DEG Invest CEO Roland Siller and team at LIMBUA

In May 2024, Roland Siller, CEO of DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH - visited our company in Kenya together with his colleagues Antje Steiner (Director Regional Office East Africa at KfW DEG) and Jelle Pentinga (DEG Nairobi).

 

This was the first time that Siller and his colleagues had the opportunity to experience the progress made by LIMBUA, in which DEG Invest plays a key role, on site. DEG is a long-standing partner and financier of LIMBUA and has enabled the expansion of macadamia and the development of avocado oil and dried fruit production. DEG also supports the financing of renewable energies at LIMBUA through the ImpactConnect program.

 

^{DEG CEO Roland Siller, Antje Steiner and Jelle Pentinga as guests at LIMBUA}

A look back: The beginnings of LIMBUA until today

^{A lot has happened since 2009: tour of the modern macadamia production facility in Ena}

Innovation in avocado oil production

Since 2021, LIMBUA has also been producing organic avocado oil directly on site. This new production line complements our range of organic products and promotes further diversification and added value. The oil is based on organic avocados, which are also purchased from the organic mixed farms of our contract farmers, where the macadamia nuts already come from. The DEG Invest visitors were particularly interested in the modern production methods and the high quality of the end product. Of course, a tasting of the freshly pressed oil was a must. 

^{Abigael Birech bottles the freshly pressed avocado oil for tasting}

Meeting with smallholder farmer Grace Wangari Njeru

The foundation of LIMBUA are the smallholders: without their high-quality harvests, the company would not have been able to operate as it does today. Of course, a visit at one of thed smallholder farmers was on the agenda. Grace Njeru was able to significantly improve her standard of living thanks to the cooperation with LIMBUA and was very happy to welcome the European visitors. On her organic mixed farm, adult macadamia trees were admired, local specialties were tasted and sugar cane was enjoyed for dessert.

Profile farmer Grace Njeru:

• She has been working with LIMBUA since 2020
• Widowed, three adult children
• She runs several rental houses from the income from macadamia sales
• Her organic mixed farm is about 2.5 acre in size
• She grows the following organic products: Macadamia, avocado, mango, papaya, coffee and many more.

^{From left to right: Jelle Pentinga, LIMBUA founder Matti Spiecker, farmer Grace Njeru, DEG Invest CEO Roland Siller, Antje Steiner}

Another important aspect was the demonstration of harvest purchasing by our team. LIMBUA buys the harvests directly from the smallholder farmers, giving them fair prices and securing the sale of their produce. This model promotes the economic stability and prosperity of the farmers and contributes to the sustainable development of the entire region. Modern technology in particular makes this possible: DEG Invest visitors were able to witness the purchasing process live. From weighing the harvests to digital allocation using a finger scan and payment by the farmer using her cell phone.

^{Macadamia purchase on the farm with digital technology}

Grace was particularly proud of her new biogas plant, which could be realized because of our funding program: Biogas plants convert organic waste such as animal manure into gas that can be used as a renewable energy source. Thus, the smallholders in the project benefit from a reliable and cost-effective energy supply. With the gas, they are no longer dependent on expensive and environmentally harmful fossil fuels.

Using biogas for cooking and other domestic purposes reduces the need to collect firewood, which is a time-consuming and arduous task. However, the gas not only saves time, but also ensures a reduction in deforestation. In addition, biogas produces a clean flame that produces less smoke and harmful emissions, which improves household air quality and reduces the risk of respiratory diseases.

^{Biogas plants that use manure as the main raw material are an efficient technology for generating energy and utilizing waste}

Visit of the tree nursery

A highlight for the DEG Invest guests was the visit of the LIMBUA organic tree nursery. Among other varieties, young macadamia trees are grown here to provide local farmers with high-quality seedlings for cultivation. By having access to healthy and high-yielding seedlings, the farmers can increase their productivity and thus their income. This contributes to economic stability and improves the quality of life of the farmers and their families.

Trees play an important role in carbon sequestration and help improve soil quality and water retention. By planting and nurturing organic trees, we help to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and promote a healthy ecosystem. Our tree nursery is therefore much more than just a source of seedlings: it is an integral part of LIMBUA's sustainable development strategy, which combines ecological, economic and social goals.

 

^{Antje Steiner and Roland Siller with nursery manager Regina Rwamba}

Planting a tree has a deeply rooted symbolic meaning in the Kenyan culture. It stands for growth, sustainability and the hope of a fruitful future. In this spirit, Siller and his companions followed tradition by planting their own macadamia tree to make their contribution to the sustainable development and future of the project.

 

^{Antje Steiner planting the macadamia seedling}