MIT Solve

Solution overview

Our Solution

Naturali Organics

Tagline

Organic produce and food products producer and distributor through a subscription delivery model via an online platform

Pitch us on your solution

Naturali Organics is an organic fresh produce and processed organic food products producer and distributor. Distribution is through a subscription box delivery business model via an online platform. The solution is reproducible and scalable to other countries or locations around the world particularly those that are engaged in agriculture. It currently has 6 employees and in the future will require more. Small-hold farmers in the community will also benefit with increased earnings since Naturali Organics delivers fresh produce straight to consumers from farmers.

With this, in terms of global issues, Naturali Organics can help address the following: lack of organic farmers, multiple distribution layers from the farmers to the consumers and global warming Impact.

In addition, Naturali Organics will have a positive impact on the following: ending poverty and promoting employment and decent work.

Film your elevator pitch

What is the problem you are solving?

In terms of global issues, Naturali Organics can help address the following:

(1) Lack of farms that grow healthy and good quality organic fresh produce (fruits/vegetables/crops) through natural and sustainable farming methods

(2) Multiple distribution layers from the farmers to the consumers

(3) Global Warming Impact

With this, Naturali Organics will have a positive impact on the following:

(1) Ending Poverty

(2) Ending Hunger

(3) Ensuring Healthy Lives and Well-being

(4) Promoting Employment and Decent Work

(5) Empowerment of Women

(6) Ensuring Responsible Consumption and Production

Who are you serving?

Target beneficiaries are the local residents of the underprivileged community of Cambuhat, Buenavista, Bohol. They will benefit from the establishment of Naturali Organics, through the following:

(1) Additional employment opportunities for the residents of Cambuhat who only rely on fishing, raffia weaving, talaba culturing and occasional tour for day-to-day sustenance

(2) Opportunity to improve quality of education through building additional classrooms and providing required classroom materials (as most of the schools within the area have only three classrooms from Grade 1 – 6 with two grade levels sharing one classroom)

(3) Women in the community who are housewives of which the establishment of Naturali Organics would provide more empowerment to them through employment opportunities

The social enterprise currently has 6 employees and in the future will require more. Small-hold farmers in the community will also benefit with increased earnings since Naturali Organics delivers their fresh produce straight to consumers.

What is your solution?

Naturali Organics is an organic fresh produce and processed organic food products producer and distributor. Distribution is through a subscription box delivery business model via an online platform.

The social enterprise will produce and source organic fresh produce (fruits, vegetables, crops) and delivers these straight from its own and/or partner farm fields to its restaurant, family and individual customers through a subscription business model supported by an online platform for ordering. This will be done through establishing weekly delivery times that are convenient for its customers which saves customers time and money for transportation on top of being guaranteed to receive 100% organic fresh produce. Additional products that will be included as part of the subscription product options are processed organic food products (e.g. Moringa Coffee, Chili Flakes, and more) that are manufactured by Naturali Organics.

Naturali Organics’ solution is useful, unique and innovative as it takes advantage of technology through its online platform for subscription sign-up, ordering, payment and delivery tracking. Transaction is straight from the farmers to the consumers.

Select only the most relevant.

Support communities in designing and determining solutions around critical services
Create or advance equitable and inclusive economic growth

Where is your solution team headquartered?

Buenavista, Bohol, Philippines

Our solution's stage of development:

Pilot

More about your solution

Select one of the below:

New business model or process

Describe what makes your solution innovative.

Naturali Organics’ solution is useful, unique and innovative as it takes advantage of technology through its online platform for subscription sign-up, ordering, payment and delivery tracking. Transaction is straight from the farmers to the consumers. This is convenient for both farmers and consumers. This is based on the following trends: (a) Growing demand for organics fruits and vegetables from individuals, families and restaurants with the current trend and awareness or healthy living and food choices, (b) innovative distribution system, delivery farm-to-table concept and (c) online platform for ordering and reservation that satisfies today's Filipino consumers which is globally scalable.

This allows for more inclusive business practices as well for not only the farmers but also the consumers as they are assured of where there food is sourced.

Describe the core technology that your solution utilizes.

Naturali Organics’ solution is useful, unique and innovative as it takes advantage of technology through its online platform for subscription sign-up, ordering, payment and delivery tracking (E-commerce).

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Social Networks

Why do you expect your solution to address the problem?

The solution will address the problem since we have already tested it to work for both the consumers and the farmers even during the pilot stage using a not so sophisticated technology yet but the concept is already prototyped and tested out. Moreover, there are already paying customers for this.

Select the key characteristics of the population your solution serves.

Women & Girls
Rural Residents
Urban Residents
Very Poor/Poor
Low-Income
Middle-Income

In which countries do you currently operate?

Philippines

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Philippines

How many people are you currently serving with your solution? How many will you be serving in one year? How about in five years?

Currently serves: 3 Institutional Customers and 50 Individual Customers

In the next year, we plan to serve 3 additional Institutional Customers and 30 additional Individual Customers

In 5 years, we plan to serve 20 additional Institutional Customers and 150 additional Individual Customers

What are your goals within the next year and within the next five years?

As for the next year, we aim to scale up and tie-up with 20 small-hold farmers for a steady supply of organic produce. Moreover, we plan to expand out market based on the indicated numbers on the previous question.

In the next 5 years, we plan to bring this solution and business model to other rural communities within the Visayas and Mindanao which has similar conditions as that at Buenavista, Bohol, Philippines so that it can supply the demand of the urban population sustainably.

What are the barriers that currently exist for you to accomplish your goals for the next year and for the next five years?

