Vincenzo Armini, a young university student in Food Technology, joins the Italian Red Cross.

Armini obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology at the Department of Agriculture of the University of Naples "Federico II", with a thesis on Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs), special foods for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children in developing countries.

Vincenzo Armini earns a Master’s Degree in Food Science and Technology from the Department of Agriculture at the University of Naples “Federico II.” His experimental thesis focuses on developing alternative Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs), designed to be easily produced in developing countries to combat Severe Acute Childhood Malnutrition.

Armini secures a position in the Ph.D. program in Agricultural and Agri-food Sciences at the University of Naples “Federico II.” His research aims to optimize an alternative RUTF and develop a pilot production plant in Uganda, in collaboration with Gulu University.

October – As he completes the second year of his Ph.D., Armini finalizes the RUTF formulation. However, with a funding shortfall of €50,000 to build the plant in Uganda, he mobilizes his network—including friends, university colleagues, and Red Cross contacts to launch a fundraising initiative.

November – Armini travels to Gulu University and secures full support from local academics for the construction of the pilot plant.

December – Following extensive consultations, the NutriAfrica ONLUS Volunteer Association is officially founded by Vincenzo Armini (President), Luca S. Nisi (Vice-President), Claudia Bello (Secretary), Giovanni Riccio (Treasurer), Alessia Sarnelli (Board Member), Giuseppe De Francesco (Board Member), and Valentina Cuomo (Board Member).

January – NutriAfrica ONLUS opens its first bank account at Banca Popolare Etica in Naples.

June – The organization launches a PayPal Business account and begins developing its first website with SkillApp.

July – After six months of fundraising, NutriAfrica ONLUS raises an impressive €10,500.

September – The first online portal for NutriAfrica ONLUS goes live.

January – Armini earns his Ph.D. with honors in Agricultural and Agri-food Sciences from the University of Naples “Federico II,” with a thesis focused on improving alternative RUTFs for direct production in developing countries, particularly Uganda.

January – The Board of Directors is reconfirmed, with Vincenzo Armini (President), Claudia Bello (Secretary), Giovanni Riccio (Board Member), Alessia Sarnelli (Board Member), Giuseppe De Francesco (Board Member), and Valentina Cuomo (Board Member) continuing their roles. Alessandra Caligiuri (Vice-President) replaces Luca S. Nisi, while Emma Costa (Treasurer), Alessia Ametrano (Board Member), Salvatore Fioriniello (Board Member), and Rosario Vitiello (Board Member) join the board.

December – Fundraising reaches €35,000.

March – 40,000 euros of fundraising reached.

May – Strong push towards the Digitalization of Registrations and Donations (due to Covid-19 Quarantine).

October – Transformation of the Association from ONLUS to Volunteer Organization (ODV).

January – A new Board of Directors is elected, comprising Vincenzo Armini (President), Alessandra Caligiuri (Vice-President), Claudia Bello (Secretary), Emma Costa (Treasurer), Michele Errichiello (Board Member), Giovanni Riccio (Board Member), Elena Vuolo (Board Member), Rosario Vitiello (Board Member), Valentina Cuomo (Board Member), Salvatore Fioriniello (Board Member), and Alessia Ametrano (Board Member).

June – NutriAfrica ONLUS achieves its long-awaited €50,000 fundraising goal.

July – The organization celebrates this milestone with the 50K Thank You Party.

March - First official agreement signed with Gulu University (Uganda) for the implementation of the pilot plant on site .

November - Start of Vincenzo Armini's second PhD in Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods and Human Health at the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Naples “Federico II”, with the aim of further improving the process and quality control of the previously conceived alternative RUTF.

March - Election of the new Board of Directors:

Vincenzo Armini (President); Alessandra Caligiuri (Vice President); Elena Vuolo (Secretary); Emma Costa (Treasurer); Giovanni Riccio (Councillor); Alessia Sarnelli (Councillor); Valentina Cuomo (Councillor); Concetta Re (Councillor); Mariasofia Toraldo (Councillor); Michele Errichiello (Councillor); Debhora Dragone (Councillor).

May - Registration of NutriAfrica ODV as a potential startup under the name NutriAfrica - For Community Transformation in the Start Cup Campania 2023 competition.

September - Participation of NutriAfrica ODV as a potential startup under the name NutriAfrica - For Community Transformation at the Green Blue Days initiative, at Palazzo Ravaschieri (NA), with the awarding of the special mention for innovative social realities.

October - Second place for NutriAfrica ODV as a potential startup named NutriAfrica - For Community Transformation at the Start Cup Campania 2023 competition and access to the 2023 National Innovation Award.

November/December - Participation of NutriAfrica ODV as a potential startup under the name NutriAfrica - For Community Transformation in the 2023 National Innovation Award and awarding of the special “ Young Entrepreneur Program ” prize: a stay with two Pépites of the France network (Pôles Etudiantes pour l'innovation, le transfert et l'Entrepreneuriant), to hone skills in the field of scientific entrepreneurship.

January – NutriAfrica ODV signs a second official agreement with Gulu University (Uganda) for the implementation of the pilot plant. The partnership includes Selmi-Group, the manufacturer of the ball refiner, a key machine in RUTF production.

April – The organization inaugurates its first experimental plant, “NA001,” dedicated to Professors Maria Adalgisa Nicolai and Alberto Ritieni, at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology of the University of Naples “Federico II.”

October – NutriAfrica ODV launches a volunteer recruitment campaign for its mission to establish the food plant in Uganda, scheduled between July 2025 and April 2026. The organization hires Ledes Communication to redesign its website.

November – The name “NutriMAS” is officially chosen for the alternative RUTF and  the patent process for NutriMAS begins.