Ecological Food Caterpillars Company

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) is a suitable solution to the problem of deforestation caused by uncontrolled logging to the detriment of the young and indigenous women who depend on these forest products, food insecurity, climatic disturbances and accentuation poverty in Mwenga territory where forests are over-exploited and degraded. To achieve this, we are mobilizing and supporting indigenous youth and women in order to restore biodiversity by fighting deforestation by planting host trees of edible caterpillars which are beneficial to indigenous populations. The trees planted within the framework of this project contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases but also the use of caterpillars as a food product allows on the one hand to compensate for the loss of crops and food insecurity, and on the other hand to create a source of income for the young and indigenous women in Mwenga territory in DR Congo.

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company(EFCC) addresses the specific problem of indigenous young people and women living in groups bordering the Itomwe Nature Reserve, 65% of whose forests are over-exploited and degraded in Mwenga territory, which have a direct impact on the indigenous populations of Mwenga since the young and indigenous women of Mwenga were engaged in research activities on edible caterpillars and other forest products in the Itombwe Nature Reserve in South Kivu. They are particularly disadvantaged insofar as the forest constitutes the basis of their livelihoods and the practices that defined their identity, which means that they are forced to fall back on community forests which are unfortunately over-exploited, degraded and devoid of the biodiversity that supported the indigenous families in which the rate of malnutrition is 68% among women and children under 5 years and whose edible caterpillars also constitute a source of income for the young people and women of Mwenga in the east of the Republic Democratic of the Congo.

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) contributes to the restoration of biodiversity by fighting against deforestation by planting host trees of edible caterpillars beneficial to the indigenous populations of Mwenga. During its pilot phase, Thus, EFCC worked with young people and women (gathered in a community cooperative) and carried out awareness-raising activities for the populations for the restoration of biodiversity, the identification and multiplication of forest species hosting caterpillars, training of native nurserymen, 3 phases of caterpillar reforestation campaign organized, setting up of local native forest monitoring committees as well as training of young people and women in rational management of caterpillar trees. Recorded results: 470 hectares reforested with forest species hosting edible caterpillars in 5 community forest blocks, 313 young people and indigenous women have abandoned deforestation activities and embers production, which justifies the reduction of deforestation activities, thus relaunching the biodiversity restoration process in Mwenga territory.

Indigenous youth and women in Mwenga are involved in the research of edible caterpillars and other forest products. They are particularly disadvantaged since the forest formed the basis of their livelihoods and the practices that defined their identity. They are currently forced to fall back on community forests which are unfortunately overexploited, degraded and devoid of the biodiversity that supported the indigenous families, notably the edible caterpillars which also constituted a source of income for the young and indigenous women of Mwenga. This project fights against deforestation by planting host caterpillars of edible caterpillars, which facilitates the gradual restoration of forest biodiversity that benefits indigenous youth and women. The use of caterpillars as a food product on the one hand makes up for the loss of crops and food insecurity, and on the other hand creates a source of income for indigenous youth and women in DR Congo. EFCC mobilizes you to work with the young and indigenous women gathered in a cooperative to restore this biodiversity which contributes to the improvement of their living conditions in Mwenga territory.

Ecological Food Cartepillars Company(EFCC) is an innovative initiative directly related to biodiversity since its raw material (edible caterpillars) is a forest resource that is part of the biodiversity of the forests of Mwenga. 

EFCC supports young people and women (gathered in a community cooperative) in the fight against deforestation by planting host trees of edible caterpillars in order to contribute to the availability and accessibility of ecologically produced edible caterpillars, thus creating a transition towards low-impact, diverse and nutritious diets, including low-carbon protein options in the Mwenga Territory.

