How to make treats for your dogs.

Home made dog chew.

Dogs love chew treats, here is how to make yours.

ECHBEE CASSAVA FLAKES.

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Crowdfunding your ideas for success.

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Harness the power of crowd sourcing to improve your business.

 

How to use the power of the crowd to start a business, scale and dominate your sector.

The most successful businesses are built on aggregation, a combination of various teams to deliver a product or service. Business success is about people, process and the tools.

As businesses have become more aware of both the popularity and effectiveness of crowd sourcing, new tools, platforms and strategies have emerged to adopt the practice more effectively.

How do you want to combine the factors of production intelligently to solve a friction in the market? How do you built a relevant team with your tools?

 The world today is a global village creating more opportunities for collaboration.

You want to start a business,solve a problem or create an exceptional product? use the crowd sourcing technique. Do you know why apple products are  highly rated ? a crowd sourcing technique. Getting the very best into your business by understanding the customer experience.

Top brands like Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Oreo are turning to the crowd. It’s not only the popular (and cheap) thing to do. It’s good marketing.

“It is simply becoming attractive because it’s a way of getting ideas through others,” said Ryan Mack, director of strategy at Carrot Creative, a social agency. “No one understands brands better than consumers and the best ideas aren’t necessarily coming from the marketing professionals. The idea is to tap into the collective knowledge of consumers.”

Digital transformation: the future is here.

 

 The collective intelligence of crowds is increasingly becoming a tool for solving various issues for many companies and organizations. However, these are often very specific and secondary tasks. More positively, at least three inherent factors give collective intelligence truly enormous potential for solving the most important and complicated business issues. 

 Collective intelligence’s power sources.

 1)Diversity It is impossible to foresee in advance what kind of life or professional experience, what features of people’s thinking and mentality, will be useful in solving a particular non-standard task. Non-standard tasks are so called because there is no pre-known list of standard competencies with which they can be solved. Sometimes it seems to a company that in order to solve its issue, it needs people with the competencies of perhaps a lawyer or an architect (because this was the case with previous tasks). However, it could turn out that a veterinarian or an art critic will be able to provide a solution. The more diverse the crowd, the more chances of success through using collective crowd intelligence.

2) Resource sharing. Putting in fractions of resources to acquire a product, properties or business stocks. Starting a venture in agribusiness with zero capital, crowd cow is the model. 

3) Scaling and expansion Sometimes it is necessary to find new categories of consumers or new sales markets for the goods or services produced by a company. A crowd consisting of people of different nationalities, ages and professions will be able to deliver various options for solving this task in the best way.

Agribusiness: creating innovative products using S.C.A.M.P.E.R.

What is S.C.A.M.P.E.R? This is a creativity tool employed when brainstorming on new product ideas or improving on current products and services. S.C.A.M.P.E.R is an acronym for

 

  S. substitute: what can you change in the product or resources now? 

                       What other product or process could you use? 

                        What rules could you substitute? 

                       can the product be used somewhere else? 

                           can the product be a substitute for something else? 

 C. Combine: what will happen if you combine this product with something else? 

                         what can you combine to maximize the uses of the product? 

 A. Adapt :How to adapt or adjust product to serve another purpose.

 M.Modify : What can you add to product to change the customer experience and create more value. 

 P.Put to another use: create a new way to use product. 

 E. Eliminate:Change some aspects of products, eliminate features not customer centric. 

 R.Reverse:what will happen if you changed the process,how can you re-organize the process or product? 

 This tool is what birthed the Garri revolution. 

1) Substituted garri with corn and produced Cassava flakes. 

2) Combined garri with other ingredients to make bread, cakes and chin-chin. 

3)Adapt: fortifying yellow garri to make extraordinary products.

 4)Modify:packaging garri with peanuts,sugar and milk= Garri on the go! into handy packs for export purposes. 

5)Put to another use: garri puff-puff, garri akara.

 6) Eliminate the notion that you can only drink garri and make eba.

 7)Reverse, reorganize the garri production cycle.

Agribusiness: startup in the meat industry.

Are you considering starting your own business in the meat industry? Our new E-book can help you get started! In our guide, you will find detailed advice from experts who have already achieved success in the industry. We provide information on essential business strategies and steps for launching a successful meat business. Dont miss this essential resource for entrepreneurs.

Start a venture in the meat industry, order your copy now.

FrieslandCampina builds mobile yogurt factory for Nigeria.

 

FrieslandCampina builds mobile yogurt factory for Nigeria

FrieslandCampina has built a mobile yogurt plant in Nigeria.

E-Livestock Global Launch Mastercard Blockchain-Based Solution to Bring Visibility to the Cattle Industry in Zimbabwe.

