Biogenic

In Tanzania, as in many other parts of the world, the effects of climate change are hitting hard. Rainfall patterns are shifting, leading to longer dry spells and heavier rains. This unpredictable weather makes it tough for farmers to grow their crops. It affects how plants grow and interact with the soil and other organisms. Adding to the challenge, the soil fertility in many areas is declining, and farmers aren't always using the best methods to grow their crops. All of these factors combined make it harder for small farmers to make ends meet and for people to have enough food to eat.

Experts warn that in the coming decades, we'll face an unprecedented demand for food. With the global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, we're going to need a lot more food than ever before. This means we need to find ways to produce more food without causing harm to the environment.

Currently, many farmers rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to boost crop yields and protect their crops from pests. However, these chemicals have long-lasting effects on our food and water sources. They also harm the environment, degrading soil health over time.

This reliance on chemicals presents a significant challenge for sustainable agriculture. Finding alternatives that promote soil health, reduce environmental harm, and ensure food security is crucial. Addressing these challenges requires innovative approaches that prioritise both human well-being and environmental sustainability. Biogenic is the solution.

FreshHarvest, produces biofertilizers branded as “Biogenic,” containing live microorganisms known to enhance soil fertility and stimulate plant growth. When applied to plant surfaces, seeds, roots, or soil, these bio-fertilisers colonise the rhizosphere and internal plant tissues, thus increasing the availability of nutrients and growth substances to the host crops.

Significantly, the utilization of biofertilizers presents a comprehensive approach to rehabilitating depleted ecosystems and landscapes. By advocating for the adoption of biofertilizers, our goal is to move away from unsustainable practices reliant on synthetic fertilizers, which contribute to soil degradation and environmental contamination. Instead, our strategy promotes the rejuvenation of soil health and biodiversity, leading to the revitalization of deteriorated landscapes.

Through the integration of landscape restoration and sustainable livelihoods, FreshHarvest endeavors to establish a positive feedback loop: as ecosystems regenerate, the economic prospects of smallholder farmers also improve. By empowering communities to embrace environmentally sound agricultural practices, we envisage a future where landscapes thrive, biodiversity flourishes, and communities experience enhanced livelihoods. By tackling the underlying causes of environmental degradation and poverty, FreshHarvest aims to generate enduring positive impacts on both the environment and the lives of Tanzanian smallholder farmers.

FreshHarvest targets small holders farmers in Tanzania, whose lives are most impacted by climate change and they often face significant challenges in sustaining there livelihoods.

Over 70% of small holders farmers in Tanzania rely on conventional agricultural practices that may not be sustainable in the long term. They often struggle with low soil fertility, inadequate access to quality inputs such as fertilizers, and vulnerability to pest and disease outbreaks.

Biogenic Biofertilizer will impact the lives of small holders farmers in Tanzania in several significant ways : 

Increased crop yields: Biogenic biofertilizers contain beneficial microorganisms that enhance soil fertility and promote plant growth. This leads to higher yields for smallholder farmers, translating into increased incomes and improved food security.

Reduced dependency on chemical fertilizers:  By using biogenic biofertilizers, farmers can reduce their reliance on synthetic chemicals, minimising environmental pollution and health risks associated with chemical fertilisers.

Improved soil health: Biogenic biofertilizers contribute to enhanced soil health by promoting microbial diversity and nutrient cycling. Healthy soils support better plant growth and resilience to environmental stresses such as drought and erosion.

Sustainable farming practices: Adopting biogenic biofertilizers encourages farmers to embrace sustainable farming practices. These practices prioritize soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience, ensuring the long-term sustainability of agricultural production systems.

Economic empowerment: Increased crop yields and reduced input costs resulting from the use of biogenic biofertilizers can significantly improve the economic status of smallholder farmers. This economic empowerment enables farmers to invest in their farms, access education and healthcare services, and improve their overall quality of life.

Community development: As smallholder farmers experience improved livelihoods and economic empowerment, the benefits extend beyond individual households to entire communities. Stronger agricultural economies can lead to job creation, infrastructure development, and enhanced social cohesion within rural communities.