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) is a suitable solution to the problem of deforestation caused by uncontrolled logging to the detriment of the young and indigenous women who depend on these forest products, food insecurity, climatic disturbances and accentuation poverty in the Mwenga territory where forests are over-exploited and degraded. EFCC restores biodiversity in community forests by planting and rationally managing host caterpillars of edible caterpillars as a food and source of income for indigenous youth and women in Mwenga. In terms of local indigenous innovation, planted trees is a solution to climate problems, the edible caterpillars from trees planted as a food product on the one hand alleviate food insecurity, and on the other hand create a source of income for indigenous youth and women in Mwenga. Our business model takes advantage of indigenous knowledge in the process of production, conservation and sale of edible caterpillars in order to give these indigenous bio-food products a market value endowed with a specifically indigenous intellectual property. Through our actions, we contribute to the availability and accessibility of edible caterpillars produced in an ecological way, preserved and sold in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of indigenous girls and women in accordance with our vision which is that of " see indigenous traditional knowledge transformed into socio-economic opportunities strategically held by indigenous youth and women members of the cooperative as well as other effective members and adherents to its services "in DR Congo.

This project integrates the use of technology by using the use of mobile forest monitoring technology (OF Collect Mobile) to ensure the preservation of reforested and forested community forest blocks by indigenous youth and women in the territory of Mwenga. Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) will face the problem of packaging and preserving caterpillars after harvest. The most common method of storage is drying in the fire and or in the sun for more than a week. This practice is still limited because it keeps the caterpillars for only one semester. Faced with this challenge, we intend to explore other innovative avenues and use modern, less polluting driers and packaging to give credibility to the quality and improve the packaging and preservation of our products in the short, medium and long term. EFCC also intends to acquire technological innovation to label our packaging and caterpillars in order to give these indigenous organic products a market value endowed with a specifically indigenous intellectual property.

Ecological Food Cartepillars Company (EFCC) uses the Collect Mobile technology application of the Open Foris (OF) initiative set up by the FAO Forestry Department to support the carrying out of multipurpose forest inventories and data processing. OF provides a set of free and open source software tools to facilitate the collection, analysis and reporting of field and satellite data in a flexible and efficient manner. The initiative is a collaborative effort put in place by many public and private institutions and led by the FAO Forestry Department.
OF Collect Mobile, requires the use of a tablet / smartphone and allows data entry directly in the field, thus considerably improving the quality of the data collected; and finally, OF Calc, allows data analysis and reporting according to various sampling design approaches.
Collect Mobile is a fast, intuitive and flexible data collection tool for field-based surveys.
This Android app allows the completion of complex data structures, such as biophysical, socio-economic or biodiversity surveys. Its many features include: On-the-fly validation to improve data quality, Handling of large lists of species or other attributes, Geo-location through embedded GPS
Integration with Collect for data management, analysis and export to commonly used formats.
Processes inputs and calculates attributes for quality control in the field.
http://www.openforis.org/tools...
We also plan to use the solar dryer for edible caterpillars. A solar dryer allows food to be dried by placing it under a transparent glass or plastic plate resistant to the sun in a frame. https://www.futura-sciences.co...

Ecological Food Cartepillars Company's theory of change is summarized as follows:

Impact:
The biodiversity (edible caterpillars) of community forests improves living conditions and contributes to the empowerment of indigenous young people and women in Mwenga territory in DR Congo.

Outcomes:
Indigenous youth and women participate in the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and in the rational and sustainable management of community forests;
Community forests are restored to their biodiversity by planting host trees for caterpillars by indigenous youth and women.

Outputs:
Young people and indigenous women are made aware of the project
Indigenous youth and women are involved in project activities
700 ha are reforested (in caterpillars) in community forests

Activities:
Awareness for the participation of indigenous youth and women;
Training of young and indigenous women nurserymen;
Creation of caterpillars of caterpillar trees by indigenous youth and women;
Planting of edible caterpillar trees;
Monitoring of restored community forest blocks.

