Another finding is that effective community mapping and behavioural research is critical to identify all the factors involved in influencing positive behaviour change.



Lessons/Key messages

Increasing governance capacity and knowledge at local level has shown to be most effective for improving nutrition outcomes.

The creation of the multi-stakeholder partnerships (Nutrition Coordinating Committees) at the lowest governance level possible (sub-district vs District level) is crucial for ownership and successful service provision to improve nutrition.

To spark behaviour change among communities, triggering approaches proved very successful, as they make communities take a critical look at their behaviours related to production systems, consumption patterns, diets and nutrition and hygiene. This in turn leads to a realisation that malnutrition (stunting) is an issue, affecting the health and development of their children and locally available solutions are possible.  

Dear

Kindly find attached the State of Qatar report for your kind information and care

Regards

Dr. AlAnoud Mohammed AL-Thani

Manager, Health Promotion and NCDs

Ministry of Public Health

Dear All,

Below the description of Italian experience of revision of FBDG. Interesting in this context the National Experience of combiining nutrition, health protection and prevention of NCDs, sustainability of food production and revitalization of Traditional Mediterranean Diet principle. An experience to be shared,

Best

Laura

Proponent

Centre of Research on Food and Nutrition, Rome



Date/Timeframe and location

Italy 2017



Main responsible entity

Public Research Body



Nutrition context

Revision and updating of the Food Based Dietary Guidelines

The Guidelines are intended to protect people’s health in situations where socio-economic factors have determined overabundance of resources and consequent effects on human health. The opportunity and the need of a periodic revision of the Guidelines could be easily explained. In fact, in line of continuity with previous editions, - this is the fourth for Italy - there is a need of updating the continuous development of scientific knowledge on the role of single nutrients and the minor components of the diet and its needs and mutual relations in the context of a balanced diet. Secondly, there should be take into account, the change of consumption habits and lifestyle behavior, in the context of a society that increasingly shows attention to correlations between diet and health. Thirdly, the increasing interests towards the correlations among nutrition and diseases related to usual diet excessive and/or unbalanced and the confusion and misinformation about the roles and functions of food and nutrients.



Key characteristics of the food system(s) considered

New themes for next revision of Italian Guidelines will be the environmental impact of food consumption and the economic cost of a healthy diet. In fact, food production is creating environmental problems in different ways and the long-term sustainability of food production is becoming an increasingly relevant issue. While these subjects are, at some extent, far away to the classical dietetic approach, it is appropriate to consider them in the framework of nutritional guidelines in order to promote a dietary model that combine consumers’ health and sustainability. In addition to that, costs of foods and waste reduction were also treated.



Key actors and stakeholders involved (including through south-south/triangular exchanges, if any)

Coordination (former National Institute of Nutrition):

• Editorial Committee
• 13 Chapters’ Coordinators
• 47 Representatives from the 3 research areas, food, nutrition, consumers and food consumption.

42 national members:

• Ministries - Agriculture, Health, Education, Environment.
• Research bodies – National Public Health Institute, National Council of Research.
• Academia, the most representative nutrition faculties at national level.
• Scientific societies, nutritional, general medicine, etc.
• Consumers associations.

External reviewers



Key changes (intended and unintended) as a result of the investment/s

The Italian Guidelines for healthy nutrition are built on the basis of Mediterranean diet principles, a model that has gained fame and honour, being the model that combine prevention of NCDs, longevity, health combined with consumers’ acceptability. Foods variety vary from country to country, as well as eating habits; This exercise demonstrate that the possibility for realization of a healthy diet as part of a healthy lifestyle is a possible challenge. It is now possible to decline the principles of Traditional Mediterranean diet according to local foods and eating habits.



Challenges faced

Comprehensive efforts in promoting sustainable practices that are nutrition and health oriented, both from the point of view of production and consumption, are not limited, however, to the national scale.



Lessons/Key messages

The creation of a healthy food environment combining consumers’ health protection, environment need efforts at different level, policy, programs, individual, research.