I'm Sino, the guy behind FreshHarvest. You know, I wasn't always into agriculture. I grew up in the North Mara region of Tanzania, where my parents were smallholder farmers. As a kid, I spent a lot of time tagging along with them to the fields. While they worked the land, I'd often just play around or watch them in action. But as I got older, I started to realize something wasn't quite right.

Even after I went off to study medicine and became a doctor, I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to be done back on the farm. Every time I went home, I noticed that despite all the effort and fertilizer they used, the yields just weren't what they used to be. It got me thinking: what's going on with our soil?

After some digging (both literally and figuratively), I stumbled upon a crucial realization: our soil was getting tired. Years of chemical fertilizers had taken their toll, and it was affecting not just my parents' farm, but farms all over Tanzania.

That's when I knew I had to do something. With my background in biology and biochemistry, I teamed up with my colleague Miraji, who's an agronomist, and we started FreshHarvest. Our goal? To give our soil a second chance at life.

So here I am—a doctor turned soil doctor—on a mission to make a difference for both plants and people. And with FreshHarvest, I'm proud to say we're doing just that.

FreshHarvest has successfully developed and tested our flagship product, Biogenic. These biofertilizers, containing live microorganisms proven to enhance soil fertility and stimulate plant growth, have undergone rigorous testing in both laboratory and field settings to ensure their effectiveness and safety.

Throughout the testing phase, we collaborated closely with local farmers to gather feedback and fine-tune our products to meet their needs and preferences. This collaborative approach allowed us to tailor our biofertilizers to the specific soil and crop conditions prevalent in Tanzania, ensuring optimal performance in real-world farming scenarios.

To date, FreshHarvest has served over 450 smallholder farmers in Tanzania, with more than 5000 l of Biogenic, providing them with access to our Biogenic biofertilizers. These farmers have reported positive results, including increased crop yields, improved soil health, and reduced dependency on synthetic fertilizers. By directly engaging with and serving our customers, we have been able to validate the effectiveness of our products and build trust within the farming community.

Furthermore, FreshHarvest has conducted educational workshops and training sessions for farmers, empowering them with knowledge and skills to optimize their use of biofertilizers and adopt sustainable farming practices. These efforts have contributed to building capacity and fostering a culture of innovation and environmental stewardship among smallholder farmers in Tanzania.

We are applying to Solve because we believe in collaborative innovation to tackle pressing challenges. Solve's diverse network offers resources and connections crucial for scaling our impact. As a social enterprise dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers in Tanzania, we see Solve as an ideal platform to amplify our reach and accelerate growth. Our Biogenic biofertilizers offer sustainable solutions for agricultural practices and environmental conservation. By participating in Solve, we aim to access valuable insights and support to further develop and scale our initiatives, ultimately creating a more resilient and equitable future for farming communities.

Our solution, Biogenic biofertilizers, innovatively reduces chemical fertilizer use by 15-40%, boasts a long shelf life, and offers ease of production and application. By harnessing living microorganisms, our biofertilizers colonize the soil and plant interior, enhancing nutrient availability and promoting growth. This approach enables plants to independently absorb more nutrients, even those naturally present but previously inaccessible in insoluble forms. Beyond its immediate benefits, our solution catalyzes broader positive impacts. By reducing chemical fertilizer reliance, it mitigates environmental pollution and soil degradation while fostering organic crop production, vital for global competitiveness. Additionally, its ease of use and effectiveness could catalyze broader adoption among farmers, driving market shifts towards sustainable agriculture. Ultimately, our innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize agricultural practices, promoting environmental sustainability, food security, and economic resilience on a global scale.

Our solution, Biogenic biofertilizers, works like a natural booster for plants and soil. When applied to the soil or plants, these biofertilizers contain special microorganisms that help plants grow better by making important nutrients more available to them. This means that even if the soil has nutrients, the plants might not be able to use them effectively without these microorganisms. By using our biofertilizers, farmers can reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers, which can harm the environment and soil health. This not only helps the plants grow healthier and stronger but also protects the environment and makes farming more sustainable. Improved crop yields will enhance food security and increase incomes for smallholder farmers, lifting them out of poverty and improving their overall quality of life.

Our impact goals for Biogenic biofertilizers are:

1. Increase crop yields and food security for smallholder farmers: We aim to improve crop yields by at least 20% for smallholder farmers using our biofertilizers, thereby enhancing food security and income stability for farming communities.