1) In 2020, 400 young indigenous women and members of the Ecological Food Caterpillars Company actively participate in the restoration of biodiversity and the rational and sustainable management of at least 400 hectares of community forests, which contributes to the restoration of biodiversity and improving the resilient capacities of the latter in Mwenga territory;

 2) In 2021, at least 700 young people and indigenous women will be used by the Ecological Food Caterpillars Company in Mwenga territory;

3) In 2025, at least 2,500 indigenous youth and women will be used by the Ecological Food Caterpillars Company in Mwenga territory. This will contribute to improving the living conditions of around 17,500 family members who will improve their nutritional situations (in the case of malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women) and livelihoods with a view to fighting poverty in Mwenga territory in South Kivu province east of DR Congo.

1) By December 2020, 400 young indigenous women and members of the Ecological Food Caterpillars Company are actively participating in the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and the rational and sustainable management of community forests, which contributes to the fight against climate change and improving the resilient capacities of the latter in seven groups bordering the Itombwe Natural Reserve in Mwenga territory;

2) By December 2025, at least 700 hectares of community forests are restored to their biodiversity by the planting of host trees for caterpillars by young indigenous women and members of the Ecological Food Caterpillars Company in seven groups bordering the Natural Reserve of 'Itombwe in Mwenga territory.

By December 2025, at least 200 tonnes of edible caterpillars are produced, ecologically preserved and well sold at the price of 1 kilogram of caterpillars for US $ 3 by the company with a financial gain of around US $ 600,000 which help improve the living conditions of our beneficiaries.

The first constraint experienced this year is financial. Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) needs at least an annual budget of US $ 100,000 which must be mobilized to facilitate the achievement of project results.

The second constraint for the Ecological Food Caterpillars Company is linked to the strengthening of the mobilization and involvement of local authorities and communities for the conservation of forest species hosting caterpillars in the community forests of Mwenga. The project has set up local forest monitoring committees to maintain surveillance of the restored areas and raise community awareness of the merits of the project. This must have the support of local authorities.

Regarding the first constraint experienced this year which is financial. Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) has implemented a plan to mobilize financial resources to finance the activities planned for this year. We are contacting and mobilizing international partners and donors to maximize our chances of funding this year.

As part of the constraint related to strengthening the mobilization and involvement of local authorities and communities for the conservation of host tree species of caterpillars in the community forests of Mwenga. The project has set up local forest monitoring committees to maintain surveillance of the restored areas and raise community awareness of the merits of the project. This must have the support of local authorities. We also popularize the historical knowledge of the indigenous ancestors of Mwenga who ensured that the forest continued to support itself without destroying it. We recommend supporting and accompanying local authorities in the establishment and popularization of a local forestry regulation, accompanying them slowly and gradually in a sustainable forest management process.

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) has a multidisciplinary team of five young changemakers  of a new generation integrating the gender approach in its composition (1)Véronique Bulaya: Project manager, 2)Trésor Badisungu : Operations manager (technical supervisor of the project), 3)Gabriella SAKINA: Marketing, 4)Josué Aruna: Community mobilization, 5)Innocent Ombeni: Project monitoring officer.

Our team is led by Véronique Bulaya who is a courageous and exceptional young indigenous woman ( https://remote.com/profile/v%C3%A9ronique-bulaya-bihizi-1627f876-8f6f-4481-bcc3-387daccb2af4 ), followed by Trésor Badisungu who plays the role of operations manager and technical supervisor of the project, Gabriella SAKINA: Marketing manager, Josué ARUNA: Community mobilization and Innocent Ombeni: monitoring agent. Our team is made up of young changemakers of a new generation who have skills in the fields of this project, which strengthens our determination and our commitment as young agents of change in the agri-food sector in order to strengthen and improve entrepreneurial skills, participate in building a solid network with other change agents and create an impact on food and economic security in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Our team is multidisciplinary of five young changemakers (economist, agricultural engineer, environmentalist, computer scientist and lawyer) of a new generation integrating the gender and indigenous approach in its composition. The members of this team have good experience in this area and work in close collaboration.

