Value creation at LIMBUA

At LIMBUA, macadamia trees are not grown in large-scale monocultures. Instead, they grow on the small, certified organic mixed farms of Kenyan smallholder farmers. Avocados, mangoes, coffee, bananas and many other crops grow alongside the macadamia trees. This creates diverse farming systems that provide families with different harvests for their own needs and for sale.

Cultivation follows the requirements of the relevant organic certification. Synthetic crop protection products and readily soluble mineral fertilisers are not used. Instead, the farms use compost, mulch and other inputs permitted in organic farming. Plant residues and fallen leaves also remain partly within the natural cycle of the farm.

In this way, organic mixed farming combines macadamia cultivation with the diversity of smallholder farms and provides the foundation for LIMBUA’s organic products.

Fair trade in organic raw materials is important. LIMBUA goes one step further: the harvests are not only purchased directly from smallholder farmers but are also processed in the region where they are grown.

At four production facilities at the foot of Mount Kenya, the raw materials are inspected, processed, packaged and prepared for export. This allows a significant share of the value creation to remain in the growing region. More than 900 jobs have been created in purchasing, processing, quality assurance, logistics and other areas of the company.

The close proximity of the farms and production facilities ensures short transport routes and a direct connection between cultivation and processing. Behind every product are not only high-quality organic raw materials, but also people who take responsibility for producing quality organic products locally.

Modern technology also plays an important role in LIMBUA’s direct cooperation with smallholder farmers. Participating farmers and the purchase of their harvests are recorded digitally. Once their produce has been accepted, they receive payment through the mobile payment system M-PESA. This establishes a direct business relationship with LIMBUA based on agreed prices and transparent terms.

Relevant information is digitally documented at every stage, from purchasing the harvest through processing to export. This makes it possible to trace the raw materials back to the farms where they were grown and to follow the subsequent processing steps.

For smallholder farmers, this means that their harvests are recorded individually and paid for directly. Business customers, in turn, receive reliable information about the origin, processing, quality and certification of their products.