The partnership between CODESPA, Minka dev, and ALSEC, together with the support of AECID, has made it possible to improve the nutrition of families at risk of exclusion in the department of Cauca and Valle del Cauca through the consumption of FRUCAP. It is an inclusive business that extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, transforming them into micro-encapsulated superfoods that meet the nutritional needs of children and pregnant mothers.

FRUCAP is made from orange pulp and other fruits in a process that makes it possible to take advantage of the surplus of the harvests and which does not need cold preservation. This way, the nutrients of the fruits reach people who could not access these foods at affordable prices, without the need for refrigeration and the possibility of being stored for a year and a half, preserving their nutritional value. This product helps improve nutrition and, therefore, reduce the food insecurity of 40,000 children living in Cauca.

FRUCAP business model

FRUCAP production is based on the use of surplus orange production, among other fruits, by small farmers with high production levels.

Through ALSEC microencapsulation, orange juice is transformed into a nutritional product that can be stored in stock for a period of time. This facilitates its transport and conservation, especially in areas where maintaining the cold chain is not always possible because of harder access.

We have designed this initiative so that 45 small farmers are linked as suppliers in the ALSEC supply chain, thus promoting an inclusive business. We have supported them by strengthening their capacities and improving productivity. At the same time, we have been the link between the company and the farmers to reach a sustainable model that allows these farmers to continue being part of the supply chain once the project ends, achieving an improvement in their living conditions, both nutritionally and economically.

It is a sustainable business model that positively impacts the different people involved. On one hand, low-income farmers who participate as fruit producers, including local transporters. On the other hand, public and private programs that are linked to the care of the population at nutritional risk become part of the commercialization of this product. Children and pregnant mothers especially can improve their nutritional levels thanks to the consumption of this product. Finally, ALSEC is able to enter a new market that brings about multiple benefits.

Do you want to collaborate with this project and expand the impact these Colombian farmers are having? Click here and donate.