America.gov asked finalists from among the more than 700 African immigrants who submitted business plans to the “African Diaspora Marketplace” to blog about their ideas. Sponsored by USAID and Western Union Company, the African Diaspora Marketplace is a contest that will award seed money to approximately 15 winners to help them bring their ideas to life in their home countries.
ABESSAW ASSEGUED, entrepreneur:
Ambessaw Assegued, on left, and Sammy Guma.
Once, the forests of Ethiopia supported a great diversity of plants and animals. But not today. In Anfilo, I saw an intact coffee forest – rainforest with wild populations of coffee bushes – that stretches far across the mountain ranges. This sight stood in sharp contrast to the depleted mountains I usually encounter throughout Ethiopia.
In Anfilo, farmers manage small plots of coffee forest in the traditional way. They harvest coffee berries beneath the hardwood trees, but leave the forest intact. Unfortunately, these forests are threatened by timber harvesting and clearing for farming and settlements.
ASCE produces and markets a shade-grown coffee under the trade name ANFILO™. We focus on strengthening traditional coffee harvesting by bringing new capabilities in quality control, farmer training, eco-friendly processing technology, expansion of the existing plant nursery, re-forestation of cleared areas and introduction of soil conservation measures. Our plan is to expand production and export the coffee to the U.S. market.
To this venture, I bring skills acquired in running a successful habitat restoration company in California; Sammy brings extensive knowledge of the Ethiopian coffee market. I am convinced that this unique combination of skills and abilities will lead to a successful venture.
TOM LENAGHAN, business expert:
This is an interesting proposal. What we have seen in other areas where wild-type crop shade-grown coffee cultivation practices prevail is that the key to preventing deforestation is ensuring that farmers receive an attractive price for their coffee, since as soon as they lose enthusiasm for coffee growing, they usually harvest the trees and plant crops such as beans or corn that need sunlight and tilling on a regular basis—which is basically the end of any possibility of maintaining forest cover.
But shade-grown coffee, while it may be quite good in the cup if it is treated correctly, will almost inevitably have low yields from low planting densities and low input use. This means that the price received by farmers must be quite high to compensate for the low volumes and to justify the necessary investments in improved processing technology.
So I would suggest that the heart of ASCE’s approach should be on creating commercially viable systems for improving coffee quality and establishing direct sales relationships with buyers/importers—all with the aim of getting the highest price possible.
Drying coffee berries at the Anfilo company.
It is often hard for a private company that is buying the coffee to support the start-up costs to establish these upstream processing and quality control systems on a purely commercial basis.
What I would suggest is that ASCE investigate working with local farmers in Anfilo to look into the feasibility of using a Global Distribution Alliance (GDA) where each party is assigned roles and responsibilities in order to come up with a project and where some of the capital costs (mainly processing technology) and costs of training the farmers could be covered by a GDA match.
It would also make a lot of sense to involve a downstream importer or roaster in the U.S. or Europe in the concept. They could also be a source of training expertise or even financing, the latter perhaps in conjunction with a specialized coffee financing firm such as Root Capital if there is a firm forward sales contract with a known buyer as part of the package.
THOMAS H. CARR, business expert:
This project aims at producing coffee with some really good unique selling points. Protecting the rainforest utilizing (semi-) wild growing populations of coffee bushes, which stretch far across the mountain ranges, is definitely very appealing to roasters and consumers. On top of that, there is the impact on the livelihoods of the local farmers.
Some key questions come to mind:
1. The productivity of wild forest coffee can be as low as 200 kgs per hectare annually. They will have to focus on a broad geographical area to gain volume and a profitable economy of scale.
2. Due to cupping defects as a result of drying problems, the project must include a solid quality plan with the involvement of cupping assessments in various stages of the production process. Forest coffee won’t sell well just because it sounds eco-friendly – there will be no market if it doesn’t taste good. The coffee has the potential to score on quality at 81/82 (on the scale of 80-100 set up by the Specialty Coffee Association of America; the highest score the
better quality).
3. Linked to the previous point, the project must establish sound processing protocols. Sun-dried natural coffee should be compared to eco-friendly wet processing pulping options.
4. Community partnership cannot be over emphasized on a project such as this and several issues need to be considered:
a. There are thousands of Anfilo wild coffee farmers working in
isolated areas without any real connection to each other, or the
coffee industry. Although the forest land is owned by the local
government, citizens have the right to harvest the land and
receive income from those goods. Today, local community earns
a living by selling honey, spices, coffee and a small number of
livestock.b. The project must demonstrate collaboration among several groups
including public and nonprofit organizations, conservation groups,
industry, academics, and local government, state, and federal
agencies to implement forest habitat restoration projects. To
proceed, the project must have formed working relationships with
these groups.c. A “Participatory Forest Management” (PFM) initiative should be
planned from the start of the project. The recognition and
acceptance of the role of local communities in forest management
and conservation is important to the success of the project.
