Entrepreneurs can get their hands on the technology of the enhanced nutribun free of charge as long as they are technically-capable to produce it commercially, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FNRI) said.
DOST-FNRI said their facilities must be Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant or working towards it, willing to invest in equipment and raw materials, and has a legal identity, or is a registered and taxpaying company, among others.
“The technology on the production of enhanced nutribun is a ‘public good technology’,” Rosemarie G. Garcia, Chief Science Research Specialist of the DOST-FNRI, said.
Based on the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey, the six to nine years old have 63.1 percent vitamin A inadequacy, while those 10 to 12 years old have 76.1 percent vitamin inadequacy.
The enhanced nutribun version, which was also initially developed for the undernourished children like the nutribun from the ‘70s, can actually also be consumed by healthy Pinoys. The enhanced nutribun is made from squash that is rich in vitamin A, a nutrient that’s lacking in the regular meal of Filipino children.
DOST-FNRI said that the enhanced nutribun is not only good for young children, but also for the other population groups, particularly pregnant and lactating women, and senior citizens. Even the well and healthy population need products like the enhanced nutribun.
The Enhanced Nutribun has more micronutrients like iron and vitamin A. The texture is softer and weighs 160 to 165 grams per piece, which makes it easier for children to hold and bite. Each serving has 504 calories, 17.8 grams protein, 6.08 milligrams iron and 244 micrograms vitamin A. A piece of enhanced nutribun already provides 60 percent of the requirements for vitamin A.
Racky Doktor, owner of Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation (NFMC) was among the first to sign up for the Enhanced-Nutribun technology of DOST-FNRI. Their company, which has a mission of helping reduce malnutrition through production and distribution of research-based food technologies, signed up immediately because the product is very nutritious, timely, and needed by both children and adults. Nutridense is one of the many successful enterprises that were assisted by the DOST under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP.
There are already four licensees in Region II: the AJ’s Bread and Pastries; J.A. Fruits and Vegetable Processing; Quirino Livelihood for Everyone (Q-life); and J’s Bakeshop & Delicacies.
On the other hand, there are 14 in Region IV-A: the Gem See’s Cakeshop; Swisspharma Research Laboratories Inc.; San Jose Workers MPC; MRG Food Products/Malou’s Bakery; Magifrance Bakeshop and Café; Doughpro Manufacturing & Trading Corp.; LGU-Mauban, Quezon Province; Panaderia Pantoja, Inc.; Golden Wheat Bakery; El Richard Bakery; Anica’s Home Bread Store; Momilo Mio; Congw. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, MD; and Amira’s Buco Tart Haus.
Since there is no more charge being asked for technology licensing, the primary cost will be the setting up of the facility and the purchase of equipment that will largely depend on the scale of production. DOST-FNRI’s pilot plant engineers will assist the entrepreneurs in terms of the plant layout and the listing of equipment to be purchased.
Based on the assumptions and computation of DOST-FNRI’s engineers, the return of investment on the enhanced nutribun is more than 30 percent, and payback period is 2 to 2.5 years.
DOST FNRI said that in the ‘70s, 30 million nutribuns were given to 200,000 children. While DOST-FNRI cannot give the exact number of children who can benefit from its enhanced nutribun, since the distribution will depend on the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education and the LGUs. Garcia said the institute’s rough and conservative estimate is that one million children would benefit from the product.
“We have more malnourished children now, than in the 70’s,” Garcia said.
DOST-FNRI is a research and development institute that developed the product and is ready to transfer it to capable partners who will then commercialize the product to its intended customers. For the enhanced nutribun, DepEd, DSWD and DTI expressed full support for the product. Incidentally, DepEd and DSWD already have the funds to give the products to the children for free through their school and supplementary feeding programs, respectively.