 

E-Livestock Global today launched a first-of-its kind solution powered by Mastercard’s blockchain-based Provenance solution, empowering Zimbabwean farmers to prove the origin and health records of their cattle, while reducing risks to buyers. 

 A first in the Middle East and Africa, the solution brings new hope to the country’s agricultural sector after an outbreak of tick-borne disease in 2018 led to the death of 50,000 cattle. 

The lack of a traceability system has seen Zimbabwe unable to export beef to lucrative markets in Europe and the Middle East in recent years, reducing export earnings from beef, which are important to the country’s economy. 

 The E-Livestock Global solution brings end-to-end visibility to the cattle supply chain. Commercial farmers and dipping officers tag each head of cattle with a unique, ultra-high frequency RFID tag – as mandated by the Ministry of Agriculture – and register it and its owner onto the solution. Each time the animal gets dipped, vaccinated or receives medical treatment, the tag records the event onto the traceability system.

AgTech value depends on data.

 

AgTech is best understood simply as the intersection between agriculture and technology. It's the application and coming together on farm of digital software, like tools for analysing imagery, with digital hardware, like drones. AgTech also includes products and services enabled by technology along the agriculture value chain, from "fintech" or financial technology, through to logistics and to the consumer. The breadth of scope in AgTech is only matched by its potential.

World food prices reach highest level in more than a decade, says FAO

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of a basket of food commodities, is up 3.9 per cent from September, rising for a third consecutive month. 

Feeding the world population is also responsible for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a priority in the fight against climate change. 

 The report, Renewable energy for agri-food systems —Towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, shares several examples of how that can be accomplished. Solar irrigation, for example, can improve access to water, enabling multiple cropping cycles and increasing resilience to changing rainfall patterns.

 In India, the use of solar irrigation pumps has raised farmers’ incomes by at least 50 per cent compared to when rain was the only option. 

In Rwanda, smallholder farmers’ yields have grown by about a third. In a video message, FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, argued that the report "shows that there are many opportunities to implement renewable energy solutions across agri-food systems."

The lesson of the FAO director: “This is how we feed the world”

The FAO director provided an overview of the challenges facing contemporary food production and nutrition and a vision of how they can be overcome. Quoting the words of the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg who in recent days dismissed the speeches of world leaders on climate as “bla bla bla”, Qu Dongyu he explained the commitments of the FAO to move “from blah blah blah to concrete action”

The general director of the FAO, the Chinese Qu Dongyu, outlined the four improvement objectives defined by the FAO in its strategic framework within the 2030 Agenda: better and targeted production, better nutrition, better environment and better life. 

Objectives described as interconnected macro areas that need coordinated international policies. 

 «The current agri-food systems – he said – are not working. Too often they create harmful vicious circles ». AND Qu then urged governments to adopt stimulus policies that harness the power of innovation, technology and big data..

 In this context, Covid was a warning signal about the fragility of food security, but it also proved to be an opportunity to reassess how we address the remaining causes of hunger and build resilience against threats to better rebuild.

UNESCO and FAO Trains Pastoralist Livelihood and Education Field School (PLEFS) Community facilitators and supervisors in Rumbek, South Sudan.

UNESCO and FAO in partnership with the implementing partners and the three-government line-ministries (General Education and Instructions, Agriculture and Food Security and Livestock and Fisheries) conducted a two-week capacity building training for 63 Pastoralist Livelihood and Education 

Field School teachers/facilitators and 36 County supervisors and State technical working group members from 14 to 27 October 2021 in Rumbek, Lakes State, South Sudan. 

 The capacity building training aimed at increasing the community facilitators’/teachers understanding and knowledge of the integrated Pastoralist Livelihood and Education Field School (PLEFS) approach and methodologies, as well as the curriculum and basic implementation steps in carrying out effective literacy, numeracy and life skills training sessions for the children, youth and adults at the cattle camps. 

UNESCO is partnering with FAO to implement the literacy, numeracy and life skills component of the project to enhance the acquisition of skills, strategies and education essentials for resilient pastoral livelihood by target communities.

Agribusiness: KICC Meat Expo.

KICC Meat Expo: 18th – 19th Nov 2021. THEME: Safe and quality meat for nutrition and wealth creation.

Calling all players to the first edition of the Meat Expo. The event is geared towards providing players along the value chain an opportunity to showcase their work, products, learn and benchmark with others on industry best practices as well as grow their business networks. 

Businesses offering related products, equipment and technologies will also be present.

 Location: KICC, Nairobi CBD

 Time: 9:00AM – 5:00PM (EAT) 

Date: 18th – 19th November 2021 

Cost: Free Entry

Health links are key to preventing future pandemics.