5. Branding is important although experts disagree over the importance of certification. The general view is that an “organic” or rainforest certification may assist in the marketing process although there are examples where “conservation coffees” are sold without such certification.
6. The main challenge for the project is the export limitations for specialty coffee under the current market structure of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX). The ECX is, however, working on a direct specialty trade platform that the project would have to access in order to benefit from traceability. The project managers must be current on all export regulations. The marketing plan must focus on telling the story of Anfilo. A website with video segments and pictures will tell a thousand words! The assistance of a broker in the early stages is highly recommended. The managers should organize cupping sessions in San Francisco, Seattle and New York and tell the story. The coffee will be extremely popular with small- and medium-sized roasters provided that it scores at least 84 points.
its really a nice business, but if u brows through northern Nigeria, we have what is call millet,guinea corn, maize, and so much grain
It is really a nice way of earning but if we focus on that we can do a lot of progress and can increase our income.
This is a wonderful idea, and I wish you all the success. If farmers are trained to improve the overall efficiency of their coffee-growing techniques while preserving the forests, they will illustrate to others that forests need not be destroyed in order to make a living. Such multi-focused efforts will go a long way in improving the quality of life in the remote areas, while preserving the local ecology.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE (ANTI-GENOTOXIC EFFECTS) BENEFICIAL APPLICATION OF CAFFEINE TOXICITY TO THE INDUSTRY IN THE AFRICAN IMPORT COFFEEBEANS PRODUCT ENTERING USA AND EU MARKETS.
BY *MOSES ODHIAMBO *2010
The anti-genotoxic effects of coffee have been observed against several potential genotoxins / carcinogens in bactetrial assays (Obana et al., 1986; Stadler et al., 1994; Stich et al., 1982), Drosophila (Abraham, 1994) and mice (Abraham, 1989 and 1991; Aeschbacher and Jaccaud, 1990). Coffee is known to exert protective effects against the genotoxic / carcinogenic activities of a wide range of the environmental chemicals in in vitrio and in vivo assay systems (Nehlig and Debry, 1994; Stavric, 1992). The succinct studies should be orientated to the pathway mechanisms by which coffee exerts its anti-genotoxic effects. The chemopreventive compounds should be classified as (i) inhibitors of carcinogen formation, (ii) blocking agents that prevent the genotoxic / carcinogenic compounds from reaching, or reacting with critical target sites and (iii) suppressing agents that inhibit tumor promotion / progression (Morse and Stoner, 1993; Ramel et al., 1986; Wattenberg, 1985).
The micronucleus test of “Anti-genotoxic Effects in Mice after Interaction Between Coffee and Dietary Constituents” casestudy of imported coffee from Kenya coffebeanbelt has indicated that the genotoxic effects in the specimen mice were positvely progressive.
There are indications that coffee and its dietary constituents such as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, premelanoidins, kahweol, cafestol, hemicellulose fibre and high molecular weight soluble polyphenolics. The latter constituents do inhibit the formation of genotoxic / carcinogenic compounds and / or block such agents from reaching, or reacting with the target cells (Aeschbacher and Jaccaud, 1990; Kato et al., 1991; Wattenberg and Lam, 1984).
The materials selected for this study consisted of anethole, caffeic acid, β-carottene, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, eugenol, ferulic acid and α-tocopherol, which form a sample of the minor naturally occurring dietary consituents regularly ingested by a large section of human population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Animals
Well-bred 10-12 week standard albino mice 28-32g maintained under good conditions in animal house.
Chemicals
Anethole, caffeic acid, β-carotene, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, cyclophosphamide (CPH), ellagic acid, eugenol, ferulic acid, N-nitroso-N-ethlyurea (ENU), N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), mitomycin C ((MMC) and α-tocopherol.
Coffee Specimen
Freshly imported Kenya coffeebeans were organoleptically selected, finely communited into powder form, seived thoroughly and home brewed into a freeze-dried state. A fresh Freeze-dried import brew coffee from Kenya in a highly classified African coffee category was used for the experiment.
