Envisioning the Future through Possibilities Journalism
Oregonians Support a Hazelnut Tax to Help Solve World Hunger, by Annika & Justin
June 19, 2020
5,000 acres of land in the Willamette Valley of Oregon will be dedicated to growing hazelnuts for Project Peanut Butter. In 2004, Dr. Mark Manary founded "Project Peanut Butter" to feed malnourished children in Africa. Untreated, more than half the children will die. Food is a super important to humans and 1.5 million children die every year because they are starving. Chiponde, the African term for nut paste, is made up of milk powder, roasted peanuts, vegetable oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals that is both full of nutrition and tasty. The energy dense paste does not spoil, does not need to be cooked, can be served at home and is effective in small amounts. Saving one child costs $25 and costs much less than other techniques like hospitalization. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and The World Food Program endorse this therapy as the best way to treat malnutrition.
Researchers have recently discovered that hazelnuts are just as effective as peanuts in providing high nutritional value. 99% of all hazelnuts grown in the US come from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Oregon has around 30,000 acres of hazelnuts with a value of $7 million. Every acre produces an average of 2,000 pounds of hazelnuts. A hazelnut tree can cost up to seven dollars each and spraying, equipment and everything else adds up to thousands of dollars per acre. 4.3 million people are living in Oregon. The new $0.50 Project Peanut Butter tax will pay $2.15 million to support Oregon hazelnut farmers and send the hazelnuts to local factories in Africa to be turned into paste along with locally grown ingredients. The goal is for local African communities to run the program on their own. 95% of children given the paste recover after 6 months and are no longer malnourished. Oregonians are making a difference in solving world hunger.
What a fantastic connection you have made here. I like how you found a global solution using local resources. Great job! I also like the video and picture you also provided to help explain the concept.
Researchers have recently discovered that hazelnuts are just as effective as peanuts in providing high nutritional value. 99% of all hazelnuts grown in the US come from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Oregon has around 30,000 acres of hazelnuts with a value of $7 million. Every acre produces an average of 2,000 pounds of hazelnuts. A hazelnut tree can cost up to seven dollars each and spraying, equipment and everything else adds up to thousands of dollars per acre. 4.3 million people are living in Oregon. The new $0.50 Project Peanut Butter tax will pay $2.15 million to support Oregon hazelnut farmers and send the hazelnuts to local factories in Africa to be turned into paste along with locally grown ingredients. The goal is for local African communities to run the program on their own. 95% of children given the paste recover after 6 months and are no longer malnourished. Oregonians are making a difference in solving world hunger.
Annika and Justin,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic connection you have made here. I like how you found a global solution using local resources. Great job! I also like the video and picture you also provided to help explain the concept.