There is a need of increasing plant food production in particular fruit and vegetable as well as increase vegetable protein source food.

Promotion of nutrition sensitive products need to take into consideration the impact of massive plant food production in term of food waste and water consumption.

The cultural change that Italy is going to promote in the next revision of nutritional guidelines is related to the general approach to nutrition considering that it is the whole dietary pattern is protective for health and environment than single food or ingredient.

Investments on clean food system should consist of investment on nutrition education, clean drinking water, food items free from pesticide residues, good cooking practices, good serving practices and zero wastage.In India there are organized kitchens in Gurudwaras,Temples and Churches serving food to lakhs of people at a time.There are community kitchens during marriages, festivals and social gatherings when prefered foods are cooked and made available hot.There are also chain of restaurants serving city residents and kitchenless homes with good food.Food safety is an issue where food inspectors visit and certify the standards maintained.Despite every efforts food poisoning due to aflatoxins is rampant.Issue of alergy to certain items like nuts needs to be studied.It is important that vegetables and fruits are included in nutritive foods."Food is thy medicine " is a much quoted statement of Hippocrates.

Dear all

Just to remind that climate change is an important issue which has impacted and will impact on food system all over the globe.

Quality and quantity of food depend on the climate condition; climate factors are under effect of climate change.

So I think it is a need to have a big chapter titled climate change and food security.

Also water; food security and nutrition; and climate change.

Any evaluation and consideration needs to be according to clear indicators.

C&I should be used as necessary part of your study.

Best wishes,

Mostafa Jafari

English translation below

Bonjour, veuillez recevoir les propositions de l'ONG AADECOM.

Cordialement,

Hamadoun A. HAIDARA

Promoteur

Hamadoun Almahai HAIDARA

Président de l’AADECOM

République du Mali



Date/échéancier et lieu

Mai-Septembre 2013



Principale entité responsable

ASSOCIATION D’APPUI AU DEVELOPPEMENT COMMUNAUTAIRE DU MALI

‘’AADECOM’’



Contexte nutritionnel

Prise en charge nutritionnelle des enfants de 0-59 mois et FEFA dans le District Sanitaire de Santé de Kangaba, Région de Koulikoro, République du Mali.



Principales caractéristiques du (des) système(s) alimentaire(s) considéré(s)

-Dépistage/référencement des enfants malnutris et des FEFA ;

-Distribution de produits nutritionnels ;

-Démonstration culinaire à base de produits locaux



Principales caractéristiques de l’investissement consenti

-Dépistage de masse en porte à porte ;

-Séances d’échange sur les problèmes nutritionnels et la sécurité alimentaire ;

-Causerie-débats ;

-Visite à domicile des enfants et FEFA pris en charge par le projet.



Principaux acteurs et parties prenantes impliqués (y compris, le cas échéant, moyennant des échanges sud-sud/triangulaires)

L’ONG AADECOM, les communautés et populations concernée, les leaders communautaires et les autorités.



Principaux changements (escomptés et inattendus) résultant de l’investissement/des investissements

Le changement de comportement des populations ayant bénéficié du projet à travers l’usage des produits locaux.



Défis rencontrés

Problèmes de compréhension des stratégies par les populations concernées.



Leçons/messages clés

Connaissance des mécanismes d’intervention auprès des populations.

Proponent

Hamadoun Almahai HAIDARA.

President of AADECOM [Association d'Appui au Developpement Communautaire du Mali, Malian Community Development Association]

Republic of Mali.



Date and Place

May - September 2013



Main responsible entity

ASSOCIATION D’APPUI AU DEVELOPPEMENT COMMUNAUTAIRE DU MALI (AADECOM)



Nutritional context

Assuming responsibility for nutrition of children from 0 - 59 months and FEFA [Femmes enceintes et allaitantes malnourries, malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women] in the District Sanitaire de Santé [Health District] of Kangaba, Koulikoro Region, Republic of Mali.



