Farm to Feed: Transforming Kenya’s Food Loss Crisis into Opportunity
- yanabijoor
- Apr 12
- 2 min read
In Kenya, where small-scale farmers produce 75% of the nation’s food, up to 40% of that harvest never reaches consumers. Unlike wealthier nations where food waste dominates, Kenya’s challenge is food loss—produce left unsold due to poor market access or failure to meet cosmetic standards, like misshapen tomatoes or undersized avocados. This devastates farmers’ livelihoods and fuels food insecurity and environmental harm, as rotting food releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Farm to Feed’s Solution
Enter Farm to Feed is a Kenyan ag-tech startup founded in 2021 by Claire Van Enk, Anouk Boertien, and Zara Benosa. Born from a COVID-19 relief effort, the company transforms food surplus and “imperfect” produce into profit, such as oddly shaped carrots or overripe mangoes. Farm to Feed aggregates crops from smallholder farmers, sorts and grades them in its Nairobi warehouse, and sells to businesses like restaurants and food processors through an online platform, sales teams, and soon, a WhatsApp chatbot. The startup boosts farmers' incomes and reduces waste by creating a produce market that would otherwise rot.
Why It’s Impactful
Farm to Feed tackles a triple threat: economic loss, food insecurity, and climate change. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 50% of fruits and vegetables are lost before reaching markets, while one-third of Kenyans face poor nutrition. By ensuring more produce is sold, the startup strengthens farmers’ resilience and makes nutritious food more accessible. Environmentally, it cuts methane emissions from decomposing crops, aligning with global sustainability goals. Its data platform also collects insights on food loss causes, like poor seeds or harvesting techniques, enabling targeted solutions for better yields.
The Impact So Far
Since its launch, Farm to Feed has supported 1,200 farmers and created over 40 jobs. Backed by $1 million in funding from investors like Renew Capital and the Bayer Foundation, it’s scaled operations with leased freezer trucks and plans to acquire sustainable cooling solutions. A partnership with CityBlue Hotels underscores its growing influence, enhancing its ESG credentials. The startup’s pilot in value-added products, like turning surplus fruit into jams, hints at new revenue streams, while a feasibility study with Verra explores carbon credits for reducing food loss emissions.
What Needs to Improve
Despite its success, Farm to Feed faces hurdles. Scaling logistics to reach more farmers across Kenya’s diverse regions requires investment in trucks and infrastructure. While promising, the data platform needs robust development to deliver actionable insights at scale. Expanding value-added products could diversify income but require careful market testing. Finally, navigating the carbon market is complex—securing Verra certification would be a game-changer but isn’t guaranteed. Continued funding and partnerships will be key to sustaining momentum.
Farm to Feed isn’t just selling produce; it’s rewriting the story of food in Kenya—one imperfect tomato at a time. Bridging market gaps proves that what’s “unwanted” can still be transformative for farmers, consumers, and the planet.
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