The Organic Business Summit -Post Event Notes
Accessing markets and building viable consumer bases are a major challenge for all business ventures and the Organic Agriculture Industry is no exception to such realities. It has been our experience that to have any worthwhile business relationship, it is pertinent that all value chain actors from farmers, traders, processors and retailers (not forgetting supporting actors such as certifiers, government and non-governmental actors, inputs suppliers among others) work collaboratively. Collaboration fosters trust and allows players to identify, explore and actualize business opportunities.
The Business Summit was able to outline some areas of interest and to present compelling arguments of why the Organic Agriculture Sector in Kenya is ripe for the picking.
With such a rich pool of stakeholders represented we hope that the event will ignite the spark of collaboration among Organic Agriculture Sector players.
From the Summit Three Thematic areas of interest were identified for collaborative pursuit;
- Organic Vegetables and Fruits for Local Market
- Organic Fruit for Export
- Organic Herbs and Spices
The Business Summit was the just a 1st Step in many to, discussions in the various thematic groups have already commenced with many actors already moving forward in identifying opportunities.
In order to coordinate these collaborations WhatsApp groups have been set up based on the Thematic Groups(TG).
The groups are being coordinated as follows;
| Thematic Group | Facilitator | ||
| 1 | Organic Vegetables and Fruits for Local Market | Martin Njoroge | |
| 2 | Organic Fruit for Export | Clement Adongo
Lawrence Gitonga |
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| 3 | Organic Herbs and Spices | Emma Njoki |
One has to be an interested party to participate in any of the above group and must offer some value to the discussions being held. The main purpose of the groups is to explore business opportunities that must Benefit Farmers in Murang’a County.
Contact Martin Njoroge – 0725 295 437 for more information.
If you missed the summit
HERE ARE
Kikuyu Organic Farmer’s Market -Mugumo Hotel Kikuyu
Residents of Kikuyu, Ndenderu, Sigona all the way to Limuru, you can now get ready access to Organic Food from the Kikuyu Organic Farmers market. The farmers are residents of Ondiri and Regen area where if you talk to them nicely will be able to organise basket deliveries and other value adds.
VENUE : MUGUMO PARK KIKUYU TOWN
DATE: 12TH DEC 2020 (INAUGURAL LAUNCH)
TIME: 9.00AM-1.00PM
Hosted by Ondiri Organic Farmers Group.
ORGANIC BUSINESS SUMMIT: DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS FOR NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
DATE: 3RD DECEMBER 2020
TIME: 8:30 AM- 1.00PM
EVENT TYPE: Invite Only
ORGANIZERS : KOAN , KALRO , FIBL, AFRICROPS LTD, OACK
The Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN) together with its partners will be hosting a first of kind organic industry business event on Thursday, 3rd December 2020 (9.00am) via Zoom platform . The Organic industry is the fastest growing subsector in agriculture globally, trading billions of dollars’ worth of products annually. This global trend is gaining pace in Kenya with people seeking healthy food amidst the Covid19 pandemic and food safety lapses in local food supply come to light. A burgeoning middleclass is fast becoming picky with food and export markets are becoming increasingly critical on sustainability, carbon emissions and pesticide residues.
The Kenya Organic Agriculture Network has been an industry leader making meaningful business linkages within the organic space. KOAN has assisted notable companies with strategic and much needed advisory and farmer linkage services that have led to millions of dollars’ worth of trade both locally and for export to date. In a bid to rapidly expand the organic space, KOAN has partnered up with the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Africrops Limited, the Organic Agriculture Centre of Kenya (OACK) among other organizations to foster organic market development by focusing on both the domestic and export market.
The Organic Business Summit is an invite only event to present an organic sector survey implemented in Kenya during 2020, and to move ahead in jointly exploring organic business opportunities for the local and export market particularly focusing on organic products originating from Murang’a County. The County has some of the most pristine and prime land with the highest number of organic farmers in Kenya supplying fresh fruits and vegetables. The county has great potential for both local and export markets.
Latest date to sign up for the event is 27th November 2020.
Resources
REPORT LAUNCH – PESTICIDE USE IN KIRINYAGA AND MURANG’A COUNTIES: A WAKE UP CALL FOR BETTER PEST CONTROL STRATEGIES
Date: 7th October 2020 Time: 9.30 am Location: Virtual (Zoom) Meeting ID: Passcode:
About the Event
KOAN, Route To Food Initiative (RTFI), Biodiversity Biosafety Association (BIBA) and Resource Oriented Development Initiative (RODI) have petitioned parliament to withdraw toxic pesticides that have been withdrawn in Europe due to their negative impacts on human health, environment and toxicity to pollinators.