Health links are key to preventing future pandemics.The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that zoonotic diseases – infections that pass from animals to humans – can present tremendous threats to global health. More than 70% of emerging and reemerging pathogens originate from animals. 

That probably includes the SARS CoV-2 virus, which scientists widely believe originated in bats. There are still questions about specifically where the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged. But experts across the globe agree that communities can take steps to reduce the risk of future spillovers. 

A key is for veterinarians, doctors and scientists to work together, recognizing how closely connected human health is with that of animals and of the habitats that we share – an approach known as One Health. 

 To prevent new pandemics, scientists need to identify specific locations where viruses are most likely to make the jump from animals to humans. In turn, this requires understanding how human behaviors – from deforestation to fossil fuel combustion to conflict to cultural activities – contribute to spillover risks.

Importance of One Health for COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

Importance of One Health for COVID-19 and Future Pandemics. More than 400 animals from 29 countries have been reported infected with COVID-19, including nearly 300 animals in the United States, as well as thousands of mink. 

 One Health Day, a global campaign that highlights the need for a One Health approach to address shared health threats by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, and our environment. 

This approach is more important than ever as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is a zoonotic virus, which means it can spread between people and animals.

 As more animals are reported infected with the COVID-19 virus, it becomes increasingly clear that a One Health approach is crucial to address new disease threats that affect both people and animals.

Namibia now a net importer of controlled meat products

Namibia now a net importer of controlled meat products.Due to decreasing beef production during 2021 as well as an increase in pork imports, Namibia became a net importer of controlled meat and meat products in 2021. 

A net importer means the country imports more than it exports. Commenting on the monthly trade statistics for the third quarter of 2021, the Meat Board of Namibia pinned it on ongoing re-stocking activity as a result of the drought aftermath that created this unusual trade position.

 “An expected rebound in the cattle sector and better prospects in the sheep sector in the absence of quantitative restrictions is likely to reverse the current scenario,” reads the report. 

 “Exports of beef products increased substantially during the third quarter of 2021 on account of a doubling of the quarterly performance by export abattoirs in comparison to the year 2020.

Flood-mapping tool could change how agricultural planning works

A new flood-mapping tool, containing data from 1985 to now, could be what the Global South needs for agricultural planning that protects food security .

The new data source is the first comprehensive source of flooding information globally. 

  This will be particularly relevant for the Global South, where agricultural output and food security are directly connected to rainfall levels.

 According to one study, tropical rainfall will be drastically impacted by climate change – leading to new levels of flood risk, disaster possibility and food insecurity for people in those regions.

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Jack Ma, known as the founder of Ali Baba, and business partner David Yu visited the Netherlands this Monday for research purposes within the horticulture sector. 

The organizers of the reception, Pierre Bell and Jiayan Cai of the Flexibell Systems Group, speak of a successful visit and thank the receiving companies: World Horti Center, Growers United, Rijk Zwaan, Anthura, and Dutch Sino Business Promotions, as well as the translator Liu Mao (manager China) of Van der Knaap. 

 Jack Ma visited the company's latest automated packaging production line and asked about its daily and annual packaging volume, as well as some industry-related information. 

Jack Ma said that its vegetable outputs were amazing and mentioned that China aims to have the same logistics system in the future.

Recycled plastic films for greenhouse coverings.

Agriplast is a company that produces plastic films for the Italian agricultural and horticultural industry. They are currently using 7 and 5 layer blown film systems and the entire chain is controlled by IT systems. 

 Recently, Agriplast introduced a product line for the agriculture and packaging sectors that is P.S.V. (Second Life Plastics) certified and thus contains recycled raw materials or plastic films containing hollow glass beads to optimize light and heat conditions in green houses.

Horticulture recyclability: what are the eco-friendly alternatives?

Eco-conscious customers demand a reduction in plastics and an increase in sustainable packaging that does not damage the environment. 

After all, horticulture in itself is the preservation and beautification of the environment, so why damage it through lazy packaging? 

 There are a lot of products that are available across the industry to help you keep on top of your recycling game. Eco-friendly plant pots Plant pots can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, stone, metal, and terracotta. 

Terracotta pots are excellent because the manufacturing process does not include any harmful chemicals, and they are porous, which allows for air and water to easily move through to prevent root rot and soil disease. 

 Biodegradable and recyclable labels and tags

 A large portion of Dura-ID's horticultural stock labels has been recyclable since they started producing them, including the main two materials that they use across a large variety of sectors: polyplas and laserplas. Polyplas are horticultural stock labels for thermal printing, while laserplas are used in laser printing. 