Current Barriers:

For Next Year - Access to sufficient funding to meet current demands (e.g. new infrastructure / production area, farm expansion, farm equipment, costs associated with educating and tying-up with small-hold farmers), Efficient and Cost-effective Logistics

Next 5 years - Access to Increased Funding for further expansion to other communities and Market Expansion (e.g. new infrastructure / production area, farm expansion, farm equipment, costs associated with educating and tying-up with small-hold farmers), Efficient and Cost-effective Logistics

How are you planning to overcome these barriers?

- Use of Existing Funds (Savings)

- Applying to Grants and Competitions related to Agriculture

- Selling more to existing institutional customers

If you have additional video, provide a YouTube or Vimeo link to your video here:

About your team

Select an option below:

For-Profit

If you selected Other for the organization question, please explain here.

N/A

How many people work on your solution team?

Full-time Staff - 4 (2 From Management Team, 2 Regular Staff for Farming Operations)

Part-time - 2 (From Management Team)

Contractors - 4 (on a per need basis)

For how many years have you been working on your solution?

1 year

Why are you and your team best-placed to deliver this solution?

Our team has the right balance of technical and business skills to deliver the solution.

Maria Wilvenna Añora - General Manager / Co-founder

Qualifications: MBA, Chemical Engineering Degree, 7+ years Project Management Experience (Finance, Supply Chain Management, Quality Assurance, Strategy, Digitalization and Innovation)

Function: Provide overall strategic direction, handles fund sourcing, designs efficient business operations for sustainability

Venecia Añora - Main Farm Manager / Co-founder

Qualifications: Farm Operations and Management, Organic Fertilizer Formulation, Business Administration Degree

Functions: Ensure timely planting and harvesting, Responsible for management of overall farm operations

Remegia Aparece - Distribution Manager

Qualifications: Products Distribution, Raw Materials Sourcing, Farm Operations Support, Education Degree

Functions: Responsible for costing, inventory, purchasing and logistics as well as order taking for home deliveries

Wilfredo Añora - Marketing and Sales Manager

Qualifications: Sales to Individual and Institutional Customers, Freelance Salesman for Ayeha, Sales Engineer for Washington Electrical Supply

Functions: Responsible for execution of identified promotional strategies and personal selling to Individual and Institutional Customers

With what organizations are you currently partnering, if any? How are you working with them?

N/A

Your business model & funding

Partnership potential

Why are you applying to Solve?

Access to a Network of Investors

Increased exposure to potential Market

Further refinement of Solution and/or Business Model

What types of connections and partnerships would be most catalytic for your solution?

Business model
Technology
Distribution
Funding and revenue model
Media and speaking opportunities
Other

If you selected Other, please explain here.

N/A

With what organizations would you like to partner, and how would you like to partner with them?

ECHO Store and Human Nature - supplier for Organic Food Products

Farmer Cooperatives (e.g. Buenavista Farmer Cooperatives) - partnerships with small-hold farmers and farming communities for production of fresh produce

Gawad Kalinga - partnership for more inclusive community in creating Organic Food Products

If you would like to apply for the AI Innovations Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution. If you are not already using AI in your solution, explain why it is necessary for your solution to be successful and how you plan to incorporate it.

N/A

If you would like to apply for the GM Prize on Community-Driven Innovation, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution.

Naturali Organics (social enterprise) will substantially benefit from the possible GM prize on Community-Driven Innovation that will be provided should it win this competition since the funding received will be used to:

(1) Fully launch Naturali Organics as an organic produce delivery business (fruits and vegetable box)

(2) Counter inability to meet required demand due to limited capacity by establishing satellite farms

(3) Custom-develop online platform for ordering and reservation to cater today’s Filipino customers

(4) Develop efficient and cost-effective delivery system

(5) Expand to other product offerings, promote Naturali Organics and enable business growth

(6) Expand delivery reach to other locations beyond the Central Visayas region

If you would like to apply for the Innovation for Women Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution.

With majority of the one managing Naturali Organics (social enterprise) being female, it will substantially benefit from the possible Innovation for Women Prize that will be provided should it win this competition since the funding received will be used to:

(1) Fully launch Naturali Organics as an organic produce delivery business (fruits and vegetable box)

(2) Counter inability to meet required demand due to limited capacity by establishing satellite farms

(3) Custom-develop online platform for ordering and reservation to cater today’s Filipino customers

(4) Develop efficient and cost-effective delivery system

(5) Expand to other product offerings, promote Naturali Organics and enable business growth

(6) Expand delivery reach to other locations beyond the Central Visayas region

If you would like to apply for the Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution.

N/A

If you would like to apply for the Innospark Ventures Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution. If your solution utilizes data, describe how you will ensure that the data is sourced, maintained, and used ethically and responsibly.

N/A

If you would like to apply for the Morgridge Family Foundation Community-Driven Innovation Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution.

Naturali Organics (social enterprise) will substantially benefit from the possible Morgridge Family Foundation Community-Driven Innovation Prize that will be provided should it win this competition since the funding received will be used to:

(1) Fully launch Naturali Organics as an organic produce delivery business (fruits and vegetable box)

(2) Counter inability to meet required demand due to limited capacity by establishing satellite farms

(3) Custom-develop online platform for ordering and reservation to cater today’s Filipino customers

(4) Develop efficient and cost-effective delivery system

(5) Expand to other product offerings, promote Naturali Organics and enable business growth

(6) Expand delivery reach to other locations beyond the Central Visayas region

If you would like to apply for the Everytown for Gun Safety Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution. If your solution utilizes data, describe how you will ensure that the data is sourced, maintained, and used ethically and responsibly.

N/A