Our company leads R&D activities in the field of food biotechnology within the Osmaniye Technology Transfer Office. One of our projects that has reached the implementation phase, “Establishment of an Industrial Process for Traditional fermented post-biotic soup Tirshik”, consists of three phases:

1. Development of industrial and home-use probiotic starter culture.
2. Design of the production process and small-scale production.
3. Cultivation of Arum meryemianum plant that grows on Amanos mountains.
   The first two phases have been completed, and as a result of our R&D success, three products are now ready to be launched on the market. The industrial process for this soup, traditionally prepared at home to boost the immune system and support gut health while serving as a meal, is a first move in Turkey.

Arum the Future – Pilot Program Framework

Program Title

Arum the Future: Pilot for Scalable, Low‑Cost Nutrition Using Underutilized Crops

Core Statement

We are piloting a scalable, low‑cost nutrition model using an underutilized tuber (Arum maculatum) in collaboration with smallholder farmers, aiming to generate measurable nutrition impact while building a commercially and environmentally sustainable food system.

1. Program Rationale

Global food systems face three converging challenges:

• Limited access to affordable, nutritious foods

• Economic vulnerability of smallholder farmers

• Underutilization of climate‑resilient, locally abundant tubers

Arum the Future addresses these challenges by transforming an underutilized tuber-forming plant (Arum maculatum) into a functional, immunity‑supporting food through sustainable fermentation technologies.

2. Pilot Objectives

2.1 Nutrition Impact

• Deliver an affordable, functional food with measurable nutritional value

• Improve access to nutrient‑dense foods for price‑sensitive consumers

2.2 Farmer Livelihoods

• Create predictable demand for an underutilized tuber (Arum maculatum)

• Increase income stability for participating smallholder farmers

2.3 System Validation

• Demonstrate technical, economic, and social feasibility

• Generate proof‑of‑impact data required by global funders and partners

3. Pilot Design

3.1 Geography

• Region with existing smallholder farmer networks

• Proximity to fermentation and processing facilities

3.2 Participants

• 200–500 smallholder farmers

• 1 pilot‑scale fermentation unit

• 1 functional food product (pilot formulation)

3.3 Duration

• 5 years

  • Phase 1: Setup & Baseline

  • Phase 2: Production & Distribution 

  • Phase 3: Evaluation & Scale Readiness 

4. Pilot Phases

Phase 1 – Setup & Baseline

• Farmer onboarding and training

• Baseline data collection (income, yield, cost structure)

• Product formulation finalization

• Regulatory and food safety compliance

Outputs:

• Signed farmer participation agreements

• Baseline socioeconomic and production dataset

Phase 2 – Production & Impact Generation

• Cultivation and procurement of the underutilized tuber (Arum maculatum)

• Fermentation and processing using sustainable technologies

• Pilot‑scale distribution to target consumers

Outputs:

• Functional food units produced

• Sales and cost data

• Initial consumer feedback

Phase 3 – Evaluation & Scale Readiness

• Impact assessment

• Unit economics analysis

• Supply chain stress testing

• Scalability modeling

Outputs:

• Proof‑of‑impact report

• Scale‑up roadmap

• Partner and investor‑ready documentation

5. Proof of Impact Metrics

5.1 Nutrition & Consumer Metrics

• Cost per serving vs. conventional alternatives

• Nutritional profile consistency

• Repeat purchase rate

5.2 Farmer Metrics

• Income change (%) vs. baseline

• Yield utilization rate

• Farmer retention and satisfaction

5.3 Environmental Metrics

• Resource efficiency (water, energy)

• Waste reduction through fermentation

• Biodiversity contribution via underutilized tuber (Arum maculatum plant) use

6. Scalability Strategy

6.1 Technical Scalability

• Modular fermentation units

• Replicable processing protocols

6.2 Economic Scalability

• Target unit cost reduction with volume

• Blended finance readiness (grants + impact capital)

6.3 Geographic Scalability

• Adaptation to other regions with similar underutilized tuber (Arum maculatum plant)s

• Farmer‑first replication model

7. Funding Use (Pilot Phase)

• Farmer engagement and training

• Pilot production infrastructure

• Impact measurement and reporting

• Regulatory and quality assurance

8. Expected Outcomes

• Validated low‑cost nutrition model

• Documented social, economic, and environmental impact

• Investment‑ready and partnership‑ready scale model

9. Alignment with Global Priorities

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well‑Being

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• SDG 13: Climate Action