INC Sustainability Award 2024

LIMBUA wins the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) Sustainability Award 2024. Over 1,200 nut and dried fruit industry professionals from around the world attended this year’s INC Congress.

^{Interview with Matti Spiecker}

Facts about the INC:

In 2024, the INC received 14 applications from 10 countries, which were reviewed by industry professionals. LIMBUA was among the finalists and won the award in the “Back to the People” category for the measures presented as part of the application process.

^{Matti Spiecker and Pino Calcagni (Besana Group, Italy) at the award ceremony during the INC Congress (Photo: INC)}

Measures presented for the award

Since LIMBUA was founded in 2009, organic agriculture, direct cooperation with smallholder farmers, processing in Kenya and the creation of employment opportunities have been central elements of the German-Kenyan business model. The measures presented as part of the award application included:

Income opportunities in rural regions
One of LIMBUA’s objectives is to create income and employment opportunities in the rural growing regions. LIMBUA purchases harvests directly from its contract smallholders and processes them in Kenya. This allows a larger proportion of the value creation to remain in the country of origin. The cooperation covers the value chain from growing seedlings in LIMBUA’s own tree nurseries to exporting and distributing the products internationally.

LIMBUA supports smallholder farmers in preparing for organic certification and purchases their harvests directly. The harvests are weighed and digitally recorded on site, and payment is made by mobile phone. This supports traceability and transparency within the supply chain.

^{LIMBUA smallholder farmers with an organic tree seedling}

Organic agriculture and mixed farms
LIMBUA has worked with certified organic agriculture since its foundation. Participating farms operate in accordance with the applicable organic standards and receive regular training in organic farming methods. Different crops and trees are cultivated on the same area of land on the mixed farms. This distributes agricultural production across different products and harvesting periods.

^{Organic macadamia nuts from smallholder mixed farms around Mount Kenya}

Local processing and value creation
LIMBUA processes the harvests at four production sites in Kenya. As a result, additional processing steps take place in the country of origin and a larger proportion of the value creation remains in Kenya. The production sites are located in the agricultural growing regions around Mount Kenya. The drying process uses process heat generated partly from macadamia shells, a by-product of production.

Employment in rural regions
LIMBUA employs more than 700 people in Kenya, many of whom come from the families of contract smallholders. They work in different areas of the value chain and earn their own income in the rural region. Women are represented among the contract smallholders as well as in production, field teams and management. LIMBUA pays wages and makes contributions to health, long-term care and pension insurance in accordance with applicable legal and company requirements. This creates formal employment opportunities in the rural regions around Mount Kenya.

^{The employment and participation of women form part of LIMBUA’s corporate strategy}

Conclusion: organic agriculture, direct sourcing and local value creation

Winning the INC Sustainability Award 2024 in the “Back to the People” category recognizes the measures presented during the application process. LIMBUA will continue to develop its cooperation with contract smallholders, local processing and its measures relating to organic agriculture and employment. We thank the INC as well as all our partners and supporters who made this achievement possible.

LIMBUA and smallholder farmers