Nutrifarm-Rwanda Cricket Farming Ltd

Vision: 

Improve nutrition and livelihood to 10% of families with few income earnings by 2030.

Mission:

To reduce malnutrition in infants and pregnant women in Rwanda from 34% to 5% with consumption of recipes with cricket protein.

Values:

Integrity

Gender

Anti-corruption

No fraud

“Alexis Musabirema is a technology and innovative researcher at Nutrifarm-Rwanda Cricket Farming Ltd. with more than 5 years of experience helping the food and nutrition industry with a focus on malnourished infants and pregnant women from less income-generating families. Specializing in Nutrition, Food Security, and Modern Agriculture; Alexis uses that experience to translate technology and innovation research findings into commercial, innovative, nutritious, affordable, and alternative sources of protein, minerals, and good fats of edible crickets as the future of food. The domestication of edible crickets using a controlled climate technology also contributes to climate action through the reduction of high agricultural responsible gas emissions in meat production. Insects are the future of food and feed; buying crickets-based products from Nutrifarm is a great contribution to Climate Action. Enjoy the nutritious and nutty taste of cricket-based products and pave the future of food in our community through this modern agricultural solution”

Name: ALEXIS MUSABIREMAJob Title: MANAGING DIRECTORAPRIL 2019 - PRESENT, LOCATION: RUTSIRO, WESTERN, RWANDAQualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Animal Production

Advanced Diploma in Modern Agriculture

Diploma in Epidemiology

National Researcher on edible insects.

Roles in the Project

Communication on behalf of the company

Assists the CEO as secondary Legal Representative of the company

Application for funding, grants and initiation of business  joint ventures

Ensure the overall production and Business development

Maintaining ot the competitive market landscape, expansion opportunities and company development

Assessing the risks to the company and ensuring they are monitored and minimized. In charge of financial and data management

Any Remarks about this person

He is a good  strategic director.

Name: Se. Uriho JEAN FELIX / Job Title: Marketing ManagerAPRIL 2019 - PRESENT, LOCATION: KIGALI, RWANDAQualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing

Researcher on flying food

Roles in the Project

Managing the promotion and positioning of the Nutrifarm products and services.

Attract more customers to buy from the company

Raise the brand awareness through marketing campaigns

Developing strategies and tactics to boots the company’s reputation and increased number of sales with outcome

Any Remarks about this person

He is a creative genius to attract customers' attention to buy our products and services.

Name: Jean PaulJob Title: COMMUNICATIONAPRIL 2021- PRESENT, LOCATION: KIGALI, RWANDAQualifications

Bachelor's degree in ICT

Certificate of Communication, Information  and data management

Roles in the Project

Developing and implementing the communication strategies, work plans, campaigns, and events.

Write and distribute the content to promote the company’s products and services.

Act as the liaison between the company,  public and media to ensure that our products and services remain top of mind.

Tracking campaign analytics and maintaining digital media archives.

Any Remarks about this person

He provides efficient information and he  is also a good freelancer.

Name: Dr. CLEMENTINE UWIMBABAZI Job Title: Human Nutrition and Health SpecialistAPRIL 2021 - PRESENT, LOCATION: KIGALI, RWANDAQualifications

 Doctor in General Medicine

Roles in the Project

Ensure the cricket flour was prepared with safety and respect the ISO before it is taken to the market.

Identify the nutritional and health benefits of consumers of the cricket flour.

Prepare, involve and provide  guidance to  the research initiatives at the company.

Any Remarks about this person

She is innovative and a good health adviser.

Name: Alexandre TUYISHME / Job Title: M&E SpecialistAPRIL 2021 - PRESENT, LOCATION: KIGALI, RWANDAQualifications

Bachelor Degree in Education and Mathematics

Roles in the Project

Assists the calculations of short and long term strategic projections of the company. 

Assist the CEO and Managing Director on planning and budgeting.

In charge of training organisations and community mobilisation.

Conduct qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation of the work performances and outcome from part-time and contractual workers.

