As one of Kenya’s leading producers of organically certified macadamia nuts, LIMBUA took part in the Macadamia Conference held in Embu. The event, organized by the AFA Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate (NOCD), is considered an important industry gathering for Kenya’s macadamia sector. It brings together farmers, processors, exporters, and policymakers to discuss current developments and future perspectives within the industry.
LIMBUA at the conference in Embu
Key Platform for the Macadamia Sector
For our LIMBUA team, participating in the conference was a valuable opportunity to maintain existing partnerships and establish new connections. Particularly important to us was the personal exchange with local farmers, fellow processors, and potential international partners. At the same time, we wanted to contribute to discussions around organic agriculture, traceability, and local processing within the sector.
Organic Production, Data, and Value Creation
The conference highlighted several important developments within the sector. One major focus was on organic production and climate resilience within the nut and oil crop industry.
The importance of data-driven decision-making was also emphasized, alongside the need for improved data collection and analysis to support industry development. These discussions touched on areas LIMBUA has been working on for years – including organic production and data-based collaboration with contract smallholder farmers.
Another key topic was the importance of stronger cooperation across the entire value chain – from farmers to exporters – in order to further develop market opportunities and infrastructure.
The expansion of local processing capacities was also discussed. It became clear that the Kenyan macadamia sector continues to work toward carrying out more processing steps within the country, supported by investments in infrastructure and processing facilities.
Expert talks on organic production, value creation, and traceability
Strong Interest in Traceability and Organic Certification
Conference visitors showed strong interest in our work around traceability and documented supply chains. Using our in-house developed software, we are able to document and track important processing steps and product movements – something many visitors at our booth found particularly interesting.
Our long-standing organic certification and close collaboration with thousands of smallholder farmers also received positive feedback. Many visitors were especially interested in our direct sourcing structures and relationships with farmers.
A Smallholder Farmer’s Perspective: Why Presence Matters
One conversation with a local macadamia farmer stood out to us. He explained that he finds it encouraging when processors like LIMBUA actively participate in industry events and help make Kenyan organic products more visible. For us, this was a strong reminder of how important direct exchange and presence within the sector remain.
The Macadamia Conference provided space for dialogue, new ideas, and discussions about the future development of the industry. We are already looking forward to the next conversations and to continuing the exchange within Kenya’s macadamia sector.
