Product Development and Value Chain

We are currently developing a line of products using local organic fruits and vegetables: banana, peanuts, ginger, and black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora). Our efforts essentially aim to introduce and train essential processing skills and techniques to the local farmers and community members to add value to organic raw materials that are currently sold directly to foreign traders. Our products will be marketed and sold domestically and globally at local road-side stalls and gift shops for tourists and local outlets.

One of our first value chain products is the traditionally-processed cane sugar. It is an existing but fast disappearing commodity from villages in northern Laos. BsE aims to preserve the traditional techniques through improved energy solutions, improved working conditions, greater market linkages and through the performance of consumer-awareness-raising promotions. We have branded the item as Bokeo BrownTM, and will link this product to a range of others using organic local ingredients. In addition to improved prices for the villagers they will also benefit from BsE’s training programs focused on other related products. Essentially, these actions contribute to income diversification within the community. Concurrently, BsE is working towards obtaining organic certification for the sugar cane to obtain higher prices in international markets to ameliorate community incomes. For more information click here.

Cooperation with Other Community-based Initiatives

In addition to our own product development programs, BsE remains aware of, and actively promotes other initiatives that add value to local resources to improve income levels for villagers. One of our activities is cooperating with Lao Jungle Honey, a private company specializing in high quality honey from Bokeo Province. In addition to promoting the honey, by-products such as beeswax will be used to produce lip balms, soap, hair wax and other natural products according to BsE’s specific social and environmental standards.

The owner of Lao Jungle Honey, Mr. Gerry Veley, has extensive experience in bee keeping across several continents. Recently he has been a consultant for the NGO, CARE to train skills in a very remote Khmu village in Oudomxay Province. Honey produced by this target village will also be available for sale through BsE outlets.

Lao Traditional Medicine

We have already commenced research into the local use and knowledge of medicinal plants. At our initial stage we began assembling information on which plants local healers and lay practitioners use and how they prepare them for healing. A garden devoted to the preservation of traditional medicine plants that usually grow in the wild is being established. With the future opening of our eco-lodge, we are planning an additional area for the testing of traditional medicines.

Our Services:

In accordance with our mission, we will also provide consultancy services to development agencies and local companies to help them grow and upgrade their services and deliveries. We believe that creative ideas combined with knowledge of the locality plus a professional working style will build a strong team and make positive changes to its surrounding habitat and communities.

Our services include:

• Product identification
• Product development (from product identification to market access)
• Branding
• Design: logos, brochures, leaflets, manuals
• Web design and online marketing
• Packaging design
• Workshops and trainings on adding value to local produces
• Consulting