Main characteristics of the food systems considered

- Screening/registration of malnourished children and pregnant and breastfeeding women;

- Distribution of nutritional products;

- Culinary demonstration based on local products.



Main characteristics of the agreed investment

- Massive door to door screening;

- Meetings to exchange information about nutritional and food security problems;

- Discussions - debates;

- Home visits to children and pregnant and breastfeeding women covered by the project.



Main actors and parties involved (which includes, unless otherwise stated, south-south/triangular collaboration)

The NGO AADECOM, communities and populations concerned, community leaders and authorities



Main changes (expected and unforeseen) resulting from the investment(s)

Changed behavior of the population through the use of local products.



Challenges encountered

Problems of understanding of the strategies by the populations concerned.



Lessons/key messages

Knowledge of mechanisms for intervention among the population.



 

A Novel Financing Mechanism to Start and Sustain Rural Agriculture Projects

In a considerable number of areas, how to finance and sustain rural agricultural projects is a major stumbling block to providing a decent livelihood to rural youth, and to moving towards better nutrition and greater food security. This proposal presents a financing mechanism that may be used to attain those objectives.

All available evidence suggests that the success rate among local agricultural projects is greater than that among the larger regional and national ones. Moreover, wide-spread poverty and unemployment in the rural areas continue to drive the rural youth to cities exacerbating the already considerable urban problems, and greatly threatening the most important food supply in developing countries by depopulating the village farms.

It is envisaged to cover three main areas of rural food production, viz., cultivation, animal husbandry, fishing and aquaculture. Moreover, it may be profitably used in any suitable processing, transport and storage, and marketing activity on a cooperative basis. However, before we proceed any further, it is important to outline the conditions absolutely necessary for its success and sustainability.

General Requirements:

1. Very often, rural unemployment rates are high. Therefore, projects ought to be labour-intensive to benefit the maximum number of people.
2. Potential project participants often do not have the agricultural competence, i.e., knowledge and skills relevant and appropriate for the area. Therefore, a suitable on-the-job training programme should form an integral component of each project. While its range may depend on the relevant background knowledge and skills of the participants, its relevance and appropriateness to the local conditions must be strictly ensured. As a general rule, use of the ‘latest methodology’ is a sure road to failure.
3. Relevance and appropriateness of what is chosen to produce should be ascertained with reference to the local food culture. Not only does it ensure bio-diversity in food production, but also indicates what is best produced under the local geographic and climatic conditions. It is always a mistake to introduce cultivars or animal breeds whose introduction and use is expensive relative to the local living conditions. Our aims are providing a decent living to the rural youth and better local nutrition and greater food security.
4. It follows from the arguments above that the cost of the methods and implements used in projects should be compatible with the local cost of living, and repair and maintenance of tools in use must take into account that cost as well as the level of local knowledge and skills.
5. It is essential that no project results in environmental degradation, and it is highly desirable that every project contributes to environmental regeneration as much as possible. This would ensure that the local ecosystems services could satisfy a greater part of some needs of projects like water, soil fertility, etc.  This in turn would reduce cost of the projects.
6. It is important to site a project at a place conveniently near to existing water, rail or road transport so that its produce may be quickly sent to where it is needed. But if this is not available, select a place from which the produce may be transported at the least possible cost and the fastest possible speed.
7. One of the greatest obstacles to the sustainability of these projects is corruption at national, regional or at the local level. Its source may be the authorities, bureaucrats or the field officials involved in agriculture. One of the realistic ways of combating corruption is to make projects not lucrative enough to tempt the corrupt, but enough to enable the rural youth make a decent living. At the same time, judicious use of publicity to combat corruption may be used after careful consideration.
8. The mechanism proposed below represents an evolutionary approach to a world-wide problem. At the start, it will be very labour-intensive to provide as many employment opportunities as possible, and use materials and methods best suited to local capabilities, climate, geography, etc. As a certain minimum number of projects are established in an area and become sustainable, they may be expanded and/or improved as required in an environmentally sustainable way. However, it would be difficult to use this mechanism where the security of the civil population is under any physical threat.
9. A major difficulty most rural agriculture projects face is how to dispose of their produce at a fair profit, i.e., fair to both the producer and the end-user. As the commonest selling systems are only motivated by gain for themselves, it would be best to link the projects envisaged here to cooperative outlets, family-run restaurants/cafes, etc. Providing quality food stuffs at a fair price is the best way to ensure a sustained demand without resorting to expensive and mendacious advertising.
10. It is essential that the law of the land is able to guarantee a secure land tenure, grazing, biased fishing or forest harvesting rights to the participants of a project. Moreover, it should guarantee them significant tax benefits and protection of their investment.