Experimental design
Four dietary constituents
Thirtytwo albino mice used for each treatment
Exeperiment mice divided into four identical groups at 8 @ group
Two-factor variance (ANOVA) used in statistical significance of anti-genotoxic effects
Experimental Procedural Design (see: Table 1)
Bone marrow cell analysis 24 to 34 hr
Centrifuge tube to contain foetal calf serum
Air-dried slides stained with May-Grűnwald and Giema as per Schmid method 1975
According to Abraham 1989 the four groups of pretreated mice received the genotoxicin 1p (10 ml/kg body weight) after 1hr to 1. 5hr. The animals were experimented on after 27 hr killed, whilst in the bone marrow cells were after 24 hr and 30hr respectively. The bone marrow cells were identified and removed from both the femurs. A Micronucleus Investigation in the genotoxic effects of caffeine was observed in the mouse marrow as follows: A ten minute 1 000 rpm centrifuged supernatant solution of fine mouse bone marrow and foetal calf serum was stained onto air-dried slides. The frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) were evaluated according to Schmid Method (1975) 2500 polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs).
Statistical Analysis
As the frequencies of MnPCEs in the used number of PCEs follow a Poisson distribution
(Abraham, 1989a and 1991b; Aeschbacher and Jacaud, 1990) a two-way variance analysis was used.
TABLE 1cf: Pretreatment with fresh freeze-dried Kenya coffee Arabica sample and / or with I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII specimen
combinations of dietry Constituents
Pretreatment Code Description of the pretreatment Control
I.Vehicle control animals received orally either water (10ml/kg or corn oil (5ml/kg) followed by water (5ml/kg) 1 hr before the genotoxin1p Coffee
II. Animals received orally either coffee (100mg/kg in 10 ml water), or corn oil (5ml/kg)) followed by freeze-dried home brew coffee (100mg/lkg in 5ml water), 1 hr before the genotoxin 1p Dietary constituents (Combination 1)
III. Animals received (orally) a combination of chlorogenic acid (20mg/kg), caffeic acid (20mg/kg), ellagic acid (15mg/kg) and ferulic acid (15mg/kg). Given in water (10ml/kg), 1 hr before the genotoxin 1p
Dietary constituents (Combination 2)
IV. Animals received (orally) a combination of β-carotene (5mg/kg), curcumin (5mg/kg) and α-tocopherol (10mg/kg). Given in corn oil (5ml/kg) followed by water (5ml/kg). 1 hr before genotoxin 1p
Dietary constituents
(Combination 3)
V. Animals received (orally) a combination of curcumin (2. 5mg/kg), chlorogenic acid (20mg/kg),eugenol (5mg/kg),anethole(2.5mg/kg) and α-tocopherol (5mg/kg).Given in corn oil (5ml/kg) followed by water(5ml/kg), 1hr before the genotoxin 1p.Dietary constituents
(Combination 4)
VI.Animals received (orally) a combination of β-carotene (2.5mg/kg), curcumin (2.5mg/kg),ellagic acid ( 15mg/kg), and chlorogenic acid (15mg/kg),. Given in corn oil (5ml/kg) followed by water (5ml/kg), 1hr before the genotoxicin 1p.Coffee +dietary constituents
(combination 1)
VII =II+III Animals received (orally) coffee (100mg/kg) together with dietary constituents combination 1 in water (10ml/kg) in 5ml water), 1hr before the genotoxicin 1p. Coffee +dietary constituents (combination 2)
VIII =II+IV Animals received (orally) dietary constituents combination 2 in corn oil (5ml/kg) followed by coffee (100mg/kg in 5ml water), 1 hr before genotoxicin,1p.
Coffee +dietary constituents
(combination 3)
IX =II+V Animals received (orally) dietary constituents combination 3 in corn oil (5ml/kg) followed by coffee (100mg/kg in 5ml water), 1hr before the genotoxicin, 1p.
Coffee +dietary constituents
(combination 4)
X = II +VI Animals received (orally) dietary constituents combination 4 in corn oil
(5 ml/kg) followed by coffee (100mg/kg in 5ml water), 1hr before the genotoxicin, 1p.
