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Rural Micro-enterprise for Improved Nutrition
Presenter: Hart Jansson, Vice-President, Malnutrition Matters

The VitaGoat is a versatile food-processing system that can operate in remote villages as it does not require electricity or running water. Locally grown grains, legumes, nuts, fruits or vegetables are processed either by grinding or pressure cooking with steam, or both. Some outputs include: - soymilk, soy yogurt, tofu - fruit juices and nectars - nut paste, cornmeal, cereal flour, ground coffee There are 100 VitaGoats installed throughout Africa and Asia today. The VitaGoat can be operated by workers as a sustainable micro-enterprise; in India for example, the VitaGoat provides a profitable means for rural Self Help Groups (SHG’s) to create employment and provide an important nutritional / health benefit to their community. When 200 ml of soymilk is fortified with a low-cost micro-nutrient mix, and supplemented by 34g peanut butter and a piece of bread, it provides a fortified 350 calorie supplement with 12g of protein for Rs. 2.7 (7 cents) including the cost of delivery; the Rs 2.7 cost, that includes all inputs, labor, equipment financing and delivery, is paid by the government as part of a supplemental nutrition program. This level of protein and micro-nutrient supplement has been shown to prevent disease and promote development in moderately malnourished children. The VitaGoat has four components: a pedal-powered grinder, an efficient multi-fuel boiler, a pressure cooker and filter press. Steam is injected from the boiler into the cooker and the final product is optionally filtered with the press. At least 30 liters can be produced per hour.

Contact: hart@malnutrition.org

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