Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Prevado oils is a company that aims to add value to the avocado fruits that do not meet the pack house and export standards. We aim to extract oil from avocado fruits for local and international markets while recycling our byproducts for sustainability.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

In 2019, I saw my grandma cut down five of her avocado trees because her produce got wasted yearly. This sent me to doing my research surrounding avocado farming in Kenya. In 2024, the annual avocado waste statistics from my research and the fruit's benefits gave birth to the idea of avocado value addition by producing avocado oil by prevado oils. Prevado oils is a company that works with avocado small scale farmers who constitute 70% of avocado producers in Kenya. We work with farmers, by buying their avocados that do not meet the pack house and export standards, where we ripen the fruit and extract avocado oil. The avocado oil can be used in health, beauty and pharmaceutical industries. We are turning what would have been considered waste into value. We are committed to sustainability, minimization of food wastage and promotion of eco- friendly practices. We are turning green into gold for less avocado waste and more sustainable futures.

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

We are solving the problem of avocado wastage that as of 2023 stood close to 100,000T , which is a 30% annually. We are also addressing the underutilization of the avocado fruit where 70% of domestic consumers use the fruit for their food accompaniments. Addressing the unavailability of healthier, organic and natural raw products (avocado oils) that can be used to make other products for various consumers.

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

Prevado adds value to the avocado fruit by extracting oil, hence creating value and an income for everyone in supply chain that is the local farmers, suppliers, distributers, retailers and transportation sector. Prevado prides itself in extracting avocado oil that healthy, organic and natural for the health, beauty, flavour and pharmaceutical industries. We are also optimizing the avocado fruits to fully reaps it's benefits on its skin, seed and pulp.

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

Manufacturers and distributer systems who need avocado oil to manufacture other products and also distributed systems who distributes the avocado oil to the consumers. Small scale avocado farmers in the regions of Laikipia and it's environs.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2019-01-01

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

0

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.)

None at the moment

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

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073242581377&mibextid=ZbWKwL

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Agriculture

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Kenya and Africa at large has a 38.6% of its population living in severe poverty. This is mainly because of the economic instability and wage inequalities among other factors. This has really seen many, especially women struggle to feed their children and provide basic needs. Prevado seeks to work with the avocado small scale farmers who 60-70% of them are women therefore empowering them towards better lives and eradication of poverty.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Prevado is working towards zero hunger in Laikipia and it's environment through promoting sustainable agricultural practices, improving on agricultural productivity and reducing food wastage.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

We contribute to ensuring healthy lives and well being of all ages by producing a healthy, organic and natural products for local and international industries.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

When communities are empowered economically with a regular flow of income, they are able to afford basic needs which in turn give way for secondary needs like education.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Prevado oils does not discriminate against women workers in any way. Our aim is to contract small scale farmers where 70% of the agricultural workforce in Kenya , are women in the rural set ups. We believe in empowering women economically, as an empowered woman is an empowered society.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Prevado oils is committed to using and recycling the water that is used for cleaning of the avocado fruits, hence ensuring sanitation and sustainability. We also avail clean drinking water for the workers at the work place.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Prevado hopes to incorporate solar powered generators with inverters in case of power shortages or black outs. We would like to incorporate solar panels too, to power LED lighting systems in the facility / factory.