SOURCE: MOSES ODHIAMBO 2004
TABLE 2cf. Inhibition of genotoxicity after interaction between coffee © II and
Combinations of Dietary constituents (IV, V, VI and VII)
By Moses Odhiambo 2010
Genotoxin Dose PretreatmenCode MnPCEs/no Interaction P-value
MNNG 40mg/kg I
II
III
II+III 21.96±1.02
20.96±1.71
17.46±1.89
8.21±1.06
II-III 0. 0042
ENU 30mg/kg I
II
III
II+III 17.83±1.68
10.71±0.77
9.71±1.39
6.83±1.03
II-III 0. 22439
MM C 1. 5mg/kg I
II
III
II+III 55.58±4.33
47.83±3.68
51.21±2.18
32..96±2.48
II-III 0. 0742
MNNG 40mg/kg I
II
IV
II+IV 20.71±1.47
17.83±1.30
13.96±1.58
5.08±1.00
II-IV 0. 0176
URE 1g/kg I
II
IV
II+IV 62 .21±4.88
60.33±3.96
36.21±3.12
28.71±3.51
II-IV 0. 3175
CPH 40mg/kg I
II
IV
II+IV 53.33±5.26
51.46±3.10
32.08±3. 55
21.83±2. 53
II-IV 0. 0973
MNNG 40mg/kg I
II
V
II+V 21.83 ±1.52
19.08±0.95
12.83±1.42
12 .48±1.08
II-V 0. 4301
URE 1g/kg I
II
V
II+V 66.21 ±4.16
62.33±3.60
39.58±2.68
33.48±2.41
II-V 0. 5604
URE¹ 800mg/kg I
II
VI
II+VI 46.71±2.07
44.08±2.16
30.33±2.04
17.71±1.66
II-VI 0. 0032
URE² 800mg/kg I
II
VI
II+VI 49.36±1.70
45.83±1.88
32.21±1.80
23.33±1.24
II-VI 0. 0515
SOURCE: BY MOSES ODHIAMBO 2004
MnPCE Frequencies are means; ± SEM from identified groups of 8 albnino mice; No.=2500PCEs scored per each albino mouse investigation; Albino mouse bone narrow cells sampling after 27hr
Exceptional
Sampling on
Albino mice :
URE¹ 24hr
URE² 30hr
RESULTS: For these data see the tables 1 and 2.
CONCLUSION
The analysis deduction is from the data results presented in tables 1 and 2 which clearly indicate and conclude that the effects of induction of Micronucleated Polychromatic Erythrocytes (MnPCEs) by each genotoxin. In the investigation of genotoxicity by means of a two-factor variance analysis of ANOVA was carried. MNNG and URE showed that coffee in the absence of dietary constituents (III, IV and VI), did not exert a significant anti-genotoxic effect (II-Coffee, Control I), whereas coffee in the presence of dietary constituents (III, IV and VI) did exert a significant anti-genotoxic effect.
Thus, the investigational studies on the anti-genotoxicity of coffee in mice showed that the dose required to obtain a significant effect was at least 150mg / kg body weight according to Abraham et al.,(1991) and Jaccaud et al.,(1990). The findings in our study from this anti-genotoxicity investigation suggest that the normal level of coffee consumption from the fresh African imports can have significant beneficial effects because of the interaction of the diet. See the interaction combinations and the P-values in table 6cf.
References: 1) Abraham S.K. (1989a): Inhibition of in vivo genotoxicity by coffee. Food and Chemical Toxicology 27, 787-792.
Wattenberg L.W. (1984a): Protective effects of Coffee constituents on carcinogenesis in experimental animals.
2) Abraham S.K. 1991b): Inhibitory effects of coffee on genotoxicity of carcinogens in mice. Mutation Research 262, 109-114.
3) Aeschbaber H.U. et al. (1990): Inhibition by coffee of nitrosourea-mediated DNA damage in mice. Food and Chemical Toxicology 28, 633-637.
4) Nehling A. et al. (1994): Potential genotoxic, mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of coffee: a review, Mutation
Research 317, 145-162.
5) Stavric B. (1992): An uptodate research with coffee/caffeine (1989-1990). Food and Chemical Toxicology 30, 533-555.
6) Morse M.A. et al. (1993): Cancer chemoprevention: principles and prospects. Carcinogenesis 14, 1737-1740.
7) Ramel C. et al. (1986): Inhibitors of mutagenesis and their relevance to carcinogenesis; Mutation Research
168,47-65.
In Banbury Report No.17: Coffee and Health. Edited by B.Macmhon and T.Sugimura, pp.137-145. Cold Spring
Harbor Labortory, New York.
9) Wattenberg L.W. (1985b): Chemoprevention of cancer. Cancer Research 45, 1-8.
10) Kato et al. (1991): Loss of heterocyclic amine mutagens by insoluble hemicellulose fibre and high molecular-
weght soluble polyphenolics of coffee. Mutation Research 246, 169-178.
11) Schmid W. (1975): The micronucleus Test. Mutation Research 31, 9-15.
By Moses Isaac ODHIAMBO 2010 January
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Great Blog.
I like this blog.
Thanks for sharing.