Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

WAH INSECTICIDE The startup is into the production of an effective organic insecticide sourced from plant waste materials against insect pests. Thesis and pilot done attest to it's effectiveness. Target insects do not build resistance to it's treatment.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

ORGANICALS INNOVATIVE ENTERPRISE is an emerging enterprise into the production of organic insecticide named WAH INSECTICIDE. The enterprise hopes to become the leading producer of an effective organic insecticide worldwide. This Insecticide was birth from ten years academic research from the University for Development Studies (UDS). This enterprise with his product has won both local (UDS VC AWARDS ON BUSINESS INNOVATION-2020) and international (AGEA-African German Entrepreneurship Awards -first jury award-2022) awards, which give it's the credent and recognition in the face of business acumen. The project has been piloted by a professor of agronomy and entomologist of UDS, whose final report attest to the effectiveness of WAH INSECTICIDE against fall armyworms and other insect pests on the farms. There have been series of engagement with the local farmers to exhibit and sell the products to them. The startup hopes to be the preferred choice of organic products in Africa and worldwide.

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

No one wants destruction to ravage their food. Neither do we; The invasive fall armyworm poses significant threats to maize production in Ghana, hence a great worry to Governments, businesses, and the international community. Insecticide resistance, pest resurgence, toxic residues in food, water, air, and soil, as well as the eradication of natural enemies and ecosystem destruction have all resulted from the widespread use of synthetic chemical insecticides due to the widespread of fall armyworm invasion. In Ghana fall armyworms devastated 4,500 hectares of cropland in 2016 and in another report, it destroyed 1,370 hectares of maize, cowpea and cocoa fields (Gakpo, 2017). Insect pest attacks have been one of the major causes of famine that the world especially Africa has experienced from time immemorial.

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

WAH insecticide is lethal to insect pest (fall armyworms, FAW). The target insects do not build resistance against the product. The effectiveness has been proven both in the laboratory and on the field. Laboratory trials to test the toxicity proved the product to be environmentally friendly. Several fruitful demonstrations have been conducted with farmers. Environmentally friendly product Protects plants for a longer period Equally effective compared to chemical insecticides

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

1. Individual crop farmers. 2/ Corporate farmers 3. Pest Control Agents or Agencies 4. Government institutions like Ministry of Food and Agriculture. 5. Non-Governmental organizations into pest control and food security.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-01-17

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

3

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

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

Dr. Lydia Quansah Biotechnologist, Plant Metabolomics, Functional Foods, Seed Technology, Abiotic Stress and Post Harvest. Dr. Zarouk Imoro Abubakari Environmental Technologies and Microbiologist Dr. Richard N. Yeboah Business developer, Business advisor and Economist

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

https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile

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

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

WAH Insecticide main aim is to control insect pest attacks on farm, which causes reduction in harvested crops and hence, contribute to the poverty levels in the country. This startup with its product ensures that crops are adequately protected from insect pest attacks and farmers are able to harvest the right number of bags at the end of the farming season.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

The startup ensures that, its products and activities contribute to Zero Hunger. The product enables farmers to harvest the right number of bags of crops per hectares at the end of the farming to feed the populace of the country. This ensures adequate food security all year round for the people of the country. Its activities such as engagement with local farmers through farm demonstration ensure that farmers practice organic farming which is geared towards sustainable agriculture.

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

6

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

The organic nature of the insecticide ensures that individuals that use the insecticide to sprays or individuals that come into contact with the insecticide after spray do not have adverse effects when inhaled or when its comes into contact with the skin. Individuals with asthma, inhaling problems and allergies with the skin are safe with the use of WAH Insecticides.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

The startup ensures inclusive, equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The startup educational mandate ensures that underprivileged individuals, women, able youth and men are included in quality education on organic farming as customers are beginning to be conscious of their health and hence their reliance on organic products. The startup ensures that its educational program is sustainable and create opportunities for ages during the lifetime of the business

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

My startup already engaged females to achieve gender equality by including females in all activities of production-collection of seeds, pretreatment, processing, packaging and transporting to various point of sale of insecticides. The startup also has one female co-founder who joins in the decision making of running the business.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

The startup ensures that its product WAH Insecticide does not pollute nearby water bodies and does not build toxic residues in the aquatic organisms. This also ensures that there is clean water for all individuals to drink. The startup sourced its raw materials form plant wastes which have become a havoc on the environment as a resource to synthesize insecticides. This initiative ensures that sanitation is kept on the environment for all.

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

We do agree to this, but currently not reach the stage of implementation as a startup.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

We do agree to this, but currently not reach the stage of implementation as a startup.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

We foster innovation as a startup. We do agree to building resilient infrastructure but, currently not reach the stage of implementation as a startup.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

We do agree to this, but currently not reach the stage of implementation as a 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

We do agree to this, but currently not reach the stage of implementation as a 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

We agree to this, as our startup operate on the basis of circular economy.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes to this by making a resource out of waste on the environment. Planting of more trees for raw materials, which will contribute to climate action in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

The startup product ensures that there is no buildup of toxic residues in the water which will affect the aquatic organisms therein.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Our startup contributes to this by making a resource out of waste on the environment. Planting of more trees for raw materials, which will contribute to the protection of biodiversity on land.

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

We agree and believe that peace, justice and strong institutions are prerequisite for a business to operate well.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

We believe that partnership brings like-minds together with the expertise and resources to achieve a common goal.

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

6

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

The use of waste materials as a resource for production. An effective organic insecticide which has similar potency with the chemical insecticide and has an added advantage of environmental friendliness.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

WAH Insecticide - Produces organic insecticides which are effective in controlling fall armyworms. - Skilled researcher - The dosage rate is determined. - Organic market is growing OFA (Organic Farming Aid) - Insects can develop resistance to the product - No determination of dosage rate Ntiligira Ent - Insects can develop resistance to the product - Limited branding - Far from the farmers

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