Recent estimates show that 45 million children under the age of five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form of malnutrition, globally. Reports also suggest that the world is not on track to reach any of the seven global nutrition targets by 2030. In many countries across Africa, hunger is still on the rise and despite decades of progress, the hunger and malnutrition crises are now worsening. As well as increasing investment in vital interventions to prevent malnutrition in the first place, we are also in need for new, innovative solutions for treatment, to reverse this trend. At The Power of Nutrition, we believe there is a solution already sitting under our noses.
Children suffering from SAM are traditionally treated using ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RUTF). RUTF is an energy dense paste, made from a mix of peanuts, milk powder and nutrients, and it’s incredibly effective – with a 90 per cent recovery rate. Its big issues however are availability and cost; approximately one in three children suffering from SAM having access to it. Most RUTF is produced in Europe where ingredients such as milk powder is more readily available, but generally, where the need for a malnutrition treatment for children is low.
Our partners at VALID Nutrition have reinvented this recipe with these challenges in mind. The new, plant-based alternative promises to reduce costs, improve access, boost local economies as well as being kinder to the planet. Benefits include:
- Reducing cost and increasing availability: the new recipe is made using locally available soya, maize and sorghum, plant-based RUTF can crucially be produced in countries where the need for treatment is high.
- Economic prosperity: supporting local employment and boosting local economises by producing the product where it is used.
- Kinder to the planet: lower transportation costs plus plant-based ingredients add up to much lower carbon emissions – saving as much as 78% on the traditional recipe.
The crucial question though – is plant-based RUTF as effective as treating SAM as the standard recipe? The answer is an astounding yes. Recent studies show it is as effective in the treatment of SAM and actually even more effective in the treatment of anaemia!
Looking ahead, the most important thing is to get plant-based RUTF to the children who need it the most. As with all innovations, it’s not enough to just have a great idea, you need support from partners. Partners from the private sector can be the vital difference, acting as the catalyst for this much needed change. Standard RUTF has been treating malnourished children for the last 20 years and done an amazing job – but now is the opportunity for businesses to be at the forefront of bringing a new player to the market and transforming how we can save many more children’s lives. Businesses can act as the driving force for implementing a new, evidence-based product that supports many ESG practices and SDG goals. Furthermore, the voices of businesses are vital in providing support and advice on marketing, business planning, supply chain creation, management and strengthening.
The time for action is now. Collectively we must work towards a future where children are not dying needlessly from malnutrition. When the solution comes in the form of a product that improves economies and job prospects, whilst also being climate friendly, we can no longer afford to ignore it.