2. Promote environmental sustainability: We aim to reduce chemical fertilizer use by 30% among farmers adopting our biofertilizers, leading to reduced environmental pollution, soil degradation, and water contamination.

3. Enhance soil health and biodiversity: We aim to improve soil health indicators, such as soil organic matter content and microbial diversity, by 25% within three years of biofertilizer application, contributing to long-term soil fertility and ecosystem resilience.

To measure our progress towards these impact goals, we employ a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics, including:

• Crop yield assessments: We conduct regular crop yield assessments in fields where our biofertilizers are used, comparing yields with control plots to determine the impact on productivity.
• Farmer surveys: We gather feedback from farmers on their experiences with our biofertilizers, including changes in crop yields, input costs, and environmental outcomes.
• Soil health assessments: We conduct soil health assessments before and after biofertilizer application, measuring indicators such as soil organic matter, nutrient levels, and microbial diversity.
• Environmental impact assessments: We track changes in chemical fertilizer use, water quality, and ecosystem health to assess the environmental impact of our biofertilizers.

Biogenic biofertilizers, lies in the formulation of live microorganisms carefully selected for their ability to enhance soil fertility and promote plant growth. These biofertilizers contain a diverse mix of beneficial bacteria and fungi that naturally occur in healthy soil ecosystems.

Our biofertilizers are produced using advanced fermentation and formulation techniques, where specific strains of microorganisms are cultured and concentrated into a stable, easy-to-use product. These microorganisms are selected based on their ability to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus, and produce growth-promoting substances such as hormones and enzymes.

Once applied to the soil or plant roots, the microorganisms in our biofertilizers colonize the rhizosphere and interior of the plant, forming symbiotic relationships that enhance nutrient uptake and stimulate growth. They work by breaking down organic matter, releasing nutrients in a form that plants can readily absorb, and suppressing soil-borne pathogens that can inhibit plant growth.

By leveraging the natural processes of soil microbiology, our solution offers a holistic and effective means of enhancing agricultural productivity while preserving environmental integrity.

4 Full time members 

2 part time members 

5 contractors

FreshHarvest was founded in 2021, and since then we have been working tirelessly to help farmers increase the productivity while protecting our planet.

At FreshHarvest, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just principles; they're fundamental aspects of our culture and operations. Our commitment to diversity is reflected in our leadership team, where our CEO, Miss Neema is a female leader who brings a wealth of experience and perspective to our organization. Furthermore, we actively engage with women in our production and supply chain, recognizing the invaluable contributions they make to our success.

We prioritize creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or background. We understand that diversity drives innovation and creativity, which is why we actively seek out and empower individuals from underrepresented groups. Our goal is not only to build a diverse team but also to foster an inclusive workplace where every voice is heard and respected.

In addition to our internal efforts, we also collaborate with external partners and organizations that share our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Together, we work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive society, both within our organization and in the communities we serve.

Our business model centers on providing value to smallholder farmers in Tanzania through the sale of Biogenic biofertilizers. As experts project a significant increase in global food demand, our solution addresses the critical need for sustainable agricultural practices to meet this demand while minimising environmental impact.

Operated on a Business-to-Business (B2B) basis, we sell Biogenic biofertilizers to farmers through a network of distributors. These distributors, comprising over 15 agrovet stores across various cities, serve as our distribution channels, ensuring widespread access to our product.

Our pricing strategy involves selling the biofertilizers to distributors at $3.7 USD per liter, with distributors reselling the product to farmers at $5.5 USD per liter. This pricing model accounts for the value-added services provided by distributors, including logistics, storage, and customer support.

Biogenic biofertilizers are concentrated, requiring farmers to mix 50mls of the product with 20 liters of water. Farmers can then apply the solution directly to the soil before planting and on the leaves after planting, following a 7-14 day interval.

we've already begun selling our Biogenic biofertilizers, generating $18,518 USD in revenue. Leveraging this momentum, we continue to focus on expanding our customer base, refining our distribution network, and enhancing product offerings. Through strategic partnerships with agrovet stores and exploration of additional revenue streams, such as service contracts and funding opportunities, we aim to further bolster our financial stability. As we remain open to securing investment capital, our commitment to delivering value, optimizing revenue streams, and prudent expense management ensures our long-term viability.