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General Mills Science and Technology Transfer Initiative. Nourishing Lives in Africa. General Mills Overview. Innovation leadership impacting consumers around the world 14 Billion Dollars
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General MillsScience and Technology Transfer Initiative Nourishing Lives in Africa
General Mills Overview • Innovation leadership impacting consumers around the world • 14 Billion Dollars • 6th Largest Food company • Diverse portfolio of products and technologies • Deep commitment to nourishing lives
Diverse Portfolio of Technologies & Capabilities • Examples of Core Technologies • Cereal Grain Extrusion • Thermal Processing • Industrial Fermentation • Intermediate Moisture Dough • Vegetable Breeding
Diverse Portfolio of Technologies & Capabilities • Examples of Enabling Capabilities • Machine Design • Analytical Chemistry and Nutritional Analysis • Sensory Science • Microbiological Testing and Shelf Life Modeling • Benchtop to Pilot Scale Food Processing and Packaging
Inspired by General Mills Foundation projects like “A Million Meals” our philanthropic efforts have evolved: • School feeding programs in Malawi • Grants from GMI Foundation to partners for agricultural projects in Malawi and Tanzania have been made • Technical philanthropy
General Mills Science & Technology Transfer Initiative What is it? • It starts with a culture of “pent up technical philanthropy”. • A process that connects the talents and skills of our 1200+ R&D, QRO, and Engineering employees and our world class facilities aimed at eliminating hunger and improving lives in Africa • Participation is voluntary
Approach for GMI Science and Technology Transfer in Africa GMI can contribute to improving food security and local economies by assisting small/medium scale enterprises that produce nutritious food products utilizing the crop output of small holder farmers Incoming Ingredients Outgoing Product Potential To Leverage GMI Technical Expertise
Areas for GMI Technical Assistance • Post harvest handling & storage • Nutrition / fortification • Product development • Packaging development & shelf life • Process development • Cost Savings / margin expansion • Capital selection & start-up • Quality systems & GMP’s
The COMACO Collaboration - Zambia Vision: Protect wildlife and forest areas of Luangwa Valley by sustaining livable incomes and household food needs Mission: Provide marketing services, trade benefits, and extension support for farm-based and natural resource-based commodities Goals: Poverty reduction, job creation, conservation
The COMACO Collaboration • Processor & Marketer of Zambian Crops: • Sourcing from 30,000 small holder farmers • More than 50% of families female led • High quality rice, ground nuts, honey • In 2007, GMI provided technical support: • Improved quality and operational costs through long distance technical consulting • Determined specs and assisted procurement of second generation processing system • Assisted in identifying and selecting Food Scientist to enable technology exchange
COMACO’s Perspective “Having a Fortune 500 food company like General Mills lend their expertise to a start-up food processing operation like ours is having a significant impact on our organization. Our ability to utilize their information and knowledge translates into a healthier environment and improved lives for hundreds of thousands of people across Zambia.” Dale Lewis, Wildlife Conservation Society Zambia Country Director COMACO’s presence and impact contributed to eliminating the need for WFP programs in Mfuwe region for the first time in 2008
GMI Technology Transfer Process • Impact • Sustainability
Impact • Small/Medium Sized Food Enterprises (SME’s) on the ground in Africa • Identify and aggregate challenges/opportunities • Partnerships with NGO’s, PVO’s and Universities
Sustainability • SME’s need to have the capacity to receive technical assistance • Ability to demonstrate long term commitment
Key Learning’s to Date • Strong interest from NGO’s • Our area for greatest assistance lies in the center of the “field to fork” value chain: • Targeting improvements in operating efficiencies, food nutrition, enhanced convenience and product quality/safety • We’re a business… we’re most effective if we engage a business based social enterprise
Key Learning’s to Date Targeting partners that share GMI’s value for Nourishing Lives and Communities, particularly women and children: • Operating within an existing/developing local market(s) • Capable of sourcing crop output from local small holder farmers • Able to invest in themselves to achieve growth • Committed to producing good quality, nutritious and safe foods • Possess technical acumen to identify, receive and implement technical knowledge and product/process recommendations
Project Proposals • Submit proposed projects • Follow up with field based team to understand the challenge/problem • An advisory counsel review project to evaluate fit • General Mills will respond with an acceptance letter & MOU Letter • Once MOU is agreed to by partners a project manager is assigned.
Contact For more information or for concept paper guidelines ScienceTechnology@genmills.com