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

Prevado aims at creating decent jobs for farmers, workpersons at the factory and everyone in the value chain. We hope to pay our workers per the Kenya Central Organization of Trade Unions for economic growth.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Prevado aims to erect structures that are inclusive of persons with disabilities. This by ensuring our packing spaces, sanitations area and passby paths are inclusive in a way that is non discriminatory. We also aim to erect structures that help with the water waste management where we recycle the water especially the one used to wash avocados. We purpose to erect structures that help with waste management of our byproducts by repurposing waste products from avocado oil extraction.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Prevado aims to include all people irrespective of religion, gender, disability, regions or colour among other disparities.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Prevado oils will be committed to building sustainable cities and communities through; 1. Ensuring our avocados are organically grown 2. We commit to sourcing our avocados locally and also hiring locals hence creating job opportunities for communities. 3.Utilizing our byproducts by making briquettes for our boilers. Also making animal feeds from the byproducts. 4. Recycling and Reuse of water and other byproducts in the factory. 5.Use of renewable energy sources like solar panels for green energy. 6. Sustainability education to suppliers, employees, farmers and local communities about sustainability practices and importance of SDGs in the world today.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Prevado aims to ensure that the avocado fruit is responsibly consumed and fully optimized by ensuring no wastage whatsoever. In Kenya about 30% is (99000 T )of avocados go to waste yearly. We aim to reduce this wastage significantly. We also aim to use solar panels, renewable energy from the sun. We also aim to reuse / recycle our byproducts to make briquettes for our boilers and animal feeds with the remaining byproducts.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Prevado oils aims to comply with the climate action guidelines by buying avocados that have been organically grown, promoting sustainable agriculture and waste management by recycling our byproducts.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Prevado oils aims to work and source avocados from farmers who practice environmental friendly practices, like growing avocados organically. We aim to repurpose our avocado byproducts to make briquettes hence minimizing waste that could end up in the oceans. We also aim to package our products responsibly, using recyclable and ocean-friendly packaging hence reducing plastic pollution.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Prevado aims to buy avocados that have been organically grown. We pride ourselves in waste management practices where we recycle water and re-use it. We plan to source our avocados from regions where forests and ecosystems aren't being cleared for agricultural practices. We plan to hold educational trainings to farmers and sensitize while creating awareness on sustainability.

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

6

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Prevado oil aims adopt ethical business practices like maintaining transparency in all the business operations like sourcing, production and financial reporting. Implementing anti corruption policies to ensure all business dealings are done fairly and lawfully. We also purpose to give competitive and fair wages per COTU- Kenya workers Union guidelines. We aim to have a none discriminatory policy where everyone one feels part of prevado and is treated fairly. We aim to have conflicts resolution measures or guidelines like dialogues and mediation incase of conflicts between farmers, employees, suppliers or even community members.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Prevado aims to work with local, regional and national government bodies to align business practices with public policies as well as take part in policy-making processes. We aim to ensure sustainable sourcing agreements with suppliers and farmers that prioritize sustainable farming practices and ethical sourcing of avocados by suppliers. We hope to collaborate with industry Associations like the Avocado Society of Kenya. This will help in participating jointly in initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and responsible business practices within the sector. We aim to participate in global and regional networks that are into avocado dealership across the supply chain.

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

5

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

5

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

4

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

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

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

5

05.08 Justification

05:01 Avocado oil isn't new in the market, and its usage has been minimal in the recent past. However, due to the current health trend the oil is slowly an steadily becoming the oil of choice. 05:02 Avocado oil is not a new in the market but its usage has been so minimal. With the increase of a need for healthier alternatives the oil is slowly becoming the solution across various sectors. 05:03 The avocado oil is not a new technology ,but a lot of new products could be made and be considered one of its kind in the market. 05:04 We are adding value on the widely known avocado fruit by extracting oil therefore reducing food wastage. 05:05 Primarily, we envision making avocado oil from an already existing avocado fruit. 05:06: There is a trend where people are shifting towards healthy and natural products, hence avocado oil has been steadily gaining popularity. 05:07 Yes, avocado fruit has been in existence but under-utilized, hence we are trying to fully optimize on the avocado fruit.

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

Our main competitors are Kencado and Avodemia who extract avocado oil and export it. We different from the two because we contract our farmers for the raw materials, hence directly making a positive impact in the community and the women in agriculture. We are also aim to fully utilized the avocado fruit, from the oil to the repurposing of our byproducts and diversification of the products we can make from the avocado fruits, avocado oil and it's byproducts.

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

Yes. I am a teacher in a girl's school in Laikipia Kenya, and also the Patron of Young Farmer's Club in the same school. In these avenues am able to lead a discussions on things entrepreneurship and making positive impacts in their communities. We discuss things agriculture in kenya, the post harvest loses that have crippled the sector. Things recycling and environmental smart entrepreneurship solutions among others.