DADTCO Philafrica: Mobile Cassava Processing Technology
By DADTCO Philafrica
DADTCO Philafrica is a manufacturer of cassava-based products. We bridge the gap between small-holder farmers and food companies throughout Africa. Our added value lies in our innovative mobile processing technologies which make it possible to commercialize cassava in Africa.
Cassava is the major starchy food crop in Sub Saharan Africa and can only be grown efficiently by small-holder farmers. Our mobile plants are adapted to the African rural circumstances and facilitate same-day processing creating a market for these farmers.
DADTCO Philafrica Farmers: our most important partners
We consider the farmers to be our important partners as we depend on them for our root supply. Dadtco Philafrica B.V. would not exist were it not for the small-holder cassava farmers.
Cassava is fundamentally a smallholder crop and does not lend itself for mechanization. We believe that agricultural development only takes place when farmers have access to guaranteed markets for their products. Together with our partners, we make sure that sustainable farming practices such as Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), are applied. A sustainable future for smallholder farmers guarantees a sustainable source of root supplies for us.
Effective supply chain management is the critical success factor to our cassava processing enterprise. Read more about our agricultural value chain and farmer programs.
DADTCO Philafrica: Our partners in development
Dadtco Philafrica is a for profit – social enterprise. Our innovative technology enhances food security throughout Africa, whilst creating far-reaching job opportunities for rural people. Our cassava operation generates new revenue streams and injects significant capital into the local economy. This is done directly to our partner-farmers or indirectly to suppliers of goods and services.
It is our mission to initiate a cassava revolution across Africa, alleviating subsistence farmers from poverty. To achieve this, we form strong strategic partnerships with:
– Donors
– Governments
– NGO’s
– Agricultural Research Institutes
About Cassava
Cassava is officially called manihot esculenta, but has many names such as tapioca, manioc, yuca and mandioca. It is a root crop similar to other starch crops such as potatoes. Cassava can be found in tropical climates and is easy to grow, drought resistant, high yielding and well adapted to climate change. It is the most important starch crop in sub-Saharan Africa and provides the largest calorie intake of the people.
In Africa, cassava yields the highest revenue earned per hectare. The continent is the world’s number one cassava producer but has never developed a cassava processing industry, because the very perishable cassava root needs to be processed within 24 hours of harvesting. Our solution is to bring the factory to the farmer with our mobile plants to allow for same day processing.
Gluten free & non-GMO
Cassava is naturally gluten free. When processed into flour it is extremely well suited for baking. Compared to other gluten free flours, the properties of cassava flour come closest to those of wheat flour. Our Cassava Starch Flour is an innovative substitute for wheat flour and enables the production of a number of gluten free baked goods with virtually the same taste, texture, crumb and baking characteristics as those made with wheat flour. Nearly all cassava grown in Africa is non-GMO and grown without the use of fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals.
PRODUCTS
At DADTCO Philafrica, cassava is processed into one intermediate product and into two end products. The intermediate product is Cassava Starch Paste (CSP). The end products are Cassava Starch Flour (CSF) and Natural Cassava Fibres (NCF).
We guarantee consistent top-quality starch-products, due to our unique and breakthrough mobile cassava processing technology.
CASSAVA STARCH FLOUR
ALSO KNOWN AS TAPIOCA FLOUR
CSF is a white flour that is odourless and neutral in taste. CSF has many different applications: in baking it can act in composite flours for bread, biscuits, snacks and pasta. It is a great gluten free substitute for wheat flour when compared to other gluten free flours, as its characteristics come closest to that of wheat flour. It can also be used extensively in the food and beverage industry, in the manufacture of culinary cubes, powdered drink products, snacks and soups, beer brewing and in the meat industry.
CASSAVA STARCH PASTE
Cassava Starch Paste is a semi wet cassava paste that contains max 50% water, 49% released starch “as is” and less than 1% fibres. Cassava Starch Paste is packed in 20 kg plastic bags and has a shelf life of one year. The paste can be further processed into a number of downstream related products including, amongst others, cassava starch flour, cassava starch or native cassava starch, cassava based syrups, modified starches (used in food preparation), sorbitol, bioethanol and beer.
Since 2011 Impala beer, processed in Mozambique, is constituted with 70% Cassava Starch Paste.
NATURAL CASSAVA FIBRES
Natural Cassava Fibres are made up of mostly cellulose and hemicellulose. The fibres retain 8 to 9 times their weight in water, which increases volume and helps address moisture migration issues. In addition, the fibres alter the structure of baked products, making them resistant to staling, tearing and penetration and thus more pliable. There are many different applications for Natural Cassava Fibres. These include bakery products, meat, dairy, creamy formulations, beverages, ice cream, soup, baby-food, premixes and powdered drinks.
Our Mobile Technology
Our patented innovative mobile processing technology has changed the way cassava is perceived, grown and processed in Africa. Instead of transporting the perishable roots over long distances, we process fresh cassava on-farm or nearby. Our mobile technology results in zero waste. 100% of the cassava root is utilized.
Mobile Concept
Our mobile concept essentially overcomes three main obstacles to the commercialization of cassava across Africa:
– The transportation of roots with high water content.
– The transportation of roots with bulky irregular shape.
– The rapid perishability of the root once harvested.
These obstacles, in addition to the wide scattering of smallholder farmers, lead to high transportation costs and challenging logistics. The barriers in effect make the crop uneconomic for commercial exploitation. Our mobile innovation brings the factory to the farmer and reduces the water content of the roots within 24 hours after harvesting after which the product is bagged and ready for transport.
Production Process
Our technology consists of three mobile processing components: an Autonomous Mobile Processing Unit (AMPU), a Mobile Refinery Unit (MRU) and a Mobile Drying Unit (MDU).
- The AMPU processes cassava roots into a type of paste and releases 98% of the starch granules into released starch.
- The MRU removes nearly all the fibres in the paste.
- The MDU dries the cassava starch paste into food grade Cassava Starch Flour.
Agricultural value chain
It is our conviction that agricultural development only takes place when farmers have access to guaranteed markets for their products. We source cassava from thousands of smallholder farmers. We partner with agricultural organizations to improve farmers’ best practices, facilitate agricultural inputs and ensure sustainable farming practices are communicated. A sustainable future for smallholder farmers guarantees a sustainable source of cassava for Dadtco Philafrica.
Supply Chain
Effective supply chain management plays a key role in successfully processing cassava. Many attempts have failed to commercialise cassava in Africa, not due to failure in technology, but rather due to an unsustainable supply chain. Dadtco Philafrica therefore puts heavy emphasis on supply chain management and robust smallholder farmer’s programs, which are critical to the success of our operations. This is also an area where we have developed unique know-how and expertise.
Agricultural Program
In order to support smallholder farmers we set up a program in each country, in Good Agricultural Practices. We focus on eliminating the most limiting factors of cassava cultivation through providing training and stem materials to smallholder farmers. We collaborate closely with agricultural research institutes, national and international NGO’s, and local extension services of the government.
Farmer information & tracking
In order to understand our impact on farmers, to measure the growth of their income over the years, we collect farmer data: the amount of cassava sold and at what price. To control the quality of the cassava, each farmer receives a unique bar code and number which allows us to track and trace the source of the cassava roots. In addition, GPS tracking allows us to understand the cassava growing environment and helps with planning. Together with Cropin we created an algorithm that can identify the cassava crop and growth patches through satellite imagery.
Contact details:
TEL: +31 (0)85 489 2170
MAIL: info@dadtco-philafrica.com
WEBSITE: Click HERE for their website
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