Profiles of Purpose: A Tough Nut to Crack

TL;DR

Ten Senses Africa is a macadamia processing business in Nairobi, working with smallholder farmers to provide fair prices, guaranteed markets, and technological solutions in order to revolutionize the macadamia industry in Africa.

Transcript

Many African societies, agriculture remains the backbone for the societies because people have got to eat. But as the land gets smaller, less arable land is available. We need to figure out how to make this work. [MUSIC] My name is Frank Omondi, I am the CEO of Ten Senses Africa. Ten Senses Africa is a macadamia processing business in Nairobi. Maca... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌲 Macadamia is a rare tree nut, with less than 3% of the world's tree nut production, making it a valuable commodity.
• 😀 Ten Senses Africa addresses the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, such as unfair prices and lack of guaranteed markets, by providing fair prices, long-term relations, and guaranteed market access.
• 😒 The company's use of technology, such as their own software for tracking products and making instant payments, revolutionizes the macadamia industry and supports transparency and efficiency.
• 🌲 Ten Senses Africa's impact extends beyond economic benefits, as they provide employment opportunities, promote organic products, and contribute to climate change resiliency through macadamia and cashew tree planting.
• 🤨 Their participation in the Stanford Seed program has led to significant growth, including doubling sales, raising funds, and impacting a larger number of farmers.
• 😋 Africa has the potential to become a leading producer of food and macadamias, providing employment and organic products.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Ten Senses Africa support smallholder farmers?

Ten Senses Africa supports smallholder farmers by providing them with seedlings, training, fair prices, and guaranteed markets. They also have their own software that allows for instant payments through mobile phones and traceability of products from farm to shelf.

Q: What challenges does Ten Senses Africa address in the macadamia industry?

Ten Senses Africa addresses challenges such as middlemen taking advantage of farmers, lack of guaranteed markets, and difficulty in tracking products. They provide fair prices, long-term relations, and traceability solutions to overcome these challenges.

Q: How has Ten Senses Africa grown since participating in the Stanford Seed program?

Since participating in the Stanford Seed program, Ten Senses Africa has doubled its sales and raised funds. They are now one of the largest suppliers of seedlings and employ about 600 people. They have also impacted 30,000 farmers and aim to impact 100,000 in the next ten years.

Q: What role does macadamia production play in Africa's food production and climate change resilience?

Macadamia production plays a crucial role in Africa's food production and climate change resilience. By providing smallholders with macadamia and cashew tree seedlings, Ten Senses Africa helps farmers generate income and develop climate change resiliency.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ten Senses Africa is a macadamia processing business that works with smallholder farmers in Nairobi, providing them with seedlings, training, fair prices, and guaranteed markets.

• The company has its own software to track farmer products, pay farmers instantly through mobile phones, and ensure traceability from farm to shelf.

• Through their efforts, Ten Senses Africa aims to impact 100,000 farmers directly in the next ten years and revolutionize food production and employment in Africa.