Namibia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We combine controlled environment farming with on-site power generation using biogas energy to grow fresh peppers and tomatoes on high tech greenhouses for local communities with desert conditions.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

We localize food supply in a desert region that have extraordinary market demand for basic vegetables by growing bell peppers and tomatoes in high tech greenhouses at large scale. By integrating high-tech Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) with on-site generation of combined power & heating (CPH) using biogas energy We are able to utilize unfavorable farmland to produce basic fresh vegetables with lower cost at a larger scale for local communities. The economics of generating heat and power with biogas CHP is favorable for high tech greenhouses where energy efficiency is a central feature. High tech greenhouses use precision farming and data analytics to reduce water usage and increase yield. Biogas CPH provide carbon saving benefits by utilizing the carbon dioxide from the power generator to stimulate further plant growth instead of purchase and import of carbon dioxide from other sources. This enables us offset power costs and produce high yields at lower costs than usual.

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

Physical and economic access of fresh basic vegetables is a challenge in desert locations where climate conditions and farmland are unfavorable for open land agriculture. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) solutions that address this problem face difficulties to scale-up and be impactful, the key challenge to overcome is high energy demands and cost of produce from a CEA to successfully be impactful for food security.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

1. Food retailers in these target regions obtain a consistent supply of fresh produce all year round. 2. Food retailers obtain produce with superior quality that exceeds supermarket standards 3. End consumers in local communities have access to a cost effective product

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

We targeting Food Retailers in desert regions that have extraordinary demand for bell peppers and tomatoes.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-04-06

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Asher Lesedi is the COO, her responsibility is executing the vision, making sure the company is operating as it should and meeting the CEO's expectations. She handles accounting, relationships and day-to-day process that make the company operate efficiently. She graduate in Bachelor of Economics and Public Administration. Maemo Rathedi is

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

https://web.facebook.com/mesindustries

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

We localize food supply in a desert region that have extraordinary market demand for basic vegetables

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

none

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

We provide equal work opportunities for competent female professionals

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

we use 76% less water in 1ha than open land growers and our precision farming has water reclamation systems

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

We make use of renewable energy with on-site power generation of biogas heating and power

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

We hire exceptional talent and experienced professionals in the field of engineering, agriculture and management

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

High tech greenhouses uses smart energy, precision farming and data analytics for efficient production

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

none

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

We believe every community is capable of growing its own food and we are changing desert communities from importing vegetables to producing in local regions

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

We use data analytics to harvest only products that go into sale and we cut produce lost during storage and transportation by 30%

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

CEA and CHP provide carbon saving benefits by utilizing the CO2 from the power generator to stimulate further plant growth instead of purchase and import of CO2 from other sources and produces methane which is good for the environment

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

none

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

none

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

none

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

none

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

6

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

5

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

2

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

5

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

4

05.08 Justification

we produce fresh peppers and tomatoes of superior quality from greenhouses, we use a technology that hasn't been adopted in local regions. We are combining on-site power generation with a high energy demand greenhouse to produce a product with lower cost parity.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Local Vegetable Farmers are operating at smaller scale and in unfavorable climate conditions. Foreign Export Farmers are large scale exporters but have to deal with expensive logistics and high rate of damage in perishing products We are better than because we can producing all year round on high tech greenhouses and we produce in areas that we sell to . We focus on producing superior products that exceeds supermarket standards.

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

I often seek to partner or co-found a company with a female expert