Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Cpis fertilizer is a farm input utilising circular economy principles to transform organic waste to fertilizer. The process of manufacturing this product encourages environmental conservation, prudent use of natural resources and gender inclusion.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Cpis fertilizer is a startup specializing in production of organic fertilizer through integrated organic waste management. We collect, sort, clean, dry and mill a mixture of coffee pulps, banana peels and egg shells. In doing so, we decongest landfills, impact lives by clean environment, and offering CPIS fertilizer to farmers in their locality, processed using local resources and containing Nitrogen, Phosporus and Potassium -a combination well associated with crop growth and improved agricultural yields. CPIS fertilizer encourages women and youth participation in agribusiness by incorporating youth groups, women cooperatives and groups who are deeply entrenched in waste collection and sorting. Our operations is driven by our vision to transform organic waste to a valuable, accessible, affordable and accesible farm input. While at it , conserving the environment and bringing sustainable agricultural enterprises.

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

Organic waste disposal culture has resulted in congested landfills posing environmetal, health and sustainability risks. The disposed organic waste tend to leach toxins into the soils putting the future of soil health under immense pressure. The largest percentage of municipal solid waste is organic. Organic waste accounts for 57% of the total municipal solid waste. CPIS fertilizer utilizes the circular economy business model with an objective of reducing and recycling waste from the environment. This greatly reduces the environmental, health and social risks associated with free dumping of waste and management of landfills. Agricultural production has been declining. This has been attributed to the conventional farming practices leaving the land bare and degrading the existing productive land. The call for regenerative agriculture sits well with our product. CPIS fertilizer becomes part of the soil cover and will assist in building up resilient soils in the wake of climate change.

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

CPIS fertilizer presents several benefits. Improved agricultural production. CPIS fertilizer is composed of essential nutrients necessary to boost crop production and health. Conserve environment. Our process reclaims waste eliminating the environmental risks. Gender and youth inclusion Women and yiuths form the core of our business operations in waste collection and sorting. Financial inclusivity. CPIS fertilizer has an integrated system that offer product financing options to small scale farmers. Sustainability. CPIS fertilizer will highlight the triple bottom sustainability index by conserving the environment, generating more income from farming and improving social and economic wellbeing of the communities. Scalability of CPIS fertilizer Our product impact can be scaled to other regions with similar requirements and so is the culture of integrated solid waste management.

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

CPIS fertilizer consumer journey map. 1. Farmers who would like to reduce their carbon footprints. 2. Farmers left out of the NCPB distribution quota. 3. Farmers seeking for a fertilizer available locally. 4. Farmers who are seeking for financing options. 5. Farmers who have fallen victims of adultered fertilizer. 6. Communities at the risk of environment and health implications due to unsustainable disposal of organic waste. 7. Communities who are conscious about what they eat and they prefer organicaaly grown farm produce. 8. Farmers willing to venture into agribusiness with a promise of improved yields.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-02-04

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.)

Founder - Generius Kimaru Background in environmetal conservation , have participated in activities meant to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Was part of the team that wrote proposals to move Kenya from single use plastics in 2013. He was awarded Bayer Young Environmental Envoy in 2013. Generius is trained in entrepreneurship development, financial management and controls in a business. He holds community interests at heart and motivated for the common good. He is a great advocate of sustainability - he has an ESG certification. Njoki Lucy - FEMALE FOUNDER Has a background in horticulture and spends most of her time in farms advising farmers on the soil , farm inputs and recird keeping.

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

https://maps.app.goo.gl/b5Hsxs7W5TRMDTFu9

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

Improved agricultural yields, converts landfills into feasible use, engage women and youths, train on waste management and creating revenue streams in agriculture.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Improved agricultural production. Converting waste to valuable farm fertilizer.

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

Restore landfills Conserve environment Convert waste into farm inputs. organically grown foods are healthy. clean environment eliminates public health risks. Good air quality

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Disburse training on integrated solid waste management. Create clean environment for education. make good use of organic waste from schools and institutions to cut off bad oduor.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Encourages women participation in the integrated solid waste management. Involve girls and women in waste mamagement trainings. Create revenue streams for women and girls owned groups supporting the organic waste management and environmental cleanups

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Maximises on the use of rain and river water for our processing plants. Remove organic waste from the environment which can tamper with water quality flowing in rivers, and leaked pipes. Clean environment means better sanitation. dispatch knowledge on waste management improves public knowledge on personal hygiene.

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 substitute fossil fuels with solar energy. Our plant will incorporate solar driers to dry our organic waste.