The self-tie tags provide an easy identification procedure, even if you are wearing thick gardening #Agribusiness #Agriculture #horticulture #greenhouse #change #circularity.

Seedless snack peppers latest result of change in breeding programme.

 

Snack peppers have been a growth segment for years. New in this segment is a red seedless snack pepper by Eminent Seeds, which will be available on the shelves year-round for the first time next year. 

There is one hectare of the peppers in Spain as well as in the Netherlands, while there is also interest in other countries. "We seamlessly respond to the growth in this segment that seems to have no end," says Sales Manager Niels Koolstra. "With this seedless variety we are one of the first."

 What is special is that, because the variety is seedless, you can eat the snack pepper 'right up to the stem'. "Basically just like an apple, but completely seedless," explains Kevin Valk, Team Lead Pepper Breeding, "and with the same juicy bite." Other notable features are a high brix and a long shelf

Agribusiness, the most successful way to start in India in 2021?.

 

In India, agriculture employs more than 60% of the workforce and is successful despite the AIDS epidemic. India’s agriculture business has great market potential as its population grows steadily. 

 This explains why more and more people are interested in agriculture these days … it benefits the entire population, so it offers a cheap return on investment. 

In addition, there are no additional costs associated with starting this business in combination with other complementary businesses, making it a viable long-term investment. 

 For example, you can do organic farming and at the same time produce organic fertilizer on the same land.

 No additional cash is required except for the investment you need most. #Nigeria #India #America #UK #startupfunding

Researchers identify key indicators for ranch sustainability.

Standardized ecological, social and economic indicators can help ranchers track and communicate about sustainability. 

Livestock grazing on well-managed rangelands can help secure clean water, enhance habitat, address climate change, and sustain rural communities. 

Ensuring the sustainability of livestock agriculture is not only vital to feeding a growing world, but it’s essential to a healthy future, which is why a research team led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and 

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) set out to help ranchers more consistently measure, manage, and communicate about the sustainability of their operations. The indicators for sustainability.

Beef supply chain emissions can be reduced by more than 30% by 2030.

New and emerging technologies and management practices all offer significant opportunities.Beef supply chain contributions to global GHG emissions need to go down, and they can. 

Rabobank anticipates the market will be the most effective driver of GHG emissions reduction and believes that beef supply chain emissions can be reduced by more than 30% by 2030 in major markets.

 But in order to unlock the opportunities, leadership is needed. All sectors and supply chains need to reduce emissions, and the beef supply chain is no exception. 

Beef supply chains account for about 6% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of which about half are accounted for by the beef production stage of the supply chain. 

 New and emerging technologies and management practices – covering feed production, cattle breeding, cattle feeding, and soil and pasture management – all offer significant opportunities to reduce emissions. 

But that is not the only resource, global beef supply chain emissions can also be reduced significantly by transferring best practices from the most efficient beef supply chains to less efficient ones. The main driver will be the market. 

 #Agribusiness #Beef #Environment #Climatechange #SDGS.#foodsafety. 

  How onions in cattle feed can reduce emissions.

How to use Ear tags to detect signs of cattle heat and stress.

The monitoring system includes individual electronic ear tags and corresponding software that sends information straight to a computer or mobile device.

Global Food Prices Set To Soar As The Oil And Gas Crunch Continues.

 

Oil and gas prices have risen dramatically this year as a result of under investment and recovering demand.·Higher fuel prices are weighing on global food supply chains, with transportation and farming costs continuing to climb. · 

 The hardest hit will, once again, be those living in developing economies that are still struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic. 

 The potential for a knock-on effect of rising fuel prices to be felt by other industries is becoming more likely, as oil and gas prices continue to rise to an all-time high, companies are finding it hard to maintain their costs and may have to shift this burden to the consumer any day now. 

  #Entrepreneur #Agribusiness #Businessideas #startups #Money market. #Women.

UNIDO Trains 42, 000 Nigerian Entrepreneurs In Six Years.

 

The United Nations Indus trial Organisation (UNIDO), says it has trained 42,000 Nigerian entrepreneurs from 2016 till date. 

 The National Project Coordinator UNIDO HP LIFE, Mr Francis Ukoh, disclosed to newsmen at a five-day training programme for SMEDAN officials in Uyo, recently. 

 Ukoh said the organisation had so far empowered about 418 trainers and 10 master trainers in Nigeria to support the training for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country. 

 According to him, the core function of UNIDO is mainly to strengthen and empower institutions of government. 

 To this end, he said that UNIDO had supported various institutions including universities and SMEs across the country. #Agribusiness #foodsecurity #entrepreneurs. #SMEDAN

 

Agribusiness: how to eat meat without harming animals.