As a follow up to a study done in 2019 by RTFI that informed the petition, this year, KOAN undertook a pesticide monitoring survey in Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties to check whether the identified pesticides are available and in use in the two Counties. We also did pesticides residue testing on tomatoes and kales. The findings reveal concerning use of pesticides including the ones that have been withdrawn in Europe and also high toxicity levels of pesticide residues in tomatoes and kale.
The study findings will be presented Wednesday, 7th October via zoom from 9.30 AM, where the report will be launched.
Please Join the Zoom Meeting using the details below
We also plan for more sensitization by distribution of the report; County and National Governments engagements; CSOs and Consumer engagements among others so that we can all work together to ensure that the toxic pesticides are withdrawn in Kenya; that safer alternatives are promoted and used by our farmers; that the relevant authorities do regular pesticide residue monitoring to assure Kenyans of safe food.
“Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’, often ascribed to Hippocrates (400 BC)”
Resources
- WhitePaper on Pesticides Use in Kirinyaga and Murang’a Counties (9mb file)
- Policy Brief – Pesticides Study – Policy Brief
- Summary of Pesticides Petition – Summary – Kenya Pesticides Petition
- Access SaferInputs.com Database – www.saferinputs.com
Barefoot Guide to Surviving COVID19- A Mighty Healthy Read
So COVID19 hit us, right in the kidneys where it really hurts. Economies worldwide are smarting from the disruptions which forced many people to hole up in “Safety”. All rushing to stock up on tissue paper and hand sanitizer, in an effort to flatten the curves which were all so wavy and steep. The COVID pandemic has had its up and downs, but for the organic industry especially in Kenya (I can only speak for Kenya), it has seen a greater demand for healthy chemical free food, just ask Sylvia’s Basket and she’s bound to have some inspiring financial records.
But we’re digressing, lets get to the matter at hand. The message of Let Thy Food be Thy Medicine and Thy Medicine Thy Food, really struck home. Many people are consciously transitioning into healthy chemical free food a.k.a Organic Food and they’re reaping the benefits.
Let Thy Food be Thy Medicine and Thy Medicine Thy Food
Food has always been a hot topic in Kenya (pun intended), and that’s why this interesting book is sure to have your mind salivating.
The Barefoot Guide to Surviving COVID19 is written by the Natural Food Barefoot Guide Writer’s Collective, a group of highly influential food advocates from Africa. Key among the writers is our very own Peter Mokaya CEO of the Organic Consumers Alliance.
COVID19 is a deadly disease which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives to date, it is sad that despite the damage the pandemic has had on the health and welfare of the human race, many are still divided on how to handle it. The Guide appreciates the magnitude of COVID19 but is keen to emphasize on the role of diet in strengthening our immunity.
Illustration from Chapter 1
The beauty of the book (aside from the great graphics and illustrations) is the easy language and story telling format it takes on which makes for a delightful read. The book focuses on indigenous African dishes which are available (depending on you locale) in open markets. It has 5 Chapters each very important to read which take the reader along the lives of different characters and holds your hand while explaining some highly technical topics but in a very laid back manner. The Guide is neither too technical nor is it over simplified to be of little use to those with background knowledge of the topics discussed.
The book is written by Africans for Africans and presents African solutions to Global problems
It explains the misconceptions that exist in the food industry while giving tangible solutions. From issues of negative impacts of high fat and calorie diets , to how to start your own garden are covered. The book paints a realistic holistic picture of the ordinary citizens quest for healthy food for their family and the challenges in misinformation that exist while giving feasible solutions to the problems presented.
The book is written by Africans for Africans and presents African solutions to global problems. It is a must read and the information contained is priceless. The COVID19 Pandemic is still raging, its not too late to change neither is it too late to improve.
The Guide is currently Free to Download on the Organic Consumers Alliance (OCA) Website
https://www.organicconsumers.co.ke
Kenya Organic Food Festival and Exhibition 2019
The Kenya Organic Food Festival and Exhibition 2018
Venue: Wangari Maathai Institute Kabete
Date: 21-22nd September 2019
Gate Entry: Free
The first of its kind in Kenya will host over 50 exhibitors including traders, farmers, input suppliers etc who will showcase what the Organic Food industry is all about.
The event is particularly tailored for families and organic farming enthusiasts, with more focus on learning and technology transfer.
The following programme of events will be followed;
Conference Title: Your Health, Your Wealth: What Governments can do to ensure Healthy Constituents.
Morning session
Objective: Understanding the Link between Food, Food Safety, Health and Nutrition
The morning session of the conference aims at addressing consumer’s Interests around:
- Food safety
- Food quality
- Consumer health (Intrinsic and Extrinsic qualities)
- Availability
- Accessibility
The above themes can be refined into 3 main themes that also tie in nicely to policy issues within agriculture.
