Edesia Nutrition
Edesia Nutrition, Founded in 2010, is a non-profit, social enterprise, comprised of 150 people from 25 countries that operates around the clock producing specialized foods that target the different stages of malnutrition. We partner with humanitarian aid organizations like USAID, UNICEF and WFP who distribute our products all over the world.
We are one team united toward a single goal: ending malnutrition!
Edesia makes life-saving ready-to-use foods to help end the global malnutrition crisis. Since 2010—through our partnerships with USAID, UNICEF, WFP, and others—we have nourished over 23 million children across 65 countries.
Every 11 seconds a child dies from severe malnutrition.
What is RUTF
RUTF (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food) is a life-saving peanut-based paste made from milk powder, peanuts, soy, oil, sugar, and vitamins and minerals. We call this miracle food Plumpy’Nut. It does not require water or refrigeration, can be administered at home and can rehabilitate a child under five in just eight weeks.
We’ve made the food that’s saved 23 million lives in 65 countries.
We’re just getting started.
PlumpyField
Edesia is a member of a network of independent producers of Ready-to-use Therapeutic and Supplemental Foods across the globe. Most PlumpyField partners manufacture locally, in countries and regions where Plumpy’Nut and other products are most needed – Ethiopia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Madagascar, India, Haiti, and Nigeria. Edesia works closely with these partners, believing that local supply is an important component of a healthy supply ecosystem – complementing the supply that comes from industrialized countries like the United States. It contributes to economic development and long-term sustainability in the Global South.
Recipient of 2022 McNulty Prize
The McNulty Prize is awarded to those who demonstrate moral courage, vision and a track record of a bold, lasting impact.
What is Malnutrition?
According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients.
The term malnutrition covers two groups of conditions. The one that Edesia focuses on is “undernutrition” – which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).
Malnutrition affects people all over the world with close to three million children under the age of five dying from severe malnutrition every year.
A severely malnourished child is 11 times more likely to die of a common childhood illness than a well-nourished child.
We Fight Malnutrition Worldwide
Malnutrition is a serious condition that occurs when a diet does not contain enough nutrients. Globally, it’s estimated that at least 45 million (one in three) children under-five are malnourished.
How Plumpy’Nut Changed the World
There once was a time when treating severely malnourished children was a hopeless endeavor. Children had to stay in hospitals for weeks, and the milk powder-based formulas they needed to survive were costly and impractical. Portable, ready-to-eat, shelf-stable Plumpy’Nut changed everything: no need to find clean water or refrigeration, hospital beds freed up as children could be treated at home.
Edesia was the Roman Goddess of food. She ensured that our food was excellent and our feasts bountiful.
EDESIA ADVOCACY
Elevating the Issue
Edesia is dedicated to advocacy around the topic of global food security and nutrition, and their contributing factors and solutions. To advance attention and urgency for these areas, Edesia engages with U.S. Congressional representatives, hosts educational events, generates media content, and participates in speaking engagements with the U.S. government, NGOs, donors, partners, and the public in Rhode Island, the U.S. and around the globe. Our efforts focus on sustained and increased funding and support for nutrition programs. We also advocate for optimized nutrition programming and for legislation that prioritizes support for global nutrition.
Educating the Masses
Edesia hosts groups both in-person and virtually at our facility throughout the year. Our tours start in a model clinic setting, where we are able to demonstrate how community-based management of malnutrition takes place in the field. The design of our factory and warehouse is set up such that visitors can observe from start to finish what it takes to make our life-saving foods. We focus our tours on education about nutrition/malnutrition and social entrepreneurship. We also discuss important related factors such as refugee crises, food insecurity, climate change, and more.
GET INVOLVED
LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP: https://www.edesianutrition.org/get-involved/
Help end the crisis.
Since opening our factory doors in 2010, we have proudly welcomed the public to see our work firsthand. Sharing our work opens more eyes to the malnutrition crisis that is affecting more than 300 million children worldwide. If you, your group, or your company would like to get more involved with Edesia, please check out the opportunities and then send us a message by clicking on the button below. Don’t see what you are looking for? Our team has expertise in building out experiences that are customized for your group.
Virtual Factory Tour
One-hour Zoom experience exploring the mission of Edesia, how Plumpy’Nut is made and distributed, and the impact it has worldwide. Perfect experience for groups of all ages, from anywhere across the country!
Factory Tour
In this one-hour experience, you will get to learn about the Edesia mission, the work that various functions perform, and witness the full process of making Plumpy’Nut.
Volunteer
Are you seeking to get involved by giving of your time? Edesia does not currently have volunteer opportunities available however we would love to reach out to you as we need helping hands. Please provide your contact information here.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Employees and customers are attracted to companies that are making the world a better place for all. Below are programs that offer a strong way to engage employees, build teamwork, increase morale, and save the lives of children.
Workplace Giving Campaign, Matching Gift Program, and Teambuilding Program.
School Fundraising Program
As children learn about the world, supporting Edesia can offer the chance to change another child’s life in the world. If your school has fundraising programs, we can provide education on the cause and insights into the remarkable production that happens every day at our Rhode Island state-of-the-art facility.
You’re a life saver!
$50 = One Life Saved
Sign up to become a monthly donor of at least $50 and know you save a child’s life every single month! You will receive monthly communication from Edesia and updates on the work you are an important part of.
DONATE TO MAKE MALNUTRITION HISTORY
The Challenge
Conflict. Climate shock. Economic disruptions. Supply chain disruptions. Record high food prices. All of this is driving rapid global increases in famine-like conditions and deaths from malnutrition. Global producers can only reach one in four children who are severely malnourished. With your help, we can make it four in four.
Our Approach
Edesia produces specialized foods that target the different stages of malnutrition, including Plumpy’Nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic food that saves lives by delivering the therapeutic micronutrients and calories a severely malnourished child needs. Three packets a day for eight weeks costs just $50. Think about it, just $1 per day can transform a child’s life.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Edesia is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization based in the United States. Our tax ID/EIN number is 26-0359866. For gifts made online, please keep your email receipt as your official record for tax purposes. Gifts made offline for donors who include a valid mailing address will receive a donation receipt in the mail.
Supporting U.S. Farmers
We source over 85 million pounds of U.S. raw materials annually (which is approximately the weight of the water that could fill 128 Olympic-sized swimming pools ).
Edesia Nutrition Launched a $10 million Make Malnutrition History Matching Campaign to Impact 10 Million Children Every Year. The matching challenge, part of a substantial gift from the Bezos family, was created to inspire others to join our efforts in making the life-saving foods needed to end malnutrition.
CONTACT EDESIA:
Call or Write to Us
Phone: 401.272.5521
Address:
550 Romano Vineyard Way,
North Kingstown, RI
02852