What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It's possible through "cellular agriculture," says Isha Datar. In a talk about cutting-edge science, she explains how this new means of food production makes it possible to eat meat without the negative consequences of industrial farming, and how it could fundamentally change our food systems for the better. "It's our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a second chance at agriculture," she says.

    

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Agribusiness : How to calculate dressing percentage in slaughtered cattle.

 Cattle business is no doubt profitable  but you can actually calculate the profit if you track the numbers, yes! do the math.

  Cattle business can be broadly divided into:1) sale of live animals. 2) buy the animal, fatten and sell. 3) buy, slaughter and sell. 

 How do you calculate the meat to expect from the carcass ? many people believe that the live weight of the animal is what to expect when animal is slaughtered. A lot of people  are often surprised at quantity of meat after processing because dressing percentage is different from live weight.

  The concept of dressing percentage is key to profit calculation in cattle business, this is the math critical to business evaluation.

  What is dressing percentage and how do you do the math?  The dressing percentage is the portion of the live weight that results in hot carcass weight.

 What is the hot carcass weight? this is the weight of the unchilled carcass after the head,internal organs and hides have been removed. The hot carcass weight for cattle is approximately about  60-64% of the live animal weight. The hot carcass weight can vary from one animal to another depending on some factors.

 The dressing percentage =  hot carcass weight / live weight X 100.

 If an animal weighs 300 kg, working with 62.5% as hot carcass weight means the dressing percentage will be: 187.5 /300 X 100=  62.5. 

The dressing percentage used in the meat industry  does not equate to amount of beef that will be available for sale because the carcass will be divided into various meat cuts.

 The whole animal is cut into halves and separated into front and hind quarters. These quarters are separated into primal cuts ,this is referred to as breaking down the  carcass. The  amount of beef available can be affected by amount of fat in carcass which will be trimmed off or the size /weight of bone because bone can weigh more. 

The more bone is left in the  beef cut the higher the yield percentage but when retail cuts are boneless then the percentage yield will be lower.

   This calculation is a template to determine profit whether you are supplying beef using different cuts or you are selling retail.

 

Food safety: Global call to reduce antimicrobial use in healthy animals.

World leaders have called for an urgent reduction in the amount of antimicrobial drugs, including antibiotics, used in food systems.

The Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance said countries must stop the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs to promote growth in healthy animals.

  Antimicrobial drugs are also given to animals for veterinary purposes to treat and prevent disease.

Mitigation measures
A top priority is to reduce the use of drugs that are of the greatest importance to treat diseases in humans, animals and plants.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria can make foodborne infections such as Campylobacter and Salmonella harder to treat. Experts said climate change may also be contributing to an increase in AMR.

Consumers can also play a key role by choosing food from producers that use antimicrobial drugs responsibly, according to experts Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization director-general, said the consequences of antimicrobial resistance could dwarf those of COVID-19.

“We need urgent action to win the race against AMR. The longer the world delays, the greater the costs will be, in terms of costs to health systems, costs to food systems, costs to economies, and costs in lives and livelihoods,” he said.

“We need to invest in human health, animal health, plant, food and environmental eco-systems to properly respond to the growing threat of AMR. Many countries have national action plans on AMR but too few are funded for implementation.

Agribusiness: celebrating world food day by charting innovative paths to increase productivity.

 

Celebrating world food day by creating innovative agricultural solutions to end poverty, tackle malnutrition and save our planet.

The exponential population growth to 9.7 billion by 2050 means all hands must be on deck to  rise to the challenge. There must be inclusion of innovative ideas in the way farming, processing and marketing of farm produce is done now to ensure increase productivity.

The use of design thinking comes into play here to chart the path to  productivity using smart agricultural constructs.

Robotics has been incorporated to livestock and general farming to increase productivity and also increase revenue by preventing losses. Africa needs to embrace more of technology-based agriculture to produce more and ensure food security. 

 Agricultural solutions are basically centered around :1) increased productivity which can be achieved by improved seeds, improved animal breeds, new farm practices,education of farmers, adoption of climate smart agriculture .

 2) Leveraging technology to provide data to farmers to improve productivity like Zenvus .The use of robots to enhance productivity such as use of

  3) Curbing food waste this can be by provision of cold hubs for farmers, provision of processing hubs to convert excess products or left overs to a new product with longer shelf-life.

4) Funding for farmers which can be in form of loans or private partnership in form of investment platforms.

5)Access to market: creating linkages for farmers to sell produce at  reasonable prices. The creation of new markets to improve productivity by adoption of circular economy in all agricultural value chains.