Table 1: Summary of the themes and topics to be covered in the discussions.
| Theme # | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Theme Title | Designing sustainable food systems | Heathy planet, Healthy people | Nutrition |
| Description | Availability and Accessibility of organic produce to consumers | The links between healthy soils, healthy plants and animals and healthy human beings for sustainable Diet | The complexities of nutrition with regards to culture traditions and taste and how to eat a balanced diet |
| Active partner/ Workshop facilitator | HIVOS | GAIN | |
| Topics covered (Based on issues mentioned thus far) | Food safety, Food quality, Accessibility, Affordability | Awareness, Consumer Health, Availability | Consumer Health, Acceptability |
| Approach (2hrs) | Inspirational Master Classes in break out groups 1 1/4 hrs
There will be one lead facilitator for each theme. Participants will break into three groups based on interest. For each group there will be one expert of the theme/area of interest who will use a max 20 minutes to present/introduce the topic either through their real life experience of an ongoing innovative project/business case/idea in line with the main consumer issues.
Thereafter the floor opens up to gather feedback from the audience (10 min). The goal is that the audience understands the case, and is inspired to be part of it and ask questions.
The next 30 minutes are open floor to talk about the audiences experiences, inspirations, ideas and how they could be a part of this/support/ connect/ grow the idea. The main points are jotted down and the facilitator keeps these in mind to improve the presentation and information.
In the final 15 minutes, the main points are summarised, ways forward are given and the facilitator adds these points. This is used to inspire the plenary session
In the 15 minutes, all participants are asked to return to the main room for the inspirational summary, through which the three facilitators will have 10 min each to present their case again, what is good, what they will continue working on and also what is missing and partners they are looking for. This is done in panel formation. |
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| Needs | Timekeepers (3x), 1x plenary moderator, 3x workshop facilitators, 2hrs | ||
Afternoon Session
Objective: What Counties are doing to ensure healthy constituents
The afternoon session aims at sharing what County Governments can do to support Ecological Organic Agriculture. The idea is for Counties that are already supporting EOA can inspire others on what they are doing so that others can learn and also support in their Counties.
Approach:
Three Counties will be selected to share their experiences. Participants will break into three groups and in each group one county will share how they are supporting EOA in their respective Counties in 10 -15 minutes. Then the audience will have 20-30 minutes to suggest other specific areas where they would like County Governments to support. The County officials will be given an opportunity to advise on practicalities and whether the ideas can be taken up and advise on the best approaches. The key potential ideas will be summarized and be presented at plenary. These will be take home messages for County Governments and basis for Civil Society Organizations to undertake follow ups.
Day 2: September 20th 2019 – Organic Food and Eco Festival
Objective: To show case organic products, innovations and other environmentally friendly technologies
The day will be a family out fun day where different age groups will be entertained, informed on the benefits of eating organic and have an opportunity to purchase organic and other environmentally friendly products. Below are some of the activities that will take place on the day.
Food Cooking Competition
The chefs will cook food using fresh organic vegetables found at the organic market
The idea is that the chef explains her/his meals, get people involved in cooking with her/him while explaining the health benefits of such foods. Location in the kitchen.
Farmers Market
Farmers sell and explain their organic journey – Challenges and Opportunities in Organic Production marketing and how consumers could participate in the development of organic food system
Organic/Healthy Treasure Hunt
Organic certified treats offered (These could be from Kenya and other countries)
Art-related activities: Painting, art and story-telling via art
Opportunity for people to draw their opinion of an organic system/city/county/neighbor hood
Face painting relating to organic things/things needed for a healthy ecosystem. Think of trees, bees, flowers, clean air, clean water, soils (worms), the sun,
Comedy: Comedian to tell jokes relating to the truth of our current food economy and what needs to change
Home gardening: Workshop on how one can plant and grow their vegetables or herbs at home
Other recreational facilities include:
Bouncing castle
Entertainment/concert at the Amphitheater
Football (mini courts)
Wangari Maathai Institute
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Food Inspection
conducts inspections and analysis on foods sampled in different markets all over the country or commissions scientists to conduct such food analysis. This is in a bid to:
1. Safe Guard authenticity of organic food. Organic foods should not have any synthetic chemicals or heavy metal residues, by conducting such food analysis we are able to ascertain that the standards have been maintained and that the consumers are getting what they pay a premium for. If a contravention is detected, consumers will be warned and traceability will be conducted to identify the perpetrator and make sure their product are no loner marketed as organic.
2. Provide consumers with knowledge about food safety, pesticide residues are common place in Kenya, a fact that most might not be aware of. Therefore presenting scientific evidence of such findings provide consumers with tangible reasons to transition to organic.
KOAN Staff collecting vegetable samples for food analysis in local market
