Innovative business approaches were presented by social entrepreneurs and social businesses. In this video, Peter Beez, focal point of the e+i network, explains how the two concepts fit into the SDC e+i vision.

To be more specific, here a concrete example from the SDC Postcosecha initiative:  Continue reading →​

Jean-Christophe Laugee, Danone Ecosystem

Jean-Christophe Laugée, Director at Danone Ecosystems told us about Danone’s approach to working with small dairy farmers in a sustainable way, meanwhile expanding Danone’s business into new markets. On focus was Indonesia, and Indonesian farmers were the approach target group. Continue reading →

Ian Barker, Syngenta Foundation

One of the main challenges small farmers in developing countries face is the lack of high quality production inputs. Ian Barker from the Syngenta Foundation described the situation of Kenyan farmers. Where low harvest is caused by low access to good quality seeds. Potatoes are the second most important crop in Kenya, after Maize. Though the production area of this crop has increased steadily, the yield is only1/3 of its potential.

The project started out with one large Kenyan farm that was keen to not only increase its yields but also to create positive change within its community. The Syngenta Foundation provided the necessary know-how for the farm to grow potato seeds. Growing high quality potato seeds  is complex and know-how intensive. It is best done by larger agricultural entities. The seeds are then sold to secondary, smaller neighborhood farmers who multiply the seed stock by growing seeds again on their farm plots. These seeds are sold to farmers to grow potatoes, or to the village youth who act as a third level distribution actor: selling the seeds in smaller quantities to farmers. – The renewal of the seed quality happens every third season. When the large farm inputs fresh and strong seeds into the cycle.  Continue reading →

Vijay Pratap Singh Aditya, CEO ekgaon

Vijay Pratap Singh Aditya presented its social enterprise ekgaon. The enterprise offers small farmers in the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh region of India an IT platform that provides them with services throughout the agricultural production chain.

An IT solution for farmers who:

• Live in geographically very remote areas
• Rely on mono crop agriculture
• Live of very low incomes
• Abandon their agricultural activity for the search of better paid jobs
• Are illiterate (literacy level at 20%)
• But to a large extent own mobile phones!
• Own the land they work on

The solution ekgaon proposes is as follows:    Continue reading →