Innovation

From the wild trees of the Lecythis minor species, better known as "Monkey Pot", “totumos”, or natural containers that hang from their branches (hence the name), are collected and contain the Magdalena River Nuts or Paradise Nuts.

According to Mauricio, "From the cold pressing of the nut we can obtain an oil with cosmetic properties for the skin and hair. From the remaining cake we obtain a flour with a high content of natural and organic selenium of food application for the fortification of flours and foods..." the first is Magdalena Nut oil, commercially known as “MagNutSe Sense” and the second is the flour rich in organic Selenium, commercially known as “MagnutSe Flour”."

"Since these nuts are not for direct consumption, due to their high content of organic selenium, the project proposes an alternative use of natural inputs from sustainable sources that does not interfere with the food chain of the species in the area."

The high content of unsaturated fatty chains, omegas and vitamin E in “MagNutSe Sense” extra virgin oil, give it excellent antioxidant and moisturizing properties for cosmetic and hair applications. While the high concentration of natural selenium (1000 ppm) in the form of trace elements, oil with unsaturated fatty acids and trace elements in the meal, makes it a very interesting product for human and animal nutrition.

Inspiration

As the unitary operations required to obtain the products of interest were established, Protécnica Ingeniería saw an opportunity to impact the local communities, hand in hand with the interest in the production of innovative materials for their subsequent commercialization.

The alternative of having the community members themselves be part of the project was proposed, seeing it as an alternative to the felling of Lecythis minor trees, which would provide an opportunity for economic growth for the community while preserving the local dry forest ecosystem.

"The approach with the communities in this project is based on the fact that the first 3 unit operations of the process, which are: harvesting, collection and subsequent selection, weighing and peeling, which are carried out by members of the communities living near the growth areas of the trees of interest. The harvesting stage is done directly on the farms where once the pot falls to the ground, the nuts are collected and then taken to the collection centers and sent to the final stage of selection, weighing and shelling, which is carried out exclusively by mothers who are heads of households, who receive constant training and academic training in GMP principles, food quality and life plan orientation."

The education programs, as well as the economic remuneration, the generation of decent jobs and other incentives that have been generated since the beginning of the implementation of the Magdalena River Nuts project have generated a sense of belonging to the project and the ecosystem on the part of the members of the community, who are currently responsible for the care and preservation of the trees.

Overall impact

As Mauricio Amaya states: "As the steps and unit operations for obtaining raw materials were established, we realized that many of the activities and sub-processes were aligned with contributions towards the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN".

The generation of decent jobs with opportunities for economic growth for the members of the communities involved is in line with SDG No. 8 and No. 1, ending poverty, considering the geographical and socioeconomic conditions of the regions where the project is carried out.

It contributes to SDG No. 5, gender equality, since the last sub-process of collecting, washing, and shelling the nuts is a process carried out exclusively by mothers who are heads of households. They also receive training and academic education not only in Good Food Manufacturing Practices, but also in life orientation.

By providing an alternative economic income for the members of the communities, the felling of Lecythis minor trees is reduced, thus contributing to the preservation of the species and the terrestrial dry forest ecosystem where it can be found in the wild, in compliance with SDG 15.

Business benefit

The project was created in 2018 and has so far gained international recognition, both for the scientific component of the raw materials and for its sustainable development component.

The moisturizing capacity of “MagNutSe Sense” oil has been demonstrated in laboratory tests by forming a protective film on the epidermal layer that blocks moisture evaporation, thus reducing Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) of the skin, maintaining long-lasting hydration, and acting as a skin protectant. With “Paradise Nut Oil”, different applications have been developed for skin use as shower oil, facial creams, eye contour cream, and make-up removers to validate its incorporation and compatibility in different matrices. At the capillary level, it has shown favorable effects to improve hair shine, combability and hydration.

As for the flour, a higher bioavailability of the natural organic selenium content has been demonstrated for absorption by the organism, making it effective in formulation at lower concentrations for the fortification of food products. Natural selenium can be used as a raw material for vitamins, nutraceuticals, beauty products, and human and animal nutrition.

Social and environmental benefit

Since 2018 the Magdalena River NUTS project developed by PROTÉCNICA INGENIERIA, is part of the Natural Ingredients supported by the Colombia+Competitive program, a joint initiative of the Swiss Embassy in Colombia, Economic Cooperation and Development (SECO), the national government and the Swiss Foundation for Development Cooperation (SWISSCONTACT) whose purpose is to contribute to improve competitiveness and diversify the national economy, through the productive sector (natural ingredients) and the creation of a more favorable environment for business.

Thanks to this support, the project has, among other things, process validation, advice from international experts, support for community development, and compliance with export requirements for nut derivatives, thus contributing to the development of low-income communities and the cosmetics industry with ingredients derived from Colombian biodiversity.

The innovation directly benefits five local communities in the Colombian Caribbean region located in the departments of Bolívar, Magdalena, Atlántico and Sucre: Banco, Santa Ana, Pivijay, Palmar, and Candelaria. Generating jobs for the members of their community, providing education and academic training benefits to mothers who are heads of household and preserving the ecosystem where the Lechytis minor tree is found in the wild.

Interview

Andrés Mauricio Amaya, MRN Sales Coordinator