Zambia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our aim is to add value to trees and fight against deforestation through support to women in development of healthy oils for cooking & body care made from forest seeds, nuts, fruits. We use solar based and cold-pressed method to process oils.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

We produce forest seed-oils which are cold-pressed. Our focus is forest products and our aim to preserve the trees and local forest by adding value to their fruits, seeds, and nuts. These oils are suitable for consumption and cosmetic production. All oils which we produce are organic and have proven healthy benefits such as vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, Zinc), minerals, fatty acids, reducing cholesterol properties, anti-cancerous properties, moisturizing and anti-aging properties, and other wide range of health benefits. Based on community mapping we found at least 12 local species suitable for cold-pressed oil production. The most known species are: Schinziophyton rautanenii (mungongo / mongongo / booma / siambuimbui / manketti), Adonsonia digitata (baobab / mubuyu), Sclerocarya birrea (marula). We are located in Mukuni, near Livingstone, Southern Province of Zambia.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Deforestation and cutting down trees are the challenges we are trying to tackle through value addition to forest products to preserve and protect trees. Deforestation leaves local women, children, and youth vulnerable, especially those who doesn’t have access to income opportunities and relies on collection of forest products. Despite rapid deforestation, Zambia still has a plenty of forest production. The potential revenues from the natural asset base in Zambia could be USD 135.8 million/annum from forest products (non-timber based). However, the Forestry revenue between 2010 and 2017 was only USD 60,993,748 per annum (Snyman 2022). We are trying to actively contribute to forest protection, regeneration and sustainable management. Adding value to forest products which will generate economic benefits will prevent trees to be cut down and will contribute to the protection and regeneration of tree species.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Benefits and advantages: 1. Organic products - using forest products assures the organic quality (compared to agriculture products where chemical fertilizers are being used) 2. Health benefits - proven health benefits of forest oils in cosmetics (vitamin E, Zinc) and cooking (fatty acids, minerals) 3. Support to local women and community - by buying our products, vulnerable groups such as women and remote communities are able to make income, join the economic environment, and gain social benefits. 4. Active protection and support to the environment - by purchasing our products, the environment, local forest and indigenous tree species are protected and sustainable managed. We dedicate part of our profit to protection of local forest, we produce tree seedlings and plant trees, and we are involved in sustainable forest research.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The target market is export and/or international buyers/processors. Our aim is to earn significant income for the members of the Cooperative, being able to increase the membership, and support the local community with economic & social benefits. We aim to supply international cosmetic companies, specialized companies in salad oils, and any other company/processor interested in supply of forest oils, especially on the European and American market. Suitable customers of our oils are cosmetic processing companies who would like to add to their products healthy and organic oils. We can also supply companies who process dressing and salad oils to enhance the nutrition and taste of their product.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-09-26

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

11

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

10

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

The Cooperative was established by married couple Steven and Kamila Tembo. Steven Tembo is professional electrician (MCs under EIZ) and in charge of cooperative's technology (col-press machine, solar equipment, climate sensors, etc.). Kamila Tembo is forestry researcher and project manager at Mendel University in Brno. Steven and Kamila are in charge of management, training of cooperative and community members, bringing innovative concepts, marketing, etc. The Cooperative has currently 11 members who are local women who collect and process raw materials. The Executive boards is comprised of local women who occupy 5 positions (Chair, Vice-chair, Sec, Vice-Sec, Treasurer) and is elected annually.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557343960537

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

We ensure that the business generate economic and social benefits for vulnerable groups of society such as women and rural communities.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

By protecting trees, we also protect forest production (seeds, fruits, nuts) which is important part of diet and nutrition of many rural communities who depend on Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP).

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

We are producing organic and healthy cosmetic products for cooking and cosmetics. We offer alternatives to chemical food and cosmetics products. Our products also positively impact health of customers/users.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We train local communities in development and processing of products, usage of innovative technology, integrated farming, agroforestry, afforestation. We are conducting forestry research in cooperation with Mendel University in Brno, we cooperate with LIBES and Victoria Falls University of Technology in Livingstone (internship opportunities for students).

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

We promote gender equality by empowering local women why rely on collection of non-wood forest products (NWFP). Local women usually does not have access to employment opportunities and/or generate income. We provide them with both as they sell raw materials to the cooperative and participate on processing of products and generate income from sales as well.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

We promote usage of green energy and innovative technologies such as solar energy. Our techlonogy and processing plant is solar-power based. By-products which we create during processing of propduction, is also used as alternative energy within the community (shelves of nuts are used as firewood which prevents cutting trees).

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

We provide employment and income opportunities to cooperative and community members. We are registered as Cooperative to ensure economic growth in the whole community and we aim to grew membership as the business grow.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

We are promoting col-pressing methods to process oils suitable for various industries. We are using innovative technologies such as solar technology, climate sensors, etc.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Our goal is to produce responsible products towards people's health and protection of the environment.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Our business positively impacts the environment and we actively contribute towards fights against climate change through adding value to trees, regeneration and sustainable management of local forest and indigenous tree species.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

5

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our forest based products are not well known at the market. However these products offers healthier alternatives to chemical products. Some cosmetic companies started using forest oils in their products.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

A small/medium scale production of forest oils is emerging, commercial productions are scarce in Zambia. We are the only processing plant of cold-pressed seed-oils in Mukuni chiefdom. The nearest competitors are Ehemp in Senkobo and Yumi Milling in Choma. However, these companies press only mongongo oil (Schinziophyton rautanenii) and do not focus on other forest oils. They sell to bulk buyers such as Kalahari Natural Oils and/or to small local processors. There is no company/processor who exports forest oils from Zambia to international markets. There was found a company DLG Naturals who exports from Botswana. Based on discussions with the Provincial Forestry Department of Southern Province in Zambia, some women groups are active seasonally in collection/harvest and selling of forest products (especially S. rautanenii) to buyers/processors but there is no organized market.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, our cooperative is women-based and all members of the cooperative are trained in business skills (for example through program AWE/WEAC)