Did smallholders and nations increase their production or income in the same magnitude? No. Only the AgroChemical and AgroTech companies did, not the farmers or their nations. Needless to say that those chemicals negatively impact our health and the environment. Such results strengthened investors’ existing belief that it is impossible to have everyone profiting. In their eyes, agro-business is a zero-sum (or worse) game. It seems the global agrochemical companies’ only wish is to create an addiction to their products. Then in 2021, Dream Valley introduced its national model in Senegal, working closely (hand-in-hand) with small-hold mango growers. Immediately, the mango export from Senegal to the EU increased from its "normal" level of 12,000-14,000 tons to over 24,000 tons in 2021. Over 70% export increase in one year!! Imagine you invested in that operation. Remember, we are talking about Smallholders in Africa. This is NOT some fancy high-tech Silicon Valley company after a $200 M investment round. Now, see who benefited this time; farmers, ALL value chain partners, the government of Senegal, and consumers. In short - EVERYBODY involved benefited. Dream Valley used state-of-the-art technologies, services, and know-how, which were available long before the project. What made THE DIFFERENCE was using a novel business model with a set of protocols, creating short and far more profitable value and supply chains, all developed and applied by Dream Valley. From investors’ point of view, unlike other models, the Dream Valley model enables a high level of predictability of the results and operating environment with a relatively low risk yet, handsome profit. Dream Valley’s impact is immediate with a long-term, strategic view. Its vast producer (smallholders) potential is the closest to a Perpetuum mobile of producing profit. Dream Valley shows it can work with smallholders in Africa, PROFIT, on a scalable model. Senegal's 2021 mango season provides Dream Valley, and any investor who has doubts, the three magic words - Predictability, Low-Risk, and Handsome Profit (short and long term). BINGO. DOING IT DIFFERENTLY The 2021 Senegal mango export season is now a HARD FACT, not a prediction, a test, or a theory. It was so extraordinary that it redefined what we thought we knew about smallholders’ ability to increase their income. Hence, it shook the ground under many old assumptions. The 2021 Senegal mango season changed EVERYTHING we thought we knew about the source of prosperity and how to create it. Here are some of the old assumptions related to smallholders in underdeveloped economies that were redefined by Senegal’s 2021 mango season - » Smallholders can increase their income at tens percent per year per hectare. » One year is sufficient to increase export by tens of percent. » Smallholders can increase their income without the additional use of chemicals. Note - Dream Valley growers reduced 100% of sprays in the 2021 campaign. » The entire value chain can act as a single entity (including the smallholders). » A rapid export increase is possible even with a high-added value crop, i.e., mango. » It is possible to work with smallholders and get high predictability, trust, and certainty. » It is possible to have high profitability for all involved while working with smallholders. » Tested and Proven Business Models and protocols are THE critical success factors. » It is the “job” of a business model to pave a safe road for all value chain partners, enabling higher profits, predictability, safety, and long-term stability. » The ongoing failures in bringing economic prosperity to millions of smallholders result from improper business models, protocols, wrong concepts, and mistrust between the value chain parts. Furthermore, the current goal of agrochemical companies is to sell chemicals, which is not aligned with smallholders’ and global goals. » Based on the Israeli Agriculture Model, Dream Valley’s business model and protocols enable economic prosperity for the entire value chain - farmers, the national economy, service and technology providers, traders, investors, and… consumers. » The Dream Valley novel model presents a fast track to solving the UN SDG 1 to 3; (1) Poverty, (2) Hunger, and (3) Good health and well-being. Over the years, investors have sought security and a safe road to work with smallholders in supplying more technologies and services (e.g., the AGRA project). However, it turns out that the safe road to prosperity is in advanced dedicated business models and protocols for smallholders. Even when using the same crop (i.e., mango), farmers, and country, the business results largely depend on the business models and protocols. In 2021, Dream Valley's farmers more than doubled their production and income, while their neighbors remained with the same poor results. Africa, Agriculture, and Smallholders shouldn’t be words that scare investors and agro-companies. Twenty years ago, business people and investors rushed to China to take advantage and profit from its industry's benefits. Now it is time for Africa to bring a similar advantage. I hope to see investors taking advantage and benefitting from Africa, Asia, and LATAM smallholders and turning it into a source of profit, prosperity, and hope. The importance of business models does not dismiss the need for advanced technologies, services, and know-how; it only enables one to profit more from those, or much more, by using dedicated proper business models. SMALLHOLDERS’ VARY There are 550 million smallholders globally; they cultivate many crops in many places, each with different needs, limitations, options, and aspirations. It means that there is no single “Magic” Business Model that can fit them all. We need many dedicated customized and localized business models. Each dedicated business model eventually needs to pave a safe road for its users, i.e., farmers, value chain partners (including investors), and consumers. Now you understand why the International Conference On Business Models In Agriculture (IBMA) is essential for global prosperity, particularly for smallholders, investors, and companies working with them. Don't hesitate to participate in Rwanda's IBMA conference on March 27-29, 2023. In addition, you can invest or be a business partner of Dream Valley, thus, saving time, money, and profit soon. Stop wasting $ millions on “more of the same” type of solutions, and instead take one brave step that would change the future of your nation. The Dream Valley model is your vehicle to pave roads even where it seems to be an impossible minefield. Note that Dream Valley currently focuses on the $ 60B mango industry. Other high-added value crops will follow. The road for investors to benefit from the agro sector in Africa, Asia, and LATAM is paved, secured, profitable, and now OPEN for all. |