Production of RUTF.
Nutriset's industrial property strategy has always been oriented toward increasing the availability of high-quality products through production systems that have a positive impact on developing countries. To do this, Nutriset uses its industrial property rights to support the implementation of local production systems that are near populations suffering from malnutrition and to facilitate the access of local partners to innovative technologies. In addition, Nutriset uses its industrial property rights as a tool to protect its local partners from "unequal" competition from industries based in developed countries. The reasons are pragmatic: developing countries, which are the most greatly affected by the scourge of malnutrition, rarely have the possibility to carry out nutritional research and have difficulty accessing innovation, in contrast with developed countries that have the resources to do this type of research and carry out studies.
This strategy is materialized through two different mechanisms.
The PlumpyField® network
This network comprising private companies and NGOs in Africa, America and Asia produces and distributes Nutriset products. Tied to Nutriset by a franchise contract, franchisees have the right to use Nutriset brands and have access to the transfer of technical and commercial know-how (manufacturing processes and methods, installation of industrial tools, implementation and tracking of quality, logistics systems, etc.), as well as continuous assistance.
Production capacity is rapidly enlarging thanks to the growth of current network members. This technology transfer strategy has resulted in the creation of over 500 jobs within the network and the development of national or regional agricultural sectors through the purchase of locally available raw materials and the development of skills and knowledge (agro-industry and analysis laboratories).