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) is an offshoot of the project to support young people and indigenous women in restoring the biodiversity of community forests in Mwenga territory in South Kivu in eastern DR Congo. This project was initiated by a team of 5 young changemakers (Véronique Bulaya, Trésor Badisungu, Gabriella Sakina, Josué Aruna and Innocent Ombeni) working for the NGO PIFEVA (Pillar to Vulnerable Active Women in DR Congo) subsidized by IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) through the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Mechanism in 2019. Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) operates as a cooperative enterprise as a project linked to the NGO PIFEVA (Pillar to Active Vulnerable Women in DR Congo).

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) is a community cooperative enterprise with the mission of restoring the biodiversity of community forests by planting host trees of edible caterpillars and supporting young indigenous women members of the cooperative in the fight against poverty through a mechanism integrated rational management of biodiversity, particularly the production, conservation and sale of edible caterpillars in order to give these indigenous products a market value endowed with a specifically indigenous intellectual property in DR Congo.

Ecological Food Caterpillars Company (EFCC) works with indigenous young people and women grouped into three main players involved in the production and distribution of caterpillars: harvesters, wholesalers and retailers of edible caterpillars, faced with a diversity of customers, including one majority of the indigenous populations as well as other customers who love caterpillars in rural and urban areas where the average price of a kilogram of caterpillars is $ 3 at the Kamituga market in Mwenga territory. The markets of the city of Bukavu, Goma, Kisangani, Kinshasa as well as those of border cities of neighboring countries (Rwanda and Burundi in terms of importation of caterpillars) are also targeted.

By December 2025, at least 200 tonnes of edible caterpillars will be produced and preserved ecologically and well sold at the price of 1 kilogram of caterpillars for US $ 3 by the company with a financial gain of approximately US $ 600,000 which improve the performance of Ecological Food Caterpillars Company in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ecological Food Cartepillars Company (EFCC) applies to SOLVE  to allow us to find additional funds to finance our field activities. Our partnership with Solve will also allow us to benefit from the necessary technical and technological support and as well as networking with the organizations of other Solve initiatives. Solve price will strengthen our financial, technical and technological support will contribute to the achievement of our Objectives which are:

1) Restore the biodiversity of community forests by planting host trees of edible caterpillars, the use of which as food helps to alleviate food insecurity and create a source of income for young people and indigenous women;

2) Support young indigenous women and members of the cooperative in the fight against poverty through the production, conservation and sale of edible caterpillars in order to give these indigenous products a market value endowed with a specifically indigenous intellectual property for improve the socio-economic conditions of indigenous girls and women in DR Congo.

We are looking for a partnership that will bring us additional financial support, technical support (coaching) and networking with the other initiatives supported by Solve to enable us to achieve our objectives which are:

  1) Restore the biodiversity of community forests by planting host trees of edible caterpillars, the use of which as food helps to alleviate food insecurity and create a source of income for young people and indigenous women;

2) Support young indigenous women and members of the cooperative in the fight against poverty through the production, conservation and sale of edible caterpillars in order to give these indigenous products a market value endowed with a specifically indigenous intellectual property for improve the socio-economic conditions of indigenous girls and women in DR Congo.

Ecological Food Cartepillars Company (EFCC) wishes to join organizations of MIT initiatives in the framework of exchange of experiences and Solve members to advance your solution with regard to the business model, solution technology, distribution of products / services and the company's financing and revenue model. This will gradually respond to our vision of "Seeing indigenous traditional knowledge transformed into socio-economic opportunities strategically held by indigenous youth and women members of the cooperative as well as other effective members and adherents to its services" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To achieve this, we contribute through our actions to the availability and accessibility of edible caterpillars produced in an ecological manner, preserved and sold in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of indigenous girls and women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Our project is an initiative designed and implemented by Aboriginal women. This project is led by an indigenous woman (Véronique Bulaya, CEO EFCC). In the field, EFCC is raising awareness among indigenous girls and women on the merits of rehabilitating degraded ecosystems and the rational and sustainable management of community forests in Mwenga territory. EFCC is the result of an enhancement of the knowledge of indigenous women in the production, conservation and sale of edible caterpillars which allow indigenous girls and women and their members of their families beneficiaries of the project to improve their livelihoods in a perspective of poverty reduction in Mwenga territory in DR Congo.