Meanwhile, regardless of how it provides food for sale, success of a project is closely tied up with the extent to which the following local requirements may be met:

I. Good will and the willingness of the local leaders, elders and authorities to help and encourage the local youth to participate in such projects, and their willingness to share their knowledge and skills with the project participants.

​​​​​​​II. Having adequate resources to establish and run local training centra to provide a sound on-the-job training to rural youth in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries or stewarding and harvesting forest products. It would be highly desirable to reward the participants during their training period in some suitable way, which may vary considerably.

​​​​​​​III. While a training centre may serve trainees from several areas, it is crucial that the training is relevant and appropriate, and totally practical with respect to a specific type of a project.

​​​​​​​IV. It would be wise to ensure the availability of arable land, access to grazing, fishing grounds, forests, etc., well before training programmes end.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​V. It is necessary to establish the support services needed for the next phase well in advance. These may include seed, animals, fish for aquaculture, some fertilisers, guidance en route, etc.

My reason for this longish preamble is quite simple. Unless its organisers ensure those two sets of requirements are met in advance, no financial mechanism could make a project a success. In the real world where the rural youth everywhere is tempted to migrate into cities in the belief that they have a better chance there,  their retention at home calls for full and honest cooperation among all age groups there to help them to earn a decent living. In many instances, not enough ground work is done locally to obtain a truly inclusive approach.

The Financing Mechanism:

The mechanism proposed here is neither a loan nor a grant, but it combines a loan’s capacity to motivate a person to work well in order to repay it, and the freedom a grant offers by removing the need to worry about whether a person will be able to pay the next instalment of a loan. As it will be seen, it offers an additional incentive by enabling a person to convert the amount received for a project into a personal saving with no strings attached.

Here, the first step is to establish a fund for the exclusive use of rural agriculture projects and their adjuncts as outlined earlier. It would be desirable to open contributions to the fund to anyone provided that its administration remains solely in the hands of a suitable international organisation like the FAO. However, it is envisaged to be administered by a small number of people in order to cut costs. What means may be used to raise funds will have to be worked out in detail.

It would be advisable to entrust FAO’s country offices to administer financing the projects undertaken in a country as it entails less administrative organisation and expenditure. As the first step, an FAO country office may open an account in a reliable bank in a target country specifically for this purpose. The amount deposited for the purpose will depend on the number and nature of the projects involved.

Before the operations could commence, it is important to map out the food products for which there is a sustained need, the areas best suited for their production/harvesting, etc. One of the most important criteria of this suitability is how little ecosystem supplementation would be necessary for the success of a project, i.e., irrigation, use of fertilisers and biocides, etc.

The next step would be to obtain the necessary agreement and guarantees from the local authorities, and to form groups of skilled field workers with relevant knowledge and skills to   organise and run the local projects. Each group may need a person with appropriate managerial skills, but the emphasis should be on people with skilled in relevant food production/harvesting.

Before selected personnel are engaged, it would be useful to make dependable arrangements to establish and run the training units, land tenure, fishing, grazing and forest harvesting rights, etc. It is crucial to recall at every stage that time is of the essence, and those who migrate out of their rural homes are difficult to bring back. Therefore, a rapid start to projects based on rough and ready data is much more preferable to those that require precise data before they begin.

