(00:09- 00:25) Agriculture is a fundamental cornerstone of the Ethiopian economy contributing 47% to the national GDP and employs over 80% of the population, and continues to be a priority for the Ethiopian Government’s 5-year Growth and Transformation Plan. (00:29- 00:49) Understanding the importance of agriculture in Ethiopia, Guts Agro Industry was established as a private limited company in 2005 by two Ethiopian entrepreneurs with approximately $1.3M dollars in response to an unfilled need for high quality nutritional food in Ethiopia and neighboring countries. 900:54- 01:05) By 2008, Guts Agro Industry developed, produced and launched Lembo snacks and became a registered supplier of Corn Soya Blend for the World Food Programme. (01:09- 01:24) The have delivered 280,000 quintals between 2009 and 2013, that’s an achievement of very good product. (01:26-01:37) Guts Agro Industry has two manufacturing plants that are equipped with the latest production and manufacturing technology as well as the state of the art laboratory facilities. (01:38-01:49) More importantly, Guts Agro Industry employs experienced professionals who are focused on making high quality products consistently and cost-effectively. (01:54-02:04) Since its establishment, Guts Agro Industry has introduced innovative products that meet the highest nutritional standards with affordable prices. (02:07- 02:14) Guts Agro Industry continues its growth as one of the most admired and valued nutrition-based companies in Ethiopia. (02:15- 02:22) Its main objective is to sustainably grow by enhancing the nutrition, health and well-being of the community. (02:26-02:34) As a part of the community, Guts Agro Industry is strengthening its commitment to being a responsible citizen of Ethiopia and the world. 02:35-02:46) Guts Agro Industry invests in the community and supports projects that are socially valuable, such as taking care of forty orphans in Hawassa through the Mary Joy Development Association. 02:47-03:04) As part of the Feed the Future Program, in 2012, donors, governments, and private sector companies joined together to sign a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition; an agreement that commits all three entities to invest to improve the food security and nutrition in their respective countries. (03:05-03:11) Guts Agro is the signatory under the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition and one of the first to complete its commitment. (03:12-03:32) June 2013 Guts Agro Industry signed the Global Nutrition for Growth Compact in London and joined the Scaling up Nutrition Business Network to ensure effective nutrition interventions for children and pregnant women as well as reduce the number of children with chronic and severe acute malnutrition. (03:35-03:42) Inspired by these global commitments, Guts Agro Industry developed three nutritious chickpea products. (03:44-03:58) United States Agency for International Development’s Agricultural Market Development assisted Guts Agro Industry with market linkages, financial and technical assistance for the launch of three new chickpea products. (04:01-04:07) The first is a chickpea-based Ready-to-use-Supplementary food developed for World Food Programme. (04:09-04:13) The second is a new export-quality ready to cook chickpea shiro powder. (04:14-04:21) This nutritious, savory and popular Ethiopian meal is made of chickpea ground into flour mixed with spices. (04:23-04:30) The third is a new dry roasted chickpea snack product which is the first of its kind to be produced in Ethiopia. (04:34-04:40) These new and nutritious chickpea products are manufactured with chickpeas purchased from farmer cooperative union partners. (04:41-04:51) Guts Agro Industry plans on sourcing 30,000 metric tons for local processing from 52,000 smallholders in the cooperative unions. (04:53-05:05) Guts Agro Industry is working closely with the Agriculture Transformation Agency, USAID and WFP in launching these new products in Ethiopia and internationally. (05:06-05:19) Guts Agro Industry is globally recognized as a leading Ethiopian business that delivers on its commitments to the New Alliance, World Food Programme, Ethiopia and its smallholder chickpea farmers. (05:20-05:26) And beyond investment the private sector has a great deal to offer in terms of skills and expertise. (05:27-05:55) Whether it is improving the supply chain so fewer crops are spoiled on their way to market as Premium Foods is doing in Ghana, or training growers in certified seed production like Tanseed is doing in Tanzania, or expanding the production and processing of highly nutritional foods like chickpeas and soybeans as Guts Agro Industry is doing in Ethiopia. (05:56-06:03) Businesses often know how to do important things better and more cost effectively than anyone else.