Ravikant Sharma

Issues/Bibliography Paper – Due in Assignment Folder on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.

provide a detailed topic sentence outline of at least three ethical issues on the final research memorandum. Include a detailed bibliography. This is due Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm.

Final Paper Case Study

The Plumpy’nut Controversy

Background: In preparation for the Final Paper, review the video and article below.

Video: Nutrition for Niger – Plumpy’nut - 10:58 mins

60 Minutes segment by Anderson Cooper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSCMoRDp2c

 

Article: The Purpose of Patents

http://www.innovation.org/documents/File/Pharmaceutical_Patents.pdf

 

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: According to the FAO, there were 925 million undernourished people in the world in 2010. Nearly 105 million children suffer from chronic malnutrition and 68 million children suffer from acute malnutrition. Of the 68 million children, 26 million children are suffering from the most severe form of malnutrition putting them close to death. Almost 5 million children die each year from malnutrition. [1]

The Plumpy’nut®  Controversy

The formula for Plumpy’nut® is patented and the patent is held by a French company, Nutriset. (The name Plumpy’nut® is a registered trademark, though this is not the issue).  Currently, the production of Plumpy’nut® is concentrated in Nutriset’s main facility in France. This facility produced about 35,000 metric tons of Plumpy’nut in 2010.  Additionally, in a dozen countries such as Niger, Malawi and Kenya, Nutriset has set up a network of partnerships and franchises so that Plumpy'nut can be made locally and with locally-grown produce. These businesses provide jobs in developing countries where they are desperately needed.

UNICEF purchases almost 90 percent of the production capacity of the Nutriset facility in France. [2]  At this time, the cost for a two month treatment for each child which includes approximately two to three Plumpy’nut bars per day is about $60.00. [3]    

Even though Nutriset’s production capacity is impressive, the volume is nowhere close to what is needed to combat the growing global epidemic of malnutrition in children.  The alarming numbers released by the FAO creates a sense of urgency that more should be done to increase production of Plumpy’nut. Nutriset’s current production is only supplying 1-2 million children suffering from malnutrition.  [4]  

The United States has an enormous capacity to produce peanuts and would like to manufacture more Plumpy’nut so that more childrens’ lives can be saved. Nutriset will vigorously defend its patent. "If the US companies were able to beat the patent, the global volume of RUTFs would of course go up. But it would also mean the end for our local partners in Africa, who wouldn't be able to compete. That is not what we want."  [5]

[1]  2011 world hunger and poverty facts and statistics. (2010, November 14). Retrieved March 6, 2011, fromhttp://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world hunger facts

  [2]   Rice, A. (2010, September 10). The peanut solution. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/magazine/05Plumpynut

  [3]   Id. at p. 2

  [4]   Schofield, H. (2010, April 8). Legal fight over hunger wonder-Product.     http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8610427.html

[5]   Nutriset's communications manager, Remi Vallet,  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8610427