How the rural youth and their elders may be motivated to act in unison for mutual benefit varies widely, and ought to be left to the discretion of the local field workers who have an insight into local socio-cultural norms. These additional remarks, though not related to financing are given to ensure that one may obtain the best possible results under circumstances that do not make life easy for most rural populations.

Once the cost of a set of local projects has been ascertained by its manager and the field workers, the amount of money each project participant would need to carry on the work and to live reasonably   relative to the local living conditions for one year will be calculated. The latter amount will be called the individual cost of participation (ICP). As a participant begins to work on his/her own project after a suitable training, his/her ICP will be deposited in a nearby bank, post office savings account, or some such.

A participant will have the right to draw on ICP funds provided that it is approved by one’s mentor who helps and supervises the participant. A mentor should be acceptable to all parties and possess demonstrable skills in the area covered by the project concerned. Money may be drawn for two specific purposes, viz., project expenditure and one’s personal cost of living. What percentage of ICP should be used for each purpose has to be determined by the participant and the mentor with reference to local living conditions.

Using the money drawn on required items through a local cooperative might prove to be the way to avoid unnecessary complications and over-spending that would surely arise when it comes to purchasing items needed for a project and things required for personal use. Such cooperative shops/bulk purchasing units may be financed either by a donor organisation, or by the project participants themselves.

A similar approach is highly recommended with regard to agricultural machinery, repair and maintenance facilities, fuel dumps, etc. Not only do these cut costs, but they also encourage engaging in cooperative activities for mutual benefit without leaving someone behind.

When a participant is able to dispose of one’s produce, the participant will be required to inform the local paying unit how much one has earned by the transaction and place back in one’s account about 90% of it. This percentage is open to negotiation.  The small percentage one is allowed to keep may be used for anything as an incentive to the participant to work more efficiently.

Here is a simple example to illustrate the principle involved:

A participant’s ICP at the local bank, etc at the commencement of a project =   $1000.00

Amount assigned for the completed part of the project =   $300.00

Assigned as living expenses for 6 months =   $200.00

Now, let us assume the participant has used up $75.00 from the quota of living expenses.

So, the remainder of the ICP = 1000 - 300 - 75 = 625.

Thus, there is $625.00 left in the ICP for one to fall back on if that should become necessary.

Let us say that at this point the participant has managed to earn $150.00 by selling produce. Then, keeping $15.00 for personal use (10% of the earnings), one needs to put back $135.00 into one’s ICP account, so that now one has access to $770.00. While ICP withdrawals will not be charged interest, the amount will be revised should the local cost of living increase.

In this example, the participant has only used $75.00 of the $200.00 assigned to him for his living expenses. So, he still has $125.00 which may be drawn for food, clothes, etc. It would be very useful if all parties could agree right at the beginning what percentage of an ICP should be set aside for a project and for living expenses.

If all goes well, after a time a participant’s ICP might reach the original level, i.e., $1000.00 and even exceed it. When a participant has achieved a reasonable level of success after 5 years, say capable of having $600.00 or more in one’s ICP, one is not required to put back any percentage of one’s earnings into the ICP account. Then a participant may deposit one’s money in the ICP account, because at this point the account will officially become his own personal account with all its content!

This then is the novel aspect of the suggestion. It is not a grant until a participant has shown himself to be capable of making use of money to develop a career that would enable him to make a sustainable decent living. It is not a loan, but it imposes on one a gentler version of the discipline one needs to repay a loan not through hard competition, but by mutually supportive cooperation.

It is difficult to suggest how long a project should be followed-up to ensure its sustainability.  Experience everywhere shows that agriculture projects remain fragile for a period much longer than their planned ‘project duration’. It would repay to plan a project at least for five years, and then phase out the follow-up gradually. This would provide organisers a chance to smoothen out unforeseen problems should they arise and thereby ensure the endurance of their project.

Best wishes!

Lal Manavado.