  Circular economy not only curbs wastes but closes loops in production cycles.

  6)  Adoption of clean energy to drive innovations in agriculture to reduce cost of production while saving the planet by reducing emissions.

Agribusiness :How to use circular economy to boost productivity in dairy value chain.

 

The circular economy is a new approach to the reduce-reuse-recycle model.

 

The circular economy has the added advantage of not only making products or by-products go back to production cycles it ensures sustainability of business and environment.

 

 What is the circular economy and how can this be implemented in the dairy value chain?.

 

  Circular economy is a model of production /consumption that involves the use, reuse and recycling of products, byproducts and materials of production to create a sustainable cycle of production and consumption.

Dairy industry is based on circular production cycles with the dairy and Agri-food sector sharing a history that dates back to early dairy business.

 

The use of pasture land for feeding dairy cows, by growing different crops on rotated pieces of land, by fertilizing the land with animal’s waste and at the same time keeping animals as a long-term stock of nutrients, the sector builds on the long and deep knowledge of humankind.

        

Dairy cows have a unique ability to consume non-edible feed stocks and turn them into a very nutritious protein that humans can eat.

 

 The concept of the circular economy is to look at the cycle of production and identify points or areas in the cycle that can be redirected into the production phase to achieve the following:

 

 

1)    Reduce waste and the resultant pressure on the environment by creating clean alternatives.

2)    Reduce cost of production by reusing some inputs or by-products thus increasing profit margin.

 

3)    Create new channels of production by creating new viable products from existing products.

 In the dairy industry the circular economy is employed in the following ways:

 

1)    The waste from cows provides a source of fertilizer that can be put back into the farm, it is also fed into bio digester thus helping to curb methane emissions and produce a renewable energy source for the farm.

 

2)    Cows utilize the grazing lands  as well providing a source of milk and natural fertilizer, and at the end of life the cow can be converted into a variety of products, such as beef, pet food, and leather goods

 

3)    Whey, a co-product of the cheese-making process was once put onto land, or fed to pigs, but is now being used as high-value protein concentrates for specific human nutrition (sports, infants, and the elderly) in a growing market, and in special cases, for young animal feed.

 

4)    Nutrient recycling from waste water treatment plants sludge from dairy processing: digestate (sludge output from a digester) e.g. from digesting manure or food waste is of outmost importance for a circular economy to function properly (whilst guaranteeing and safeguarding food safety and animal health).

 

5)    Waste to electricity: using the biogas from the digester to produce electricity. The heat will be redirected to the stalls to keep the facility warm, thus also increasing productivity at reduced cost.

 

6)    Cow mats produced from hide also boosts productivity by increasing the comfort of the animals thus stimulating more milk production.

The Circular Economy in Agriculture and Sustainable Development Goals.

  Circular economy, a new model of production based on the reduce,reuse and recycle but with emphasis on turning products/ by products to inputs in the cycle of production.

  The benefits of the circular economy are enormous but can be  to the sustainable development goals.(SDGS).

 The  circular economy results in more food production using sustainable methods, thus aligning with zero hunger .(sdg2)

 The recycling model of turning some products to inputs, reduces waste, provides new forms of clean and affordable energy.

This model reduces the pressure on the environment by turning waste to wealth, thus combating climate action while building sustainable cities and communities.(SDG 13 and 11).

The reuse of waste water by recycling also provides clean water while making environment clean by preventing run-off of waste water thus maintaining sanitation standards.(SDG 6).

 The circular economy is a paradigm shift from the linear economy by using innovative methods and strategies to improve production cycle to increase profit while curbing waste which translates to building sustainable industry,infrastructure with innovative models.(SDG 9)

 The production cycle in circular economy will open up opportunities creating decent work and economic growth. (SDG 8)

 The circular economy in  Agriculture aligns with the sustainable development goals also by ensuring life on land, below water are safe leading to responsible consumption and production. SDG14,15 and 12)

 The circular economy in the poultry sector:1) waste collected and turned to energy.

2) Feathers recycled, reused in fashion and construction industry reducing pressure of waste dumping in environment while creating wealth.

3)Feathers as raw materials for animal feed, feather meal.

4) Feathers as raw materials in creative industry, fashion and arts increasing opportunities for export of products while creating jobs and reducing climate action.

4)Innovative feeding methods that increases productivity without increasing cost of production by using feed stuff that are noncompetitive.

5) Eggs turned  egg powder an innovative product to curb egg glut, create a handy method to transport eggs while increasing shelf life.

6) Egg shells turned to calcium source for animals  and also shells used as raw material for scouring powder.

7)Egg shells also used as raw material in arts and crafts.

