In a festive awards ceremony in Berlin, LIMBUA was honored with the CSR Award of the German Federal Government 2025 by State Secretary Lilian Tschan, in the category “Digital Tools for Transparent Supply Chains.” The award recognizes companies that combine corporate social responsibility with entrepreneurial action.
The CSR Award of the Federal Government: Making Responsibility Visible
The CSR Award (Corporate Social Responsibility) of the German Federal Government is presented by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). Since its launch in 2013, the award has recognized companies that stand out through sustainable, socially responsible, and future-oriented business conduct.
LIMBUA stood out among nearly 150 applicants. The ceremony demonstrated that responsible entrepreneurship in Germany is achievable. The award winners across five categories showed how effective and diverse initiatives can be across ecological, social, and economic aspects along supply and value chains.
The winners were selected by a high-profile, independent jury through a multi-stage, science-based evaluation process.
(L–R): Lissa Bettzieche – German Institute for Human Rights, Dr. Nicola Brandt – Head of the OECD Berlin Centre, Matti Spiecker – Founder of LIMBUA, Lilian Tschan – State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). Photo: J. Konrad Schmidt
Around 200 invited guests attended – including jury members, nominees, and representatives from politics, business, and civil society. Lilian Tschan, Chair of the Jury and State Secretary at BMAS, presented the award to Matti Spiecker in a ceremonial setting.
His message during the ceremony: “We believe in a future where smallholder farmers are not just raw material suppliers but equal partners in the global value chain. This award encourages us to continue on this path.”
CSR Award Video featuring LIMBUA
From Fingerprint to Traceable Macadamia – Digital Traceability
LIMBUA’s supply chain begins with organic mixed farms operated by contract smallholder farmers in Kenya. From the moment of purchase of macadamia nuts, mangoes, and avocados, LIMBUA uses biometric fingerprint identification. Each harvest is clearly assigned to the individual farmer. Payments are made digitally via mobile phone – with documented processes.
In this way, key interfaces of our supply chain are digitally connected. This means that macadamia nuts are traceable from smallholder farms to international B2B customers.
At LIMBUA, macadamia sourcing in rural Kenya is digitalized.
At LIMBUA, macadamia sourcing in rural Kenya is digitalized
Custom Software for Digital Processes and Certifications
The value chain – from sorting and cracking macadamia nuts to processing mangoes and avocados, packaging, and export – is digitally documented. LIMBUA uses proprietary software to manage procurement, processing, quality assurance, and certification. Certification processes for our organic and social standards are also digitized. This supports compliance with legal frameworks such as the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.
Thanks to this digital system, more than 9,000 smallholder farmers gain access to international buyers. They are integrated into value creation, receive reliable payment, and can improve their livelihoods. Over 5,000 hectares of farmland have been converted to organic farming. Our approach is not only sustainability-oriented, but also applicable in other contexts – digital, decentralized, and people-centered.
Each harvest is assigned to a farmer using biometric identification
About the CSR Award of the German Federal Government
The CSR Award of the German Federal Government is a key element of the national CSR strategy. It aims to make responsible business conduct visible and to encourage companies to align economic goals with social and environmental responsibility. Corporate social responsibility is understood as a voluntary contribution to sustainable development that goes beyond legal requirements.
In 2025, the CSR Award was presented in five categories:
- Good Business Practices
- Constructive Stakeholder Engagement
- Digital Tools for Transparent Supply Chains
- Effective Training and Education
- Climate & Biodiversity
The awarded initiatives show how companies can contribute to respect for human rights, environmental protection, and good governance along their supply and value chains.
The winners were selected by an independent expert jury.
State Secretary Lilian Tschan and Chairwoman of the CSR Prize 2025 jury. Photo: J. Konrad Schmidt
Conclusion on the CSR Award 2025
For us, the CSR Award is more than recognition – it acknowledges the entire network behind it: our committed teams in Kenya and Germany, our more than 9,000 contract smallholder farmers, and everyone who supports traceable, digital, and responsibly designed supply chains worldwide.
Through a combination of innovation, transparency, and values-driven leadership, LIMBUA shows how corporate responsibility can be put into practice.
We say thank you – and continue on this path.
Ready for export: key interfaces in the LIMBUA supply chain are digitally connected.