English translation below

Promoteur

Marie Diongoye KONATE - CEO

Date/échéancier et lieu

1994 à ce jour – Abidjan – Côte d'Ivoire

Principale entité responsable

Entreprise PROTEIN KISSEE-LA S.A alias PKL

Contexte nutritionnel

La Côte d’Ivoire est un pays de 20 millions d’habitants, riche de son agriculture. Cependant les taux de malnutrition infantile y sont trop élevés : 30% des enfants de moins de 5 ans souffrent de malnutrition chronique. Cette malnutrition n’est pas due à une pénurie alimentaire mais à de mauvaises pratiques alimentaires. Les facteurs de morbidité et de mortalité sont également liés à la consommation d’aliments impropres. 

Principales caractéristiques du (des) système(s) alimentaire(s) considéré(s)

Protein Kissèe-La (PKL), est une entreprise privée créée à Abidjan en 1994 avec un triple objectif : offrir à des prix abordables aux familles de Côte d’Ivoire et de la région des produits à base de soja, de valeurs nutritionnelles et de qualité hygiénique conformes aux recommandations des nutritionnistes ; apporter aux producteurs agricoles locaux un débouché fiable ; offrir une alternative originale et économique au riz et autres produits importés.

Dans les années 90, les familles ivoiriennes des milieux urbain et suburbain n’ont ni le temps ni les moyens d’offrir une alimentation adéquate à leurs jeunes enfants. L'offre se limitait : soit à des farines simples de maïs, de riz ou de mil, de faibles valeurs nutritionnelles, souvent de faible qualité hygiénique et exigeant une cuisson longue et coûteuse ; soit à des farines infantiles importées par les Majors de l'alimentation et vendues à des prix très élevés.

Par conséquent, PKL a imaginé son développement autour de cinq idées-forces :

• la conception d'aliments enrichis correspondant aux habitudes alimentaires locales pour en faciliter l'adoption et la consommation, de préparation simple et rapide pour limiter les risques de contamination
• la valorisation des matières agricoles 100% locales, selon les critères suivants : grande disponibilité, qualité nutritionnelle, transformation relativement simple, modicité du prix de base et complémentarité avec des recettes et modes alimentaires traditionnels
• le partenariat avec les paysans et les coopératives rurales producteurs de céréales et de légumineuses
• la mise en marché d’une céréale infantile instantanée, composée d’une céréale (maïs ou riz) et de soja, dont le process de cuisson-extrusion optimise l’assimilation par l’organisme du jeune enfant dès 6 mois, fortifiée en micronutriments couvrant spécifiquement les carences couramment observées en Afrique de l'Ouest
• l’accessibilité la plus large possible pour les populations vulnérables urbaines (capitale et villes de l’intérieur)

Dès sa commercialisation en 1998, la céréale infantile FARINORÒ a connu un grand succès grâce à ses qualités organoleptiques, nutritionnelles et hygiéniques très supérieures à celles des farines traditionnelles d’une part, et d’autre part grâce àson packaging très "couleur local" et attractif et à son prix de 50% moins cher que celui des produits importés. 

Principales caractéristiques de l’investissement consenti

Le premier investissement était de 600 euros : un broyeur de soja et la location d'un petit atelier de 30 m2 au beau milieu d'un marché populaire. Puis des équipements de production d'occasion ont été acquis par le rachat et la réfection de matériels déclassés par de grosses usines de la place. Ayant opté pour une technologie européenne intermédiaire peu sophistiquée, de bonne qualité et robuste, PKL dispose aujourd'hui de trois principales unités de production : celle qui transforme le soja en farine cuite ou crue, celle qui transforme le maïs en semoule et farine et la troisième qui, par procédé d'extrusion, permet d’obtenir des farines cuites instantanées. PKL a acquis également des unités d’ensachage et de conditionnement.

Les lignes de fabrication ont une capacité de production entre 1 et 2MT/H. En amont sont installés les équipements de nettoyage, d'épierrage et de concassage des matières agricoles livrées à l'usine par les représentants des paysans. La valeur des investissements en matériel de production dépasse les US$ 2,5 millions.

