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TNO

Organization name: TNO
Website: www.tno.nl   

Organization:
TNO is a Dutch knowledge institute that applies scientific knowledge to strengthen the innovative power of industry and government. By encouraging effective interaction between knowledge areas, we generate creative and practical innovations in the form of new products, new services and new processes. Our core areas are: Quality of Life; Defence, Security & Safety; Science & Industry; Built Environment & Geosciences; ICT.
TNO was founded in 1932, employs 4,500 staff and has 23 offices in the Netherlands, as well as three international offices in Belgium, Japan and the United States. The institute generates an annual turnover of € 500 million. Durability and social responsibility are core values in our day-to-day business.

Contribution to the GSFP:
TNO can support the program by transferring knowledge and materials on: drinking water (detection, purification), school health (monitoring, education, vaccination), food safety (hygiene, conservation), waste & environment (packaging, recycling), agriculture (harvest- water- and farming tools/techniques). TNO wants to be an innovative partner on these subjects and intends to start demand driven projects. In October 2007 TNO visited Ghana to gather needs and questions, to meet business partners and figure out possibilities for cooperation.

Expected output:
Optimizing GSFP with practical (pilot) projects focused on food safety, drinking water, and agriculture. The role of TNO is capacity building, creation of new consortia, accelerator and /or applying new approaches.

Motivation:
TNO shares her innovative knowledge and experience in order to improve well-being in developing countries. Inspired by a strong sense of social responsibility, TNO is committed to making its own contribution to the Millennium Development Goals with the aim of reducing poverty, combating illness and eradicating starvation. On demand, TNO will initiate projects in areas such as water management, food, health, labour, production technology, ICT, innovative materials, construction, energy & environment and safety. We cooperate closely with prominent partners, like SIGN.
“SIGN seems to us a relevant project with its direct connection to the Millennium Development Goals. It’s a specific programme on ‘school feeding’, with interesting topics like food, health and economic development of farmers, where TNO probably can add value. A broad consortium of partners is committed to the program: politics, NGO’s, business, knowledge partners. I hope we can collaborate closely  and can take concrete action instead of just talking.  Another benefit for us: TNO enters a new network with interesting partners.”

 

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Current activities in Ghana:

TNO runs two pilot projects in Ghana together with local partners.

1) Ergonomic farm tool project (See poster) in the north of Ghana.

This project is aimed at developing and promoting a long handled hoe. The long handled hoe is to promote a healthier way of working as opposed to the traditional hoe, which causes severe back problems in the long run. In 2010 TNO up scaled their ergonomic farm tool project to Tamale after having piloted the project in the Upper East Region. TNO is partnering the Civil Society Platform (coordination), University for Development Studies (design and execution) and UrbaNet (training of farmers). In 2011 the project will focus on launching the new tool on the market in both pilot regions.

2) Pineapple processing project

IN the South of Ghana, TNO runs a second project focussing on new pineapple products for the local market with focus on unsold pineapples, pulp (chaff) and peels. Side streams of the fruit production process are at the moment seen as a waste for which removal costs have to be paid. The over-all aim of this project is to increase farmers sales, to achieve more benefits for food companies and improve access to nutritious food for local people. In 2011 the focus will be on designing and setting up operations of the value chain.

 

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