Ogli Foods

Solution Name:

Ogli Foods

One-line solution summary:

A sustainable, tech platform offering “ogli” produce at 50% lower price than retail, reducing food waste and benefiting the supply chain

Pitch your solution.

A third of all food production in the world, goes to waste.This is even more worrying in developing countries, like Colomba, where 72% of fruits and vegetables are discarded.

Ogli foods is a sustainable, tech driven platform offering “ogli” but delicious produce at up to 50% lower price than retail, reducing food waste and benefiting the environment. With 3 business units, Ogli foods is able to give farmers more income by sourcing their imperfect produce, increase B2B clients profit by supplying them cheaper but good quality raw materials, and make final consumers save money by reducing their grocery costs.

We have the strong belief that creating a better food system requires benefiting all levels of the supply chain. The perfect match must be: Increase efficiency and reduce costs in every level. In this way, we can fight poverty, hunger and climate change while creating a more profitable and sustainable industry

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

A third of all world food production in the world, goes to waste. This is the equivalent to 1.3 billion tons that go to waste every year, on the same planet where 820 million people starve every day. This is even more worrying in developing countries, such as Colombia, where 1 in 10 children suffers from chronic malnutrition, 11.4% of the population suffers from hunger and 40% of the population does not have access to food to ensure a healthy life.

Most of the food that is wasted are fruits and vegetables. In our country, 72% of these types of products are discarded, due to the inefficiencies that exist in supply chains and the high standards that buyers have. Those most affected by this are farmers, who are unable to sell a part of their crops and are forced to throw away their productive resources.

One of the most absurd reasons why waste is generated is the rejection of distributors and end consumers to products that do not meet certain aesthetic conditions, shape, size or color. These characteristics don't affect the quality or flavor of the fruits and vegetables at all, however they are discarded because they cannot be sold.

What is your solution?

Ogli Foods takes advantage of inefficiencies in the supply chain of fruits and vegetables, grouping the products that due to their aesthetic conditions of shape, size or color are not able to be marketed by farmers and offering them to people or companies at a lower price.

First we source good produce that is going to be wasted, then we offer it to the market, lastly we sell it for up to 50% less than retail and send it to the final consumer or restaurant. All this through technology.

We are able to increase the income of farmers and distributors by buying them a product that is otherwise wasted; generate savings in consumers by offering them imperfect, but quality products at a lower price, and impact the environment by reducing food waste.

On the other hand, we act as strategic partners for our B2B clients: companies like restaurants, hotels or bars that use our "ogli" produce as raw material, but also generate perfectly eatable ingredients or dishes as "waste". We link them with our wide portfolio of allied foundations, NGOs and social entrepreneurs that can use these products to feed local endangered communities that are struggling with hunger and malnutrition. 

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Farmers: In Colombia,there are 2.7million farmers who live off what they harvest, 65% of them live in poverty. Part of their produce is wasted due to their aesthetic conditions, so we buy what is normally “waste”, increasing their income and improving their quality of life.

Distributors: Some of the "ugly"produce is bought by distributors to sell it, but again rejection and waste is generated by the large retail chains. Ogli Foods impacts distributors allowing them to ensure that the products at risk of being returned by retail clients, are sold. This generates efficiency, lower cost and time and increase income.

Companies that use fruits and vegetables as a raw material: Ogli foods impacts them by helping to lower production costs with cheaper raw materials. 

Also, this sector is pushed by regulations to reduce their level of waste. Ogli foods act as an strategic partner, saving food from their "waste" to benefit good causes.

Consumers:Ogli Foods offers its clients a price 50% lower than retail. In Colombia, a family spends on average 10% of its income on fruits and vegetables, with Ogli Foods this expense could be cut in half while still consuming the same products and saving money.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Challenge and your selected dimension.

The problem that the MIT Solve Community is trying to solve requires that the way that food is produced, distributed and consumed changes. Ogli Foods is going to impact the whole supply chain by sourcing what today is treated as waste, and saving it from being thrown away. This way we will generate new income for the farmers, the distributors and the consumers, and we will also increase the amount of food that is available in the system, all while also reducing the carbon footprint of the industry.

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Miguel Uribe

What is your solution’s stage of development?

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?