India is one of the countries where DSM is developing Base of the Pyramid
(BoP) activities. Four billion people in the world make up the Base of the
Pyramid. They earn two dollars a day, or less. The ‘BoP philosophy’, first
articulated by C.K. Prahalad, states that companies have the resources and the
expertise to develop new products or services to serve the needs of the poor,
thus combining commercial success with poverty alleviation. Serving the Base
of the Pyramid requires a clear understanding of the needs and wants of these
four billion poor people, and involves developing innovative business models
and new technologies. Through its dedicated Indian BoP operation DSM Neev, DSM
engages in the development of new business models and teams up with local
partners to implement these. We have embarked on business projects that aim to
support rural farmers in India to create more value by providing performance
nutrition services (a combination of diagnostic tools, training modules, basic
farm management and animal feed). In addition, projects have been initiated to
improve local biogas production through the use of additives which help
convert agricultural waste and manure into a local source of heat, cooking gas
and off-grid electrical power.
Animal nutrition programme
DSM Neev implements DSM’s Base of
the Pyramid strategy in India. The word ‘Neev’ is Hindi for ‘base’ or
‘foundation’, and the starting-point of DSM Neev is the development of
sustainable business that benefits both the poverty-stricken in India and DSM.
In November 2007, DSM Neev set up an animal nutrition program for the dairy
sector in India. Delivered together with Pradan (an Indian self-help group),
AMUL (a dairy cooperative) and BAIF (a research and development foundation),
the initiative will offer DSM cattle feed to selected farmers. It is hoped
that this three-year collaboration will help to shorten the inter-calving
period, reduce the frequency of mastitis, and increase milk yields. DSM’s
innovative iCheck™ system, which is used to check ß-Carotene levels in cows’
blood, is also being made available to help Indian farmers assess the health
of their livestock. This is a win-win-situation, offering economic returns to
DSM and opportunities for sustainable growth to impoverished farmers.
