Key Takeaways:
- CityBlue Hotels has taken an equity position in Farm to Feed, a B2B platform that sources imperfect surplus produce directly from farmers.
- This partnership aims to increase farmers' income and reduce food loss, enhancing CityBlue's ESG credentials and supporting the impact investment focus of its parent company, The Diar Group.
- Farm to Feed's innovative approach addresses significant issues of food loss and market access for farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The initiative is seen as a model for other businesses to improve food security, sustainability, and climate impact through strategic investments and collaborations.
Strategic Partnership to Enhance Market Access and Reduce Food Loss
CityBlue Hotels, recognized as Africa’s fastest-growing local hotel chain, has announced a significant equity investment in Farm to Feed, a B2B platform dedicated to sourcing imperfect and surplus produce from local farmers. This partnership is aimed at tackling one of the most pressing problems in Sub-Saharan Africa: food loss, which can account for up to 50% of crop production failing to reach consumers. By providing a market for imperfect produce, CityBlue and Farm to Feed are directly increasing farmers' income and fighting food loss, a critical step towards sustainability in the region.
Farm to Feed: Setting New Standards in Food Sustainability
Founded by Claire van Enk, Farm to Feed is not only a commercial venture but a transformative platform that has set new standards for addressing climate issues related to food production and loss in Kenya. “I saw firsthand what farmers were not selling even when markets returned after COVID, and it is a huge devastation not only on food security but on the economy too,” said van Enk. The platform uses technology to pair on-the-ground aggregators with transportation solutions, such as freezer trucks, to provide a robust system for reducing food waste, which contributes to methane emissions—a potent greenhouse gas.
Enhancing Farming Practices and Creating a Circular Food System
Beyond just sourcing imperfect produce, Farm to Feed is actively collecting data on the drivers of food loss in order to enhance farming practices and foster a more circular food system. This approach not only mitigates environmental impact but also supports the development of more sustainable agricultural ecosystems in Kenya and potentially across Africa.
