Advancing Child Nutrition and Farmer Empowerment through Local Food Innovation in Northern Ghana, Africa

Background & Challenge:

B-Diet Ltd., a Ghanaian-owned food manufacturing company based in Tamale, Northern Ghana, is on a mission to improve household nutrition through the production of affordable, nutritious foods made from locally sourced ingredients. The company’s flagship product, Zaa Nutrimix, an instant cereal-legume mix, has become a key tool in addressing child malnutrition, especially in rural communities. Zaa Nutrimix is made from a blend of orange-fleshed sweet potato, sorghum, green gram (mung bean), turkey berries, fonio, and dairy milk—ingredients selected for their high nutritional value.

Through partnerships with health centers, community distributors and women farmer groups, B-Diet Ltd is creating a ripple effect—boosting nutrition outcomes, supporting smallholder farmers with reliable markets, and scaling up food innovation with the support of social impact investments.

Empowering Farmers Through Sustainable Agriculture

B-Diet Ltd. works directly with women farmer groups across districts like Nanton, engaging them in the cultivation of groundnuts, pumpkin seeds, and melon seeds for use in its food products.

Farmers emphasized the positive impact of this partnership:

“We’re happy to be part of B-Diet’s farmer network. There’s now a ready market for our produce. Previously, there was no market for pumpkin and melon seeds, but B-Diet changed that.”

The company has also facilitated access to agricultural extension officers, who train farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and support them in securing credit facilities during farming seasons. As a result, farmers report improved savings, increased incomes, and enhanced livelihoods.

Integrating Nutrition into Healthcare Delivery

Historically, health centers in Northern Ghana relied on imported baby foods from Accra. B-Diet’s locally made instant cereals have now become a reliable and healthier alternative.

A nurse at one of the health centers stated:

“We can now boast of our own local instant cereal, made from 100% locally sourced ingredients. It’s essential for the growth and development of babies and malnourished children at our facilities.”

This shift marks a significant step towards integrating local food innovation into national healthcare systems, especially in underserved regions.

Scaling Local Innovation Through Social Impact Investment

Beyond product distribution, B-Diet Ltd. actively participates in community development and health promotion. As part of its corporate social responsibility, the company engaged in a community clean-up exercise in Jisonayili, promoting the message: “Healthy lives for healthy living.”

The company also sponsored a handball competition organized by the Northern Regional Handball Association at Tamale College of Education. Attendees sampled B-Diet cereals, and many students purchased the products to take back to school.

Looking Ahead: Scaling Impact Through Local Innovation

B-Diet Ltd. is committed to expanding the production and distribution of nutritious foods, with a focused effort to reach women of reproductive age and children—populations most in need of nutrient-rich diets for healthy growth and development.

With continued support from Intellecap’s Good Food Innovation Fund, B-Diet is well-positioned to scale its operations, leveraging locally sourced raw materials to produce and market nutritious foods within Ghana and beyond.

B-Diet Ltd. stands as a strong example of how locally driven food innovation can simultaneously combat child malnutrition, empower rural farmers—especially women, and strengthen local economies. By staying rooted in local value chains and community well-being, the company is charting a sustainable path toward its vision of becoming a global food company with deep local impact.

Enhancing Child Nutrition with Instant Cereals

With support from the Good Food Innovation Fund, B-Diet Ltd. acquired advanced processing equipment including an extruder dryer, mill, and packaging machine—that has enabled the company to produce ready-to-eat porridge in the form of instant cereals.

Consumer feedback has demonstrated the product’s impact. Mma Amina, a mother, shared:

“My child didn’t like porridge or cereal mixes, only breast milk. But when I tried B-Diet instant cereal, she finished the whole cup. Now I buy it regularly when going to work.”

Rita Wumbei, another customer, added:

“I now feed my children with B-Diet cereal every day. It’s made with locally sourced ingredients, and we all enjoy it.”

Impact Outcomes:

In Q1 of 2025, B-Diet supplied eight tons of its nutritious cereal to an NGO working with the Ghana Health Service, leading to distribution across 54 health centers in Northern Ghana. Nutrition Officers used the product to treat moderately malnourished children, with a target reach of 5,000 children in rural areas.

Call to Action:

If you are a startup in the Good Food and Nutrition space in Africa and would like to know more, please write to us at marketing@intellecap.net