When Kenya’s lockdowns hit, Claire van Enk, Anouk Boertien, and Zara Benosa saw two crises unfolding. Farmers were abandoning produce because markets had collapsed, while city charities were overwhelmed by food-insecure families.
Their response was simple but powerful: buy at-risk harvests from smallholder farmers and donate them to local charities. Within months, they bought from around 400 smallholder farmers and donated to ten charities.
But the deeper they looked, the clearer the nature of the problem became. Long before COVID-19, up to half of Kenya’s fruits and vegetables were already going to waste. As van Enk recalls, “Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya, yet we were watching tonnes of food rot in the fields.”
By the end of 2020, they shifted from emergency aid to a scalable, for-profit model and tech-enabled business, and Farm to Feed was born.
Farm to Feed
Farm to Feed’s model is straightforward in theory, though ambitious in execution. The company aggregates produce of all grades, including the crooked carrots and oversized mangoes that supermarkets refuse, and channels them to reliable buyers.
And they’re thinking ahead. Trials are underway to turn surplus into value-added products, and feasibility studies are exploring how to monetise carbon credits from avoided emissions.
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Farm to Feed boasts a global, women-led team blending international expertise with local talent. Beyond the founders, key members include Levine Araka (COO), Brian Ababu (Sr. Engineering Manager), Richard Wanyonyi (Sourcing Manager), Teresiah Njoroge (Logistics Manager), and Lucy Wainaina (Finance Officer).
Advisors like Gregoire Dusausoy, Victoria Puxley, and Kush Shah provide strategic guidance. The company actively recruits, with openings listed on their site, emphasising roles in finance, logistics, and procurement filled by Kenyan women. As van Enk reflects, the team’s passion drives innovation at the intersection of agriculture and technology.
What They Do and Why it Works
Farm to Feed operates a unique B2B model, which plays out like this:
- They collect full harvests (Grade 1, Grade 2, and odd-shaped produce) through a network of aggregators.
- Produce is graded and sorted at a warehouse in Nairobi, then delivered to buyers ranging from hotels and schools to food processors and event caterers.
- Buyers use a web-app, and soon a WhatsApp chatbot, to place orders. Logistics are carefully timed, and they’re even exploring sustainable cooling trucks via IFC support.
- A pilot is underway to convert rescued produce into value-added goods, while a potential partnership with Verra may allow them to monetise carbon credits tied to avoided emissions.
Key innovations include data analytics to predict surplus availability and demand patterns, preventing waste during scarcity periods. They’re developing a mobile app and USSD platform to empower farmers with direct sales tools, while a value-addition pilot explores processing surplus into new products for additional revenue.
In 2021, Farm to Feed maintained a foundation arm for donations, continuing weekly distributions to vulnerable communities, such as women at the Ngong Dumpsite, as suggested by the company’s tweet.
Operations highlight inclusivity, as the platform relies on aggregators in key farming regions and prioritises women-led networks, like farmer Jane’s group of 50 mostly female producers, who benefit from prompt payments and reliable offtake, according to a GSMA report. Weekly deliveries reach up to 15,000 kg, with produce sourced fresh and delivered straight to doorsteps.
Their Impact
- More than 920,000 kg of food rescued, keeping it out of landfills.
- About 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent avoided, meaning less methane from rotting produce.
- According to DRK Foundation, over 930,000 kg rescued, 1,227 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided, and 10.7 million vegetable portions delivered.
- FarmBiz Africa reports a 41% income boost for partner farmers, with up to 15,000 kg delivered weekly across Nairobi
Funding, Awards, and Growth Milestones
Since its inception, Farm to Feed has attracted $1 million in equity and grant funding from prominent investors and institutions, including Catalyst Fund (managed by BFA Global), Renew Capital, Bayer Foundation, Mercy Corps AgriFin, IFC TechEmerge, DEG develoPPP, RAIN Challenge, and the GSMA Innovation Fund. (Source: Techcrunch)
A recent undisclosed investment from Renew Capital in April 2024 supports scaling operations, as noted by Senior Investment Manager Esther Mwikali, who praised the team’s “innovative spirit and determination.”
In 2022, they won the Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Award. Claire van Enk was honoured as a 2024 Cartier Women’s Initiative Fellow and Regional Award Recipient. Zara Benosa received the GIZ SAIS Women’s Award. Partnerships include CityBlue Hotels’ investment and selection as a “Friend of Champions 12.3” for global food waste reduction. Media features in TechCrunch, CNN, and Catalyst Fund’s 2023 Impact Review underscore their rising profile.
Future Projections
Looking ahead, Farm to Feed aims to expand its network, refine digital platforms, and launch value-added products to increase offtake and sustainability. With the $1.8 million seed round, they’ll bolster operations and data platforms to predict and prevent waste, ultimately improving farming outcomes across East Africa.
As a shortlisted candidate for the RAIN Challenge, they’re poised to advance climate-resilient agriculture. Van Enk envisions a transformed Kenyan food system where nutritious food is accessible, affordable, and waste-free.
Conclusion
Farm to Feed exemplifies how targeted innovation can turn agricultural challenges into opportunities, fostering economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social equity. As Kenya’s agritech sector booms— with over $1.56 billion raised across 700+ deals from 2014-2024— startups like this are leading the charge toward a zero-waste, hunger-free continent. With continued support, Farm to Feed could not only feed Kenya but inspire a global shift in how we value our food.