Principaux acteurs et parties prenantes impliqués (y compris, le cas échéant, moyennant des échanges sud-sud/triangulaires)

• Les paysans et coopératives agricoles
• La Fondation GAIN – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

Intéressée l'activité de production d'aliments infantiles enrichis de PKL, GAIN a développé un partenariat avec PKL pour produire et lancer un nouvel aliment pour nourrissons, mieux enrichi et plus abordable, un sachet de 50g vendu à 0,32$.

L’investissement de GAIN en Côte d’Ivoire a été appelé "Projet de Promotion de l’Alimentation de Complément Enrichie du Jeune Enfant", PACE. En bénéficiant de l’expertise nutritionnelle et des investissements de GAIN à hauteur de US$ 2 millions, PKL a modernisé son outil de production, s'est conformé au Code OMS et a nettement amélioré la qualité et l'image de ses produits. En parallèle GAIN a travaillé avec Helen Keller International dans le domaine du marketing social pour favoriser l'amélioration des pratiques alimentaires. PACE est un modèle de partenariat riche en enseignements. 

Principaux changements (escomptés et inattendus) résultant de l’investissement/des investissements

• PKL est un acteur apprécié des filières maïs et soja, un opérateur reconnu (plusieurs fois primé), capable d’innover (10 aliments mis sur le marché), et un fournisseur fiable (Certification ISO)
• Les majors ont nettement revu leurs prix à la baisse pour concurrencer FARINORÒ qui était 50% moins cher. Les consommateurs ivoiriens ont gagné une plus grande accessibilité à une offre plus variée
• FARINOR est un produit très populaire au sein des classes moyennes à pauvres

Défis rencontrés

• Faire la promotion et le marketing des aliments infantiles
• Trouver des équipements de taille moyenne et de qualité adaptés aux PME
• La concurrence controversée des produits de l’aide alimentaire
• Maintenir un prix abordable et concurrentiel dans un marché peu respectueux de la règlementation et dans un contexte de hausse des facteurs de production
• Rentabiliser une activité basée uniquement sur la production d'une céréale infantile de qualité, nécessité de la coupler avec la vente d'un produit plus facile à produire. PKL fourni une brasserie locale en semoule de maïs.

Leçons/messages clés

• Impossibilité démontrée de commercialiser un produit de grande qualité à un prix abordable pour les consommateurs situés au pied de la pyramide. La qualité nutritionnelle et la sécurité alimentaire ont un coût qui ne peut être amorti que par la vente de gros volumes. Cela implique nécessairement le financement de campagnes publicitaires et de moyens de distribution conséquents, deux volets trop souvent négligés par les bailleurs. Les investissements réalisés au niveau de la production, de la distribution et de la promotion doivent être équilibrés afin que le produit atteigne les cibles.
• Le modèle de partenariat développé par la Fondation GAIN a été crucial pour la survie d'une PME telle que PKL

Proponent

Marie Diongoye KONATE - CEO

Date and place

From 1994 to-date, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Main responsible entity

PROTEIN KISSEE-LA S.A. (PKL)

Nutritional context

Ivory Coast has 20 million inhabitants and abundant agriculture. However the rate of infant malnutrition is very high: 30% of children under 5 years old suffer from chronic malnutrition. This malnutrition is not due to a shortage of food but to bad eating habits. The rates of morbidity and mortality are also linked to consumption of insanitary food.

Main characteristics of the food systems considered

Protein Kissèe-La (PKL) is a private business created in Abidjan in 1994 with a triple objective: to offer families, in Ivory Coast and in the region, affordably priced soya based products, of nutritional value and hygienic quality conforming nutritionists’ recommendations; to provide a reliable market for local agricultural producers; to offer a novel and economic alternative to imported rice and other imported products.

During the 1990s Ivorian families in urban and suburban areas did not have the time nor the means to provide adequate food for their young children. The supply was limited to: either maize, rice or millet flour of little nutritional value, often unhygienic, and needing to be cooked for a long and costly time; or to food items for children imported by large suppliers and sold at very high prices.