8)Egg shells turned to crockery,

 The opportunities are endless, the cycle continues. Food to waste and waste to food, energy and other products.

Agribusiness: Building a garri empire with innovative ideas.

  Echbee Foods, turning ordinary garri to extraordinary products. We are building a garri empire one recipe at a time providing nutritious food for children, empowering women and ensuring food security.

  Why garri? why not?  There is no home in Africa where garri is not on the menu at least twice a day, crunch the numbers and see the possibilities. If a larger % of the population eat garri, the cassava is here in the country, processing is done here then there is a market, a perpetual market.

 Introduction of garri to people is not necessary the catch here is to show how ordinary garri can be nutritious and affordable. Garri is easily accessible, affordable and a larger portion of the population are accustomed to the food.

Echbee foods thus decided to fortify what was already common in most homes to achieve our purpose of balanced meal with garri. Garri which is the most common by -product is food for over 800 million people in the world, thus fortifying the garri to produce a highly nutritious cereal can generate over 120 billion naira as revenue. 

  Welcome to the garri empire, a world of possibilities. We are changing the way people eat garri, one recipe at a time.

 The signature product of Echbee foods is our cassava flakes, which can be a snack or cereal.

 

  This is how most people drink #garri.

                                             #garri as  #snack and cereal.                                                 

Why drink #garri when you can have it #flaked? Follow us  for more mouthwatering recipes. For your next event try our garri puff-puff, cakes or finger foods.

Promoting Agribusiness with Value Chain Development.

Dr. Henrietta Bolanle Ojuri

Dr. Echbee, my resume: read

Value chain strategist.

Business development.

Waste to wealth advocate.

 Design thinking. 

Agro-processing

Agribusiness: How to develop a gender -sensitive value chain.

  Gender equality to achieve zero hunger, food security and a sustainable food systems. Developing a gender sensitive value chain will entail mapping out activities within the chain and analyzing actions of operators and key players within the chain. 

 One of the approaches commonly used to access processes and actors contributing to food systems and to determine which actions to undertake is the value chain approach. Value chains are  key components of agrifood systems and to better understand gender- based constraints a mapping of activities are necessary.  

 Activities that will monitor tasks and those assigned tasks within the food production cycle such as interactive sessions with players within the food chain  use of surveys, questionnaires and gender -based focal groups are  important to pin point constraints and also provide a platform to champion necessary actions.

               How to conduct a gender sensitive value chain analysis.?

Choose the value chain of interest then :

 1)  Carry out a gender sensitive value chain mapping by going through all activities within the chain and matching tasks against gender.

2) Identify gender based constraints along the chain .

3) Analyze the gender based constraints  and proffer solutions.

   

Agribusiness : creating gender -sensitive value chain.

Gender equality is the fifth sustainable development goal(SDG) and to achieve zero hunger, food security with sustainable food systems there is the need for developing gender sensitive value chains.

 There is a gender -sensitive value chain frame work developed by Food and Agricultural organisation which has added 2 components to the core value chains. 

The frame work looks or analyzes the value chain based on individual and household level of involvement in the production circle.. This analysis will enumerate gender-based constraints along the production cycle as well as along nodes of production making it easy to proffer solutions.

  The adoption of the SDG goals and the execution necessitates the need to reshape and restructure our food systems to be:1) More inclusive of the marginalized population. 

2)Environmentally sustainable. 3)Capable of delivering healthy diets.

                 Why is gender relevant to value chains? 

48% of Agricultural labor force in the low income countries/ under developed/developing countries are women. 

The contributions of women to production and value chain development are usually not acknowledged,because  the services rendered are usually not rewarded with wages as most of the work are regarded as an extension of the domestic chores.

        

 

The analysis of operations and actors within the food chain and along the production cycle will show constraints encountered by players and also give an idea how to address the constraints.

 Women  within the value chain are challenged  in terms of access to land, livestock ownership, credit facilities,  access to information,access to technology and education. These constraints are fundamental and when tackled  will create  gender sensitive value chains were contributions of women will be highlighted, addressed and rewarded.

  Empowerment is the key to developing gender-sensitive value chains,where women gain power and control over their lives and acquire  ability to make strategic choices. 

Education is a chief component of the necessary action to stop  gender -based constraints  in value chains.

 Lets access the constraints in a value chain and proffer solutions.: Cassava value chain.

 

RED MEAT VALUE CHAIN: Processing And Packaging Options.

Red meat can be hygienically packaged and sold in meat shops. The packaging are usually of different parts or as specified by customers. The packaging can be in clear transparent bags that are air tight or the use of food trays for easy stacking in chillers. 

