Diversifying utilization of sweetpotato for nutrition

Diversifying utilization of sweetpotato for nutrition

Kirimi Sindi & Simon Heck (CIP)RTB Annual Meeting30 September 2014

1. Proof-of-Concept: Rwanda Super Foods

2. Scaling Up in four countries

Consumers

- Smallholder households

- Community exchange- Rural markets- Urban markets

Farmers grow more and better biofortified orange sweetpotato varieties

HH capacity & behavior

Community processes

Fresh root markets

Processed food markets

Rationale

Primary: Nutrition benefits of biofortified sweetpotato to more consumers

Secondary: Harness market incentives for scaling up

Proof-of-Concept

Rwanda Super Foods

Technical feasibility

Market potential

Social context

Proof-of-Concept

Technical feasibility

• Varieties are suitable

Variety Yield mt/ha

Cacearpedo 12.5

NASPOT 9 (Vita) 13.3

NASPOT 10 (Kabode) 15.4

Gihingamukungu 12.6

Local landrace 10.3

Proof-of-Concept

Technical feasibility

• Varieties are suitable• Supply chain and

processing capacities

Proof-of-Concept

Technical feasibility

• Varieties are suitable• Supply chain and

processing capacities

• Range of products

Proof-of-Concept

Technical feasibility

• Varieties are suitable• Supply chain and

processing capacities

• Range of products• Nutrition value

4 biscuits 43 gmsRAE (micrograms) 193 ugs

  Required % of

 RAE Daily

Daily Req.

Child under 9 years old 400 48%Non-pregnant woman 700 28%

Adult men 900 21%

Biscuit Nutrient Analysis(60:40 Wheat:OFSP)

B-Carotene 5.4 mg/100 gms = 450 Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE)

Proof-of-Concept

Market potential

2012/13 2013/14$0

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

Factory sales*

*OFSP-based products by Urwibutso Enterprises Ltd.

Akarabo Biscuits60:40 Wheat:Sweetpotato puree

• 10-15% reduction in production costs

• Consumer acceptance increased

40% SP puree

20% SP flour 100%

wheat

Proof-of-Concept

Social context

• Linking producers to processors

Farmer’s choice

Urwibutso En-terprisesfresh root marketshome consump-tiongroup process-ing

36%

31%

14%

19%

• Gender aspects?

Proof-of-Concept

Social context

• Linking producers to processors

• Urban diets (sugar, fat)

• Gender aspects?

Proof-of-Concept

Social context

• Linking producers to processors

• Urban diets (sugar, fat)

• Marketing and education

• Gender aspects?

Proof-of-Concept

Partnerships

‘Scaling up sweetpotato puree’

Context for scaling up

Kenya Malawi RwandaCommercialpuree producer setting up

Food processor making own puree and flour

Food processors making own puree

Intermediate or final product

Intermediate product

Intermediate product

Vacuum-sealed [Experimenting] Pasteurized

Bakery goods Bakery goods and weaning food(?)

Bakery goods and juice

Some sweetpotato flour

Sweetpotato flour preferred

No sweetpotato flour

Contract farmers Own production, contract farmers

Farmer groups, contract farmers

Sweetpotato puree • Pasteurized for

refrigeration• Vacuum-sealed

for shelf storage

Prototype technology

Demand at scale

• Adds value• Reduces costs

Scaling Up = Continued innovation

Scaling up approach

Prototype technologies, practices, innovation models

New, diverse contexts

Scaling: expansion, adaptation, innovation

Research Research

CGIAR: facilitating linkages; proof-of-concept research; impact assessments; support dev’t of research services (e.g. nutritional analysis BecA)

Commercial processors: product dev’t; market research; production and marketing at scale; supply chain management

Private technical services: prototype dev’t; equipment; training; product testing (in future)

Public services: regulatory; consumer education; household and food price surveys

Partnerships

Longer-term research questions

Primary: Nutrition benefits of biofortified sweetpotato to more consumers

• Targeting: 1,000 days; women of reproductive age; adolescent girls;

• How & what can processed markets deliver?

Secondary: Harness market incentives for scaling up

• Is there are premium for biofortified sweetpotato in the market? Which markets?

A bigger RTB picture?

Photo credit: Sara Quinn