SFD general info - Kleine Goede Doelen

“A start-up is not a scaled-down version of an
established company, but rather a provisional
organisation in search of a scaleable, repeatable and
profitable business model.”
(all photos taken in or from the prototype, drying mango; drawing by the
author.)
MAMA DIOP is such a start-up, based on the
Solar Food Dryer or SFD, a proprietary design resulting
from more than ten years of product development and
experimenting in West Africa. The SFD utilizes direct solar
energy to dry and thus preserve agri- and horticultural
products on an industrial scale. The dried foodstuffs
comply with EU food safety standards, so they can be
sold on the world market. (only 4% of the total required
energy in the SFD is electric, and that too is solar generated.)
In 2011 a downsized "proof-of-concept" (see top left pic.)
of the SFD was built in The Gambia. From 2012 onward
this prototype has been extensively tested, also by
running routine
production. Results
show that a full-scale
SFD (see drawing) could produce between 90 and 120 kgs of dried
foodstuffs on a daily basis, providing regular jobs and income for 80 to
100 people, mainly women, 6 days per week. (West African labour-cost is
3 to 5 % of the average European).
Now that the concept has been proven, one or more full-scale SFD's
should be built. They should preferably be located in proximity of
medium-sized to large farms, or near many smaller farms or women's
gardens, providing for short supply routes and simple logistics.
The development of the SFD by Mama Diop has mainly been financed
by private donations to the (Dutch) Gambia Project Foundation and by
the directly involved people. Recently Mama Diop began looking for
investment, preferably sector-related because of expected synergy and
mutual benefits, ranging from source-level pricing to existing sales
channels. As yet Mama Diop has not been formally registered as a
commercial enterprise in
order to first find
investors and/or
businesspartners.
(Mama Diop is particularly
lacking expertise in
marketing and sales.)
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Mama Diop intends to be a Socially Responsible Enterprise (CSR), firmly rooted in local communities,
building and running SFD's and selling the dried products on the world market. Of course a healthy profit
must be made, but social and environmental responsibilities will always prevail over maximizing profits.
How the Solar Food Dryer works
- During daytime the black-painted metal top layer of the roof is heated by the sun; air is drawn through a
gap underneath the metal and is thus heated to approx. 70°C. The hot air is then blown through the drying
chambers filled with fresh (cut) food on trays, thereby evaporating the moisture from the foodstuff.
- At the same time a considerable amount of water is heated by the sun and stored in a well-insulated tank
or pit. This water only serves to store heat, in order to continue the drying process after sunset or to keep
on drying when unexpected rainshowers occur, e.g. when the rainy season approaches or nearly ends.
- By means of a PV-installation the sun also produces the electricity to drive the fans and pumps that
transport the heat to where it is required.
- Energy is also derived from a bio-digester that produces gas from the waste materials. The gas can be
used to add heat to the heat storage in water, or to process excess raw material in other ways.
- As described above, operating the SFD is 100% climate neutral. Only transportation, mainly of ready
made products, will cause a carbon footprint.
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Estimated Budget (in €)
A. building a full-scale SFD (22x18m, roof 25x21m)
- local contractor: structure, doors, windows, electr. install. etc.
- roof, = hot air collector
- PV-installation (solar electricity) incl. back-up generator
- synthetic and stainless steel parts, to be imported from NL
- bio digester (gas) & install. for additional heating
- hot water collector + radiator system, incl. installation
- tools for washing, cutting, slicing, weighing, packaging etc.
- labour and transportation costs
-
B. pre-financing the first drying season
- labour costs: 80 labourers, 17 weeks x 6 days, 6hrs./day
- transportation cost, buying and supplying fresh fruit
- other running cost, various
C. establishing Mama Diop as a commercial enterprise
- registration and other formalities in NL and The Gambia
- acquisition and transportation of various tools and machines
- personnel: 3x techn.,1x admin. = 4x annual salary à 1500
- housing: building cost for top-2 staff members
- office supplies & furnishings, computer, cupboards, etc.
- supervision cost: boarding & lodging, 2x NL-Gambia v.v.