Therefore, PKL conceived its development based on five main ideas:

• The concept of enriched food in harmony with local feeding habits, so as to facilitate its adoption and consumption, and of easy and fast preparation to limit the risks of contamination.
• The favoring of locally produced agricultural products, according to the following criteria: widespread availability, nutritional quality, relatively simple transformation, low basic price and compatible with traditional food recipes and customs.
• A partnership with peasants and rural cooperatives of cereals and pulses producers.
• The introduction of instant children's cereal, made up of a cereal (maize or rice) and soya, where the cooking-extrusion process optimizes assimilation by the body of the 6 months old child, fortified by micronutrients that cover the specific deficiencies observed commonly in West Africa.
• The highest possible accessibility for the vulnerable population (in the capital and cities upcountry).

From its commercialization in 1998, the infant cereal FARINORO has had a great success thanks to its very superior organoleptic, nutritional and hygienic qualities compared with traditional flour, on the one hand, and on the other hand to the attractive “local colors” packaging and to its price, 50% cheaper than that of the imported products.

Main characteristics of the agreed investment

The first investment was 600 euros: a grinder for soya and the hire of a small shop of 30m2 at the centre of a popular market. Later, second-hand production equipment, which had been decommissioned from large local factories, was acquired and refurbished.  Having opted for intermediate, less sophisticated, good quality and robust European technology, PKL has today three main production units: one which transforms soya into cooked or raw flour, another which transforms maize into semolina and flour, and the third that, using extrusion processes, produces instant cooking flours. PKL has also acquired bagging and packing units.

The production lines have a capacity of between 1 and 2 mt/hr. Upstream  equipment has been installed for cleaning ,destoning and grinding  agricultural products delivered to the factory by the peasants representatives. The value of investments in production equipment is more than US$2.5 million.

Main actors and parties involved (which includes, unless otherwise stated interchanges south-south/triangular exchanges)

• Peasants and agricultural cooperatives.
• The GAIN – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition - foundation.

Interested in PKL’s operations in the production of enriched children's food, GAIN has developed a partnership with PKL to produce and launch a new product for infants, further enriched and   affordable, a 50g sachet sold at US$0.32

The GAIN investment in Ivory Coast has been called Projet de Promotion de l'Alimentation de Complément Enrichie du Jeune Enfant, PACE [Project for the promotion of enriched supplement food for young children]. Benefitting from GAIN’s nutritional expertise and investments up to US$2 million, PKL has modernized its production machinery, has complied with the WHO Code and has clearly improved the quality and image of its products. In parallel, GAIN has worked with Helen Keller International in the social marketing area to promote the improvement of food habits. PACE is a partnership model full of lessons.

Main changes (expected and unforseen) resulting from the investment(s)

• PKL is an appreciated actor in the maize and soya areas, a recognized operator (with many awards), capable of innovation (10 different food products in the market), and a reliable supplier (ISO Certification).
• The wholesalers have clearly revised their basic prices to compete against FARINORO which was 50% cheaper. Ivorian consumers have gained greater access to a more varied offer.
• FARINOR is a very popular product among the middle and poor classes.

Challenges found

• Carrying out the promotion and marketing of children´s products.
• Finding the medium size and quality equipment adapted to a SME [Small Medium Enterprise].
• The controversial competition of food aid products.
• Maintaining an affordable and competitive price in a market that does not always respect the regulations and in a context of increased production costs.
• Making profitable an activity based mainly on the production of a quality infant cereal, by pairing it with the sale of a product easier to produce. PKL supplies a local restaurant with maize semolina.

Lessons/key messages

• Demonstrated imposibility of marketing a good quality product at an affordable price for consumers located at the foot of the pyramid. Nutritional quality and food safety are costs that cannot be absorbed except by the sale of large volumes. This inevitably means the funding of publicity campaigns and sources of distribution, two aspects often overlooked by the backers. The investments made at production, distribution and promotion levels must be balanced so that the product reaches its targets.
• The partnership model developed by GAIN has been crucial for the survival of a SME such as PKL.

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