Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Grainfields Ghana is a Ghanaian-based Agri-Food Startup that envisaged the production, aggregation and marketing of quality whole grain commodities in commercial quantities, locally and internationally.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Our mission is to facilitate the distribution and marketing of quality grain commodities within and outside Ghana using climate-smart production, and digital sourcing and marketing strategies. To achieve this, we would establish and manage commercial grain farms integrated with processing and warehousing facilities in the major grain-producing areas in Ghana, and develop a “Grain hub” to facilitate the distribution and marketing of grain commodities, both internally and externally by digitally sourcing highly demanded grain commodities from our operational farms and out-growers, and storing them at our warehouses/ distribution points situated close our operational farms. The processed and packaged commodities will be transported to stock our retail warehouses situated close to our internal customers. Wholesale distribution (for bulk purchases) to local and foreign customers will be made directly from our distribution points.

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

Grain cultivation in Ghana occurs mainly in the northern rural communities, where farmers are compelled to release their yields to the closest markets immediately after harvesting. This is usually not the best time to make the produce available, as the market becomes saturated, leading to drops in the prices of the commodities. Attempts by farmers to defer the release of their produce to the market mostly result in loss of parts or all their grains due to the lack of effective insect and grain moisture content monitoring on farms, lack of processing and storage facilities near the grain-producing communities, high cost of processing and ultimately poorly managed, and unreliable storage facilities. Moreover, customers from afar may have to travel over long distances to purchase the produce. This poses additional threats to the life of the customer. There is the need for proper handling and convenient distribution of grain commodities, bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.

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

Our customers, both internal and external can be assured of quality processing, safe storage and convenient distribution of grain commodities. Activities to be performed by Grainfields Ghana would require labour from the energetic populace, the business would in essence, contribute to the reduction of rural unemployment. Our massive scaling would contribute to global food security and to the achievement of SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate action) and 15 (life on land).

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

Our potential customers include local senior high schools, food vendors, households, grain processors (eg. in the brewery industry), out-growers (mostly smallholder grain farmers), poultry farmers etc., and external customers.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-06-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

NA

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

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

The business will save grain farmers from losing their produce after harvest, thereby saving their revenue.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Our solution will be saving food losses and making them easily accessible. We would contribute immensely to food security.

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 would contribute to good health and well-being by marketing quality and certified food produce to consumers.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We would provide free reliable, formal, and updated agronomic extension services to all our out growers to improve the productivity and quality of highly demanded grains through cutting-edge agronomic research.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Employment for field and office workers at Grainfields will be based on the applicant's technical know-how and no form of favoritism shall be given to an applicant of either gender.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

We would adhere to field production activities that eliminate or reduce to the barest minimum, water and environmental pollution. In essence, we will practice eco-friendly production and ensure that our out-growers practice same.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

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

This startup would employ workers with the technical know-how from across our operating areas. Our massive scaling also empowers smallholder farmers (out-growers) to produce more, thereby sustaining them within the value chain while encouraging others to join.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

We are inclined to adaptive transformation through climate-smart technologies, environmental integration, and conducive social engagement. This would help us to build a resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food venture. Our continuous learning practices towards evolving knowledge will also foster innovation.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

No form of racism shall be condoned in our operations. We shall treat equally, individuals with or without disabilities.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

We would employ safe food production and convenient distribution measures to ensure that the food produced by farmers does not go waste but rather get into the economy for utilization.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

We will ensure a secured production system using climate-smart technologies such as crop simulation for predicting crop adaptation and performance towards the changing climate and artificial intelligence and remote sensing for precision agriculture.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

5

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

4

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

4

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

5

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

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

Although the range of products we seek to provide are in existence, our delivery strategy is entirely new and would lessen the burden on existing customers.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Other grain producers, mostly smallholder grain farmers are our major potential competitors. Nonetheless, they are captured as potential suppliers in the business profile. Additionally, our massive scaling strategy and establishment of retail warehouses close to our customers would serve as a competitive advantage.

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