About SME
Stichting Sustainable Meat Ethiopia — who we are, our goals, our vision and our commitment to sustainability.
The organization
The foundation SME was established on the 12th of April 2017. On that date the Memorandum of Association was signed at the office of the civil-law notary in Deventer, the Netherlands.
The board of SME consisted at that date of four people with different expertise backgrounds. Around the board is a network of involved people in Ethiopia and the Netherlands with useful experience and expertise.
The organization Fair & Sustainable (F&S), connected to ICCO, is important for SME as a bridgehead for information and investigation. F&S has a well-developed network in the agricultural and governmental world of Ethiopia.
The organization Agribusiness Booster, also part of ICCO, has expertise in the area of investments. They create revolving funds for promising enterprises so they can make the step to the regular financial sector. SME is investigating whether cooperation with Agribusiness Booster can lead to a win-win situation.
The goals of SME
The project has idealistic goals, but also goals for improving and innovating business areas in the field of meat processing.
- Modern supply chains. Contribute to the construction of modern supply chains for meat processing in the context of Ethiopian society. Building up a good quality-care system is a central activity in the process.
- Socio-economic development. Contribute to the development of relevant target groups such as (small) farmers, women and young people, with better access to the labour market through training and education.
- New markets. Support the research and development of markets for new, high-quality meat products.
- Awareness. Contribute to awareness and knowledge of sustainable and fair business processes.
SME does not aim to make a profit. It simply wants to support the meat sector in improving the conditions for better business processes and more income for (poor) farmers. SME realises its goals through cooperation with existing enterprises and farmers in meat production and processing. Cooperation with relevant NGOs and TVET (vocational education) can also help to realise these goals.
Vision and mission
Ethiopia is a developing country with many possibilities for economic growth in the agro-industrial area. The project supports this economic development, in which poor farmers and labourers also get opportunities for a better life — through training that improves vocational skills and entrepreneurship. The production of sustainable meat can contribute to a long-term improvement of the food situation for several groups in society.
Introducing a systemic quality-care system in the field of meat production and processing can contribute to a healthier life for both people and animals. Attention throughout the whole supply chain to hygienic and veterinary conditions contributes to food safety. Guarantees of food safety can open up new markets in retail, hotels and large (international) organisations.
Sustainability and fair trade
SME wants to contribute to awareness and knowledge about sustainability and fair trade. The way of working is normally not by instruction, but through cooperation in the daily life of businesses and farms. We hope that stakeholders in meat supply chains will develop their own values and norms about these globally accepted issues — and learn that, in the longer term, sustainability helps to make business and trade stronger.
In all kinds of areas of meat production, sustainable topics are relevant: the use of energy, transport, hygiene, and the use of medicine and antibiotics.
Animal welfare is a point of attention. SME emphasises that animals should have a good life — for example by advising on the quality of stables and transport. And smallholder farmers should be assured of a good price for their animals, so that they share in the benefits of a strong supply chain.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action adopted by all United Nations member states — Ethiopia among them — to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that everyone enjoys peace and prosperity by 2030. The 17 goals are interconnected: progress on one often depends on tackling issues associated with another.
SME’s work connects directly to several of these goals — building sustainable meat supply chains, supporting smallholder farmers, strengthening the position of women and young people, improving food security, and promoting fair and responsible trade.
Read more on the United Nations SDG website.