                    

Meat can be processed further by frying, this is packaged in beautiful handy packs . The packaging can be plates,trays or decorated bags. Women in beef processing  have various ways to prepare and process beef and beef products.

          

 Meat can be processed into beef jerky. This is done by cutting meat into thin slices, add spices then dry to produce the jerky. This delicacy is a spicy variety of  processed red meat popularly called, KILISHI.

 The export potential of this product is very high and the profit margin is high.  The  product is light ,easy to pack and very handy to ship out.

                                            

                                 

 Spicy beef jerky.

      Other processing options?  See                           

AGRIBUSINESS: MEAT SHARING AND CROWD COW IN THE RED MEAT VALUE CHAIN.

 We have been discussing about franchising as an option in the red meat value chain.  Discussions have spanned various models of making profit in the red meat value chain from owning an abattoir to running a meat shop.

Livestock business 

  The force of collaborations in form of franchising to grow a business is a tested and proven strategy. Crowd sourcing method can be remolded and used in the red meat value chain. Meat sharing aptly termed crowd cow.  scenario 4 

  Meat sharing and crowd cow: interested in the red meat value chain but dont fit into any other highlighted options? Then this is for you.

   Meat sharing and crowd cow; this method allows various individuals to buy parts of a cow, the cow is only slaughtered when all parts are sold. These are then dispatched to individuals or they pick up at your shop. 

                             

Meat sharing and crowd cow is  risk free because interested buyers pay before cow is delivered.  The business strategy is crowdfunding, different individuals are paying for shares in a cow. It is the business owner that will determine price per share based on the price of cow he intends to purchase.

 The meat sharing and crowd cow needs an advertising platform to get people informed of operation. The platform will announce dates and time of crowd cow with timeline to opt -in. When the  target is reached then the business owner moves in the abattoir to slaughter and pack the beef as desired by investor.

 Advantages of this model is 1) No risk attached because you pay to opt-in. 2) No waste or loss because the client has paid and must pick up . 3) No extra cost of freezing left-overs. 4) Business is based on demand per time, no slaughtering on  assumptions. 5) Minimal cost of start -up, a social media page and means of dispatch is all you need.

Franchising : A business growth model.

  

 Franchising your business to expand frontiers and smile to the bank.. Thinking of starting a business? use the franchise method to shorten the learning curve. Are you an established brand thinking of scaling up? thinking of creating a global influence? use the franchising method, it is a win- win situation. 

  One shop, one brand scattered all over creating employment and servicing more customers then franchising is the model. 

  Franchising in agribusiness,..read more here

Agribusiness : leveraging on the franchise model in the red meat value chain to create wealth.

 How to grow your niche in the red meat value chain using the franchise model.Franchising as simple as it looks, its a powerful business tool for expansion , growth.  and wealth creation.

Franchising in the red meat value chain is an easy strategy to expand the red meat value chain, in terms of investors, unemployed youths and cattle merchants.

   Franchising in the red meat value chain using meat markets and hubs as our focus. You want to tap into the red meat value chain? want to have a meat market or hub in your area? you are young but want a side hustle or you are young and unemployed with interest in red meat business? Welcome to the red meat hub.

Franchising in the red meat value chain. How will you key in to the business? Take a trip to a registered abattoir and watch operations in the mechanized abattoir. Follow through the process and link up with operators that have a brand they promote or operators that just slaughter ,cut and package for you for onward delivery to your store.

 Scenario 1: abattoir operator has a brand that sells packed beef, and beef products. Meet the operator, discuss on franchising his brand in your neighborhood and beyond. 

The franchisee agrees to terms of operation and he starts to collect beef,branded by abattoir operator at minimal cost.  The advantage of this model is that franchisee provides outlet, pays for startup cost  ( employers) along side other logistics, the brand expands all over.

   

 Dr. Henrietta Ojuri, value chain strategist.

 Scenario 2: Abattoir operator has a beef brand that markets beef an beef products. The operator creates an  investment pool by rolling out investment plans by way of franchising. The investors pay a token to join the investment pool and the operator provides branded refrigerators for investors.  Investors collect specified amount of products without paying upfront but will remit money on specified dates as stipulated in the contract.

 Advantage here is there is a pool of investors creating brand awareness all over, there is a token payable by startup and this model will  attract young entrepreneurs in the red meat value chain.

Scenario 3: There is no brand you want to hook up with but still interested? Go to the abattoir, mechanized slaughtering and hook up with operator. Buy a cow, slaughter in the mechanized line, cut to different sizes(1kg/2kg) then get a cooling van/refrigerated van to transport meat to your location. The different stages attracts costs , so how do you rejig this model? Next time, we conclude.