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

Cpis fertilizer will offer partnerships to locals as distribitors, agents , and make them part of waste collection. CPIS fertilizer presents an opportunity for agribusiness entrerprising and macroeconomic growth.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

CPIS fertilizer is built from innovative ideas towards addressing the growing needs for sustainable development. By tapping into the circular economic model to integrated waste management, CPIS fertilizer displays the resolve to offer innovative solutions to waste management, value addition, while embracing social , economic, and environmental development matrix. By deploying better use of natural resources, engaging gender inclusivity and designing flexible financing options, CPIS fertilizer addresses product unique features and innovation.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

CPIS fertilizer spreads reach to all income earning groups by designing financial inclusion. CPIS fertilizer involves women and youth in their production process grounding our resolve to gender inclusion.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

CPIS fertilizer contributes towards sustainable cities through our integrated solid waste management. By deploying our team to handle waste, and training communities on waste management and the value in waste, CPIS greatly impacts on the sustainability culture. CPIS fertilizer aims at developing communities by impacting agricultural production, sourcing raw materials locally, offering employment to the locals and improving revenue streams from agricultural activities.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

CPIS fertilizer production conforms with the culture of responsible production. We have incorporated measures to ensure better use of natural resources, picking raw materials locally , involving local groups of women and youths, deploying solar driers replacing fossil fuel energy sources and harvesting rainwater display our commitment to responsible production. Our product is packaged in reusable bags and we encourage our consumers to store their homestead organic waste in pur packagng bags. This eliminates our contribution to waste while consuming our products. Through training and best practices in waste management, CPIS fertilizer is driving a culture of responsibility towards our environment.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

CPIS fertilizer joins in the fight to combat climate change and its impacts. Our product raw materials are obtained from organic waste. The disposal of trhe waste contributes to accelerated climate change effects. Our process involves the use of locally obtained raw materials contributing to reduced carbon footprints. Our process contribute to the goal towards net zero agriculture. By avoiding pollutants , CPIS fertilizer greatly reduces emissions. We deploy solar energy. We reuse our packaging bags

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Solid waste ends up in water affects the oxygen levels and is a threat to the life below water. This may result to competition of the available resources. When chemical farm inputs are eroded to water bodies, the vegetative life inhibits the aquatic life. Our product is organic and exonerated from such effects. Reusing our packaging bags eliminates the chances of their being emptied into water bodies. There is a growing volume of solid waste in the water bodies which poses a threat and results into a very expensive affair in cleanups.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

CPIS fertilizer improves food security CPIS fertilizer leads to improved revenue streams CPIS fertilizer contributes to a clean environment.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

CPIS fertilizer promotes peace, justice and strong institutions by reflecting these values to the communities that we serve. By incorporating measures such as local impact, better use of natural resources, involving local groups and gender inclusion, CPIS fertilizer cultivates a culture of sustanable development and a greater sense of accountability towards the environment and the community.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

CPIS fertilizer delivers our mandate through collaboration and partneships. We partner with the local community, women and youth groups, institutions, training enablers , farmers , financing institutions to deliver our vision. Strategic partnerships-CPIS fertilizer has strategic partnerships with research institutions such as Kenya Agricultural and livestock research organizations, Youth led CBO'S ,Saccos and Chamas from women groups , and the community members.

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

CPIS fertilizer is made uniquelly from organic waste collected from landfills , homesteads and market centres. The idea is an innovative way to solve critical problems related to waste disposal, harm to the environment, agricultural productivity and realizing the value in waste. By recycling waste into a valuable farm input, CPIS fertilizer demonstrates how the circular economy applied in integrated waste management can turn around agribusiness, environment , social and economic welfare of the community. Our prodution process makes use of natural resources in a unique manner which contributes to reduced carbon footprints. We source raw materials locally reducing the need to transport the product which could otherwise cause further environmental harm through emissions. At CPIS fertilizer, we pride in the general welfare of the society and takes pride in contributing towards sustainable agriculture driven by the net zero future in agriculture.

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

My main competition is from NCPB - The National Cereals and Produce Board. They distribute CAN and DAP fertilizer to farmers. Their product is chemical based and imported. At CPIS fertilizer , we utilise local resources to produce the fertilizer. Our raw materials are sourced locally, and while NCPB relies on imports and fall short on demand, CPIS fertilizer applies sustainable demand and supply logistics to deliver our product to farmers. Our pricing model ensures inclusion where we extend flexible financing options to our customers. Our product comes with multiple benefits from conserving the environment, using local materials, empowering local communities through waste management trainings, engaging youths and women in our value chain and offering and generally actializing the net zero future in agriculture.

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

yes. Supporting environmental cleanups and planting of trees. Working with a female co-founder supporting and financing secondary school education of a bright but needy student in our locality through an alumni association that I chair.