84.000
24.000
37.000
16.000
21.700
9.000
6.00
7.000 +
subtotal
€ 204.700
18400
6.200
4.000 +
subtotal
€
3.500
24.000
6.000
40.000
4.500
8.000 +
subtotal €
sum total
28.600
86.000
========+
€ 313.300
Estimated Figures for Full-Scale SFD (based on results and experiences in prototype):
- Having regard to the rainy season and based on 6 working days per week, 230 days of production per
annum are feasible; production of dried product per working day is between 80 and 120 kgs, depending on
location, climate/weather and type of product.
- in case of 230 production days the average annual production amounts to 24.150 kg.
- based on an average wholesale price of € 6/kg the value of annual production is € 144.900,-.
- total production cost incl. labour is € 77.750,- hence gross profit is € 67.135,- production cost composition:
labour
€ 51.750 = 35,7 % (of wholesale value)
packaging
3.500 = 2,4 %
transportation cost
6.500 = 4,5 %
supply of fresh
12.000 = 8,3 %
other, various
4.000 = 2,8 %
———+
53,7% >>> annual gross profit = 46,3% = € 67.135
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Other Facts worth knowing:
History
- The design of the full-scale SFD results from over ten years of research and development in drying
-
various food stuffs by using direct solar energy. It all began with a box-dryer based on the standard-size
plywood sheet and culminated in the design of a food drying factory providing jobs and income for about
100 people, mainly women. It will also creates dozens of secondary employment opportunities.
The down-sized prototype built in The Gambia in 2011 has been the scene of virtually every conceivable
relevant experiment, providing a wealth of experience and knowledge. At present it is still functional,
thus categorizing the SFD as 'proven technology'.
Technical
- SFD-technology cannot be safeguarded by patents, but what makes it new and innovative is the
-
application of these technologies 1.) for this purpose, 2.) thus combined and 3.) on this unprecedented
industrial scale.
SFD-technology can be applied all over the world between latitudes of approximately 45°.
Like the prototype, full-scale SFD buildings should preferably be built from relatively eco-friendly CSEB's
(compressed stabilized earth blocks) that contain only about 5% cement.
The SFD has been designed to comply with European food safety standards.
SFD-technology can be used to preserve all kinds of agri- and horticultural products; it can simply be
adapted to dry fish; this could considerably contribute to saving forests, now often endangered by
commercial fish drying on wood fueled fires.
The Gambia Project Foundation (GPF)
- GPF has expertise and contacts regarding the workforce in The Gambia. In matters of finding the proper
-
staff and workforce GPF will collaborate closely with the investor and organise and arrange training
courses for workers and higher educated staff wherever required to warrant continuity of operations.
GPF has developed contacts with several local and regional governing bodies in The Gambia.
The location for building the full-scale Solar Food Dryer will be determined together with the investor.
The investor
- The investor(s) in de SFD will become co-owner(s) of the outfit and/or or shareholders of Mama Diop.
-
This is to be negotiated. The remaining part will be owned by Fred van Hessen and the Stichting
(Foundation) Gambia Project (GPF).
The investor is expected to play an active role with regard to sales of the dried products since GPF and
Mama Diop are largelely lacking expertise in this area.
Social, economical and commercial aspects
- Productive life expectancy of a well-built SFD lies in the range of 10 to 20 years.
- The scale and capacity of the above-proposed SFD is required as a minimum: 1.) for logistical reasons,
i.e. to fill a 20ft. container to be sent abroad twice a year in order to keep shipping cost within bounds,
and 2.) to attract qualified executive staff members and bear the weight of their salaries.
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Local collaboration
- Building an SFD with a view on further development requires an accessible plot of land of about 60x80
metres.
- The plot should be made available for free, in return for employment opportunities.
- An agreement covering the right to use the plot for at least twenty years should be made with the local
and/or regional governing bodies or a private party. GPF can mediate in achieving this.
For more information please contact:
Fred van Hessen, project coordinator.
[email protected]
M. +2209283540 (when in The Gambia)
+31622323299 (when in The Netherlands.
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