Any Remarks about this person

He is a good planner, trainer and monitoring officer.

Cricket flour (or cricket powder) is a protein-rich powder made from crickets, using various processes.

Reference made to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR)’s Demographic Health Survey (DHS) 2019/2020 report indicates various levels of malnutrition and stunting in children under age 5 years. It indicates that 33% are stunted (too short for their age), 9% are severely stunted, 1% are wasted (too thin for their height), and less than 1% are severely wasted. The report indicates that 8% of children are underweight (too thin for their age), 1% are severely underweight, and 6% of children are overweight. The sixth Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey shows that stunting – chronic malnutrition – rates are still highest in poorest households and those in rural areas.The survey results showed that 36% of children in rural areas were stunted compared to 20% in urban areas.Stunting generally increases with age, peaking at 40% among children aged 24-35 months, according to the study. The survey, which attracted record participation and focused mainly on women and children, indicated that 1 percent of children were wasted in 2020 compared to 2 per cent in 2015. Wasting is a measure of acute undernutrition, which may result from inadequate food intake or from a recent episode of illness causing weight loss, according to health experts. The rate of underweight children (too-thin for their age) reduced slightly from 9 per cent to 8 per cent in the same period. Infant mortality, on the other hand, described as the probability of dying before the first birthday, slightly increased to 33 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020 from 32 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2015. Rwanda suffers from high levels of malnutrition, with almost 42% of infants under 5 years and 38% of pregnant women lacking sufficient nutrients. However, as a result of cricket farming, crickets offer a surprising remedy containing protein, amino acids, and micronutrients in each crunchy bite. The consumption of insects is not entirely new in Rwanda as there is a considerable number of people who eat seasonal insects: Nsenene and earth termites. However, there is a cultural bias on consumption of novel food (especially insects as people believe they come

seasonally from unknown and unhealthy places). Nobody believes in finding insects regularly at the local market and adding them to their daily food plate, as the most affordable, nutritious, and balanced diet. Nutrifarm is a leading company in the cricket value chain in Rwanda by uses industrial technology to produce insects in a whole year, indoors, in a limited space, and in limited. Our novelty is defined as the translation of research findings into a commercial solution through insects’ domestication, creating a friendly climate for insects, applied safety from farm to fork, formulation of balanced diets, development of nutritional specialties, and industrialization technologies for producing edible insect species.

The consumption of crickets-based products to reduce malnutrition and food security in Rwanda as in other parts of the world not entirely new, however there is still a need for a research-based approach and industrial support to ensure the cricket products have safety standards, there is a sustainable increased production, market linkage, and value chain development of insect for human consumption value chain. Following the FAO’s recommendation (Report, 2010) on the use of insects as the future of human food and animal feed. Eating insects is a practice that dates back thousands of years. It’s more common in certain parts of the world, such as Africa and Asia, but is becoming more accepted in other countries as well. In addition to protein, crickets are high in many other nutrients, including fat, calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, copper, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, and iron. One study found that the iron content of crickets was 180% higher than that of beef. Plus, the crickets were higher in calcium and the B vitamin riboflavin than meat products like chicken, pork, and beef. What’s more, crickets are a rich source of fiber, a nutrient that other sources of animal protein lack. Studies show that the fiber content of crickets can be as high as 13.4% in a 100-gram serving. Additionally, crickets provide fat, mostly in the form of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Studies have linked these to health benefits, including improvements in risk factors for heart disease.

Environmentally friendly protein alternative

Farming insects such as crickets for food may be more sustainable and environmentally friendly than raising animals such as chicken, pigs, and cattle. For example, one study found that broiler chickens were associated with 89% higher greenhouse gas emissions than crickets, per unit of edible protein produced. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), livestock account for 14.5% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing your red meat intake and replacing it with more sustainable options like insect or plant protein is a smart way to help the environment. Insect farming could also help reduce food waste if farmers choose to feed food waste to their insects. Including insects as part of the diet may help industrialized countries create a more sustainable food system and make a dent in greenhouse gas emissions.

