Today's feature is the awesome Universal Nut Sheller.
Designed by Jock Brandis of the Full Belly Project for a women's coop in Mali, this tool dramatically increases peanut-shelling speed from 2 lbs per hour (hand-shelling) to 110 lbs per hour. Since roughly half a billion people in the world rely on peanuts as a primary protein source, this nut sheller has the potential for serious impact.
The machine is simple to make, relatively inexpensive, and can shell pecans, pine nuts, neem nuts, shea netus, Jatropha, and other nuts as well as peanuts. Molds and metal parts can be ordered from the Full Belly Project.
Check out the 2005 video introducing the machine to Uganda:
Check it out, and get inspired. What can you do to help people in developing countries? We need more ideas, the simpler the better.
This post has been sponsored by Pepsi. The Pepsi Refresh Project celebrates the people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive effect on our world.