Cambogreens, the Veggie Supplement Startup Making Waves in Cambodia

Cambogreens, a Cambodian startup, is on a mission to make nutritious food accessible to everyone by transforming often-discarded imperfect vegetables into convenient and healthful supplements.

Founded in 2023 by a passionate team - Un Vuottek, Chhaya Thanon, Khim Leakhena, and Dy Puthi Kakrona (the team leader) - Cambogreens is not your typical supplement company. They focus on helping individuals with weak digestive systems and those who struggle to eat vegetables. Their secret weapon? Taking perfectly good, yet less visually appealing vegetables, and transforming them into convenient, health-boosting supplements.

Cambogreens is more than just a business; it is about tackling two problems at once. First, they address the issue of food wasteby utilizing vegetables that might otherwise get thrown away, thereby reducing Cambodia's food waste footprint, generating value for agricultural waste. Second, they provide an alternative for those who have difficulty consuming their daily greens. Their veggie supplements offer a concentrated dose of essential nutrients in an easy-to-consume formula.

So how exactly do they do it? Cambogreens uses a simple yet effective process. They blanch the vegetables, blend them with a touch of water, dry them, and grind them into a fine powder. This powder is then packed into capsules, making it a breeze to incorporate into your daily routine.

Cambogreens' success at the Dak Dam Innovators for Resilient Agriculture program was a significant milestone. The program provided funding, training, and mentorship, helping them refine their idea and get their business off the ground. But their vision goes beyond winning competitions.

Their ultimate goal? To contribute to Cambodia's food security by promoting balanced nutrition and reducing food waste. They plan to achieve this by:

• Supporting smallholder farmers: By purchasing vegetables that might not meet cosmetic standards, they provide a market for these otherwise discarded crops, helping farmers reduce losses.
• Boosting Farmer Income Profits: Through their collaboration with local farmers, they aim to improve the economic viability of small-scale farming, potentially increasing farmer incomes.
• Reducing food waste: They focus on minimizing waste by utilizing vegetables that might otherwise be wasted, making efficient use of available resources.
• Promoting veggie power: By offering vegetables-based supplements, they make it easier for people to access essential nutrients, encouraging balanced nutrition habits across Cambodia.

Cambogreens' team is a powerhouse of talent. Dy Puthi Kakrona, the team leader, brings food processing expertise honed in Japan. Chhaya Thanon is the mastermind behind their innovative production method. Khim Leakhena leverages her background in food science, and Un Vuottek combines his knowledge of dietary supplements with marketing savvy.

Cambogreens has ambitious goals for the future. They want to ramp up production using Korean-made machines to meet the growing demand for their unique supplements. They are looking to collaborate with farmers and market vendors to create a win-win situation for everyone. By providing a market for "ugly" vegetables, they support farmers while offering a health-boosting solution for those who struggle with veggies.

Cambogreens embodies a spirit of innovation and sustainability, committed to creating a better Cambodia. By repurposing undervalued agricultural produce, they demonstrate that waste can be a resource, leading the way towards a healthier and more environmentally friendly future.

The Dak Dam Innovators program, a collaborative effort between Impact Hub and the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD), is fostering the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs in Cambodia.

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