May benefit gut health

Some research suggests that chitin, the insoluble fiber found in crickets, may be beneficial for gut health. Chitin may act as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. A small 2018 study that included 20 healthy people found that consuming 25 grams of whole cricket powder per day for 2 weeks led to increased growth of beneficial gut bacteria and reduced inflammatory markers. In the study, Bifidobacterium animalis, a beneficial strain of gut bacteria, increased by 5.7 times. At the same time, tumor necrosis factor alpha, which is linked to inflammatory gut conditions, was reduced in people who consumed cricket powder compared with people who ate a control diet.

FORMATIVE METHODOLOGY

The research team will use experimental design for research sample analysis at the laboratory and surveys for evaluation of consumers' acceptance of cricket-based products and feedback on product readiness to market.
5.1. Experimental design:
• Research design: The nutritional composition of cricket flour will be analyzed and compared
with egg, milk, meat, beans, soy, and other sources of proteins and minerals in the Rwanda
market.
• Data collection: Information on productivity and cost efficiency (BWG body weight gain,
FCR: food conversion rate, Temperatures, Humidity, Water intake, diseases, others) will be
collected at the farm on a weekly basis. The number of proteins, minerals, fats, and vitamins
in cricket feed and cricket flour will be analyzed in Laboratories.
• Materials: sampling tools are further detailed in the budget including a cooler, Ziploc bags,
test tubes, gloves, clothes, electronic balance, cooler, and others.
• Data analysis: Cricket samples will be analyzed on their Protein, Moisture, Ash, and Fat
Profile in the percentage of sat, mono, poly, and trans-fat, Sugar profile, Total Dietary Fiber,
Sodium, Calcium, Iron, Cholesterol, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Carbohydrates, Calories, Calories
from Fat, and foreign harmful bodies.
• Report preparation: The research team, lab technician, and experts will discuss the research
findings, write a final report, and disseminate the results to the Rwandan community for
research scale, and initial commercialization of cricket products through marketing, and
publication in local or international journals.
Take action: The research findings will show the amount of cricket nutrients (proteins and
minerals) produced using different feeds. Recommendations will be made on feeding,
biosecurity, safety, climatic conditions, management, packaging, and marketing. 

-Economic growth: The production of an affordable source of proteins is a great contribution to increased access to nutritious food by families with low-income generating capacity. Cricket farming for business is a novel technology, research, and innovation-based, and sustainable source of job creation for youth and women. Cricket farming has a great impact on the reduction of competition for biomass, reduced agricultural emissions, and the use of limited land compared to livestock. The future cricket value chain will strongly contribute to the GDP as an emerging agricultural technology.

• Societal impact: Translation of research findings into useful by industry for providing commercial solutions to high demand for innovative nutritious food against malnutrition and stunting. Society will be progressively friendly to the consumption of insects (crickets) products as a future source of food. The application of technology and the use of safety regulations build trust and willingness of consumers to buy novel food. This will be achieved through intensive research, product development, and marketing of cricket-based products.
• Partnership: This project is proof of integrated results from Research and industry collaboration also a public-private partnership. Partners shared research experiences, lessons, technical skills, platforms, and opportunities. Nutrifarm has local expertise in cricket farming, Insecti-Pro has Regional Expertise in cricket farming and business development, and RAB has Expertise in Agriculture Research and Technology transfer. Experts will be consulted following the need in project implementation and accordingly to the budget. This research project is also the research contribution towards finding alternative novel food for the nutritious food industry.
• Innovation and entrepreneurship: cricket farming for human consumption is a new value chain for entrepreneurs should explore according to their capabilities. Introduction of nutritious recipes that improve the livelihood of consumers which entrepreneurs may invest in to satisfy the increasing market demand of nutritious products. 

Nutrifarm agrees to comply with the following principles which aim at protecting the security, dignity, and privacy of every individual who, in the course of the Activities carried out under this Project, will be requested to provide personal or commercially valuable information about themselves or others (hereinafter referred to as “Subject of Research”):

a) Before an individual becomes a Subject of Research, they shall be notified of:
• the aims, methods, anticipated benefits and potential hazards of the research;
• the right to abstain from participation in the research;
• the right to terminate their participation at any time; and
• the confidential nature of their responses and any limits on such confidentiality.
b) No individual shall become a Subject of Research unless they are given the notice referred to in the preceding paragraph and provides a freely given consent that they agree to participate. No pressure or inducement of any kind shall be applied to encourage an individual to become a
Subject of Research. 

c) Subject only to limitations which Subjects of Research are notified of, and consent to, pursuant to Subsections (a) and (b) above, the identity of individuals from whom information is obtained in the course of this Project shall be kept strictly confidential. At the conclusion of the Project, any information that reveals the identity of individuals who were Subjects of Research shall be destroyed unless the individual concerned has consented otherwise in writing. No information revealing the identity of any individual shall be included in the final report or in any other communication or publication prepared in the course, or as a result, of this Project, unless
the individual concerned has consented in writing to its inclusion beforehand. Likewise, at the conclusion of the Project, any information that reveals the identity of individuals who were Subjects of Research shall be destroyed unless the individual concerned has consented otherwise in writing.
d) When children are involved in the Project, special care has to be taken to ensure that their participation is undertaken in accordance with ethical standards. Accordingly, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs 5.1(a) – 5.1(c) being complied with, children shall not be allowed to
participate unless:

• their parents or guardians have been counseled with respect to the children’s participation in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 5.1(a) – 5.1(c); and their parents or guardians have given their free, explicit, and informed consent to the participation of the children in the Project.
Parents or guardians shall have the right to withdraw their children from the Project at any time.

• Increase the production of crickets reared in controlled climatic conditions
• Improve the quality of cricket flour for research and ready-for-market
• Analyze the FCR and nutritional composition of cricket flour compared to other nutritious food available on the food marketplace used to reduce malnutrition in Rwanda
• The research team will evaluate consumers' acceptance of selected cricket-based products: cricket future bread, samosa, Capati, kebab, doughnuts, cakes, biscuits, cookies, rolls, chocolates, fried crickets, snacks, flour, fortified spices, and others.
• B2B:
  Raw Cricket flour Supply of raw protein source and mineral ingredients to food manufacturers. 

The output of this project is a cricket farm that produces cricket flour for research scale and commercialization.

5.4. Implementation Research
• The research team will explore the influence of the technological context on the commercialization of research results by analyzing the maturity of technology for food standards compliance to commercialization.
• The partners are committed to adapting and piloting the cricket farming technology, safety analysis, qualitative, study assessments, and identifying barriers and enablers that need to be integrated as recommended strategies to improve this innovation.
• Determine business models for scaling up the cricket for business innovation for future implementation and larger-scale adoption and later evaluation for long-term impact.
Capacity building plan:
• The Rwanda cricket farming project will provide a platform for students to carry their thesis on cricket innovation through non-paid internships and limited researchers' invitations to launch research findings and marketing.
• Students who apply for an internship must present a recommendation from a grant provider and (or) partner institution and may cover their research-related expenses.
• Nutrifarm as the host institution will assess and decide the number of eligible researchers following the area of interest from applicants and internal capacity to monitor the
researchers.

Any funding was received for the Rwanda Cricket Farming project in terms of scaling up and commercialization. However, Nutrifarm is committed to providing its in-kind contribution to this project. This grant would be considered as a co-funding source for the project’s opportunities to make a greater impact. However, specific clarifications and details will depend on the grant agreement with the funder Nutrifarm applied for a patent right for cricket flour as the main product. The application is still  under review at RDB. Meanwhile, reference was made to the discussion with the responsible  staff at RDB. They will provide a valid patent for 1 year for the current status of innovation.Nutrifarm applied for a patent right for cricket flour as the main product. The application is still  under review at RDB. Meanwhile, reference was made to the discussion with the responsible  staff at RDB. They will provide a valid patent for 1 year for the current status of innovation.