NjordFrey Aquaponics Starter Kit to Empower Smallholder Farmers

In Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Rwanda, smallholder farmers face significant challenges in sustainable agriculture due to harsh climatic conditions, inadequate resources, and economic constraints. Approximately 2 million of Rwanda’s farmers, primarily women, grapple with poverty, with incomes averaging below $125 per year, while 35% of children under five suffer from malnutrition.

These farmers confront several critical barriers:

1. High Capital Costs and Lack of Finance: High-yield agricultural solutions are financially out of reach for many, with local banks demanding 150% collateral and imposing steep interest rates of 18%, creating a significant entry barrier.
2. Seasonal Water Scarcity: Reliance on rainfall and fertile soil is difficult in a region where droughts are frequent, and water resources are scarce, often leading to just two agricultural seasons per year.
3. Market Access Limitations: Geographic isolation restricts farmers’ access to broader, more lucrative markets, confining sales to local areas and preventing income growth.
4. Dependency on Inefficient Agricultural Methods: The prevalent use of traditional soil farming techniques results in low yield and inefficiency, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and undernutrition.

These problems are compounded by global environmental changes, such as increased temperatures and altered rainfall patterns, which further threaten the traditional agricultural calendar and water availability, essential for conventional farming practices.

This situation represents a critical and widespread challenge, affecting millions of farmers (50m smallholders across SSA) who depend on agriculture not just for food but as a primary source of income. 

NjordFrey's solution is a sustainable, high-yield aquaponic system designed specifically for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our system integrates fish farming (aquaculture) with vegetable and herb production (hydroponics) in a closed-loop system that is both water-efficient and space-saving.

How it Works:

Our aquaponic system works by symbiotically linking fish and plant production:

• Fish Production: Fish are raised in tanks, where they produce effluent/waste materials.
• Natural Filtration: This waste, high in nutrients, is pumped into a filtration system where it is broken down by bacteria into nitrites and then nitrates.
• Plant Nourishment: The water, now rich in nitrates, is circulated through hydroponic beds where it acts as a natural fertiliser for the plants and increases growth up to 30%.
• Water Recycling: The plants absorb the nutrients, purify the water, which is then recirculated back to the fish tanks, which keeps the fish happy.

This cyclical system dramatically reduces the need for water and fertilisers, using up to 95% less water than traditional agriculture. It eliminates the need for soil, making it ideal for arid regions with poor soil quality.

Technology Used:

1. Digital Farm Monitoring System: Our aquaponic systems are equipped with an array of non-invasive sensors that monitor various parameters crucial to the health of the system, such as water quality, nutrient levels, and plant health. This data is fed into a central analysis unit to optimise conditions and predict potential issues before they become critical.
2. Remote Management Software: NjordFrey uses real-time data through our central platform, allowing us to monitor farms from anywhere. This allows us to share guidance guidance, alerts, and simplified recommendations to farmers maximise productivity and ensure system stability.
3. Sustainable Design: The systems are designed to be built using locally sourced materials and can be assembled on-site. This not only supports local economies but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with the transport of materials.

Implementation:

NjordFrey's aquaponic kits are scalable and can be adapted for various scales— from small family units to larger commercial operations. Each kit includes setup, initial training, and ongoing support via our digital platform, ensuring that even farmers with limited technical skills can successfully operate and maintain their systems. The technology is packaged up in a partner credit model that allows farmers to get access to credit and repay the capital loan within 2-4 years via the increased sales of fish and crops. This in turn removes the financial barriers to entry. The diagram attached shows a visual representation of this partner model.

Impact:

By implementing our system, farmers can produce significantly more food than traditional methods allow; up to 3000% more fish and 700% more vegetables. This increase in productivity leads to 10x increase in income for farmers and improved nutritional outcomes for communities.

Our solution empowers farmers (majority female) to overcome the limitations of traditional agriculture, offering a resilient, productive, and sustainable way to farm that can be replicated across different regions, transforming the agricultural landscape of Sub-Saharan Africa.

NjordFrey's solution is specifically designed to serve smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a primary focus on Rwanda (our base location). This group includes around 2 million farmers in Rwanda and extends to approximately 50 million across the region. The majority of these farmers are women, who are often the most economically disadvantaged/underserved in terms of access to innovative technologies and financial services.

How Farmers are Currently Underserved:

1. Economic Vulnerability: Many smallholder farmers live below the poverty line, with average earnings of ~$125 per year. This economic situation is exacerbated by limited access to profitable markets and the high costs associated with transitioning to more productive farming methods.
2. Agricultural Limitations: Farmers are heavily reliant on traditional farming techniques that depend on seasonal rainfall and fertile soil; resources that are increasingly scarce due to environmental degradation (Rwanda is experience 40% land erosion) and climate change. This results in low yield and productivity, confining farmers to a cycle of subsistence farming with minimal economic growth.
3. Access to Technology and Finance: High upfront costs for innovative technologies and stringent loan conditions (such as the requirement for 150% collateral and high interest rates) prevent these farmers from adopting more efficient agricultural systems. Additionally, the geographical isolation of many smallholder farmers limits their access to such technologies and the training needed to implement them.

How NjordFrey's Solution Addresses these Needs:

1. Increasing Agricultural Productivity: By introducing aquaponics, a system that yields up to 3000% more fish and 700% more vegetables than traditional methods, farmers can drastically increase their food production and, consequently, their income. This shift from subsistence to surplus farming enables farmers to engage more effectively in local and regional markets. 

2. Reducing Dependency on Unreliable Agricultural Resources: Our systems do not rely on soil quality or rainfall, making them particularly suited to arid regions and areas with degraded soils. Using 95% less water than conventional farming methods also means our solution is sustainable in areas facing water scarcity.

3. Facilitating Access to Technology and Financial Services: NjordFrey collaborates with development banks/financial institutions to implement an partner credit model, reducing financial barriers and providing the necessary capital to adopt these high-yield systems. This also solves a problem for financial institutions who are looking for a secure pipeline of climate and social related projects. The significant increase in production and in turn revenue is what allows the solution to be financially sustainable and all stakeholders to achieve their expected return.

4. Empowerment Through Training and Support: We provide comprehensive training and ongoing support powered by our Digital Farm Monitoring System, which ensures that even technologically inexperienced farmers can successfully manage their aquaponic systems. 

Impact on Farmers' Lives:

The implementation of NjordFrey's aquaponic systems will lead to significant improvements in the lives of smallholder farmers by increasing their food security, nutritional intake, and economic stability. With greater productivity and sustainable practices, farmers can improve their living standards, achieve better health outcomes, and secure a more prosperous future for themselves and their families.

NjordFrey's leadership and team structure uniquely position us to deliver our aquaponic farming solutions effectively to smallholder farmers in Rwanda and across Sub-Saharan Africa. Our co-founders, Lars Hededam and Faisal Razzaq, have deep roots and extensive experience in the region, which is crucial for understanding and addressing the local agricultural challenges.

Proximity to the Communities:

• Local Integration: Since 2015, Lars has been living in Rwanda, immersing himself in the local culture and economic conditions. This long-term presence has allowed him to develop a profound understanding of the challenges and needs of Rwandan farmers and the supply chain overall.
• Local Team Expertise: Our in country team, entirely composed of resident professionals, ensures that our operations are closely aligned with local practices and expectations. Florence Uwinema, our Team Lead, reflecting our commitment to local leadership and expertise. Ronald Mhona, our Farm Officer, brings specific aquaponics experience from across SSA, ensuring that our agricultural practices are optimised for local conditions.
• Community Engagement: The design and implementation of our solutions are heavily guided by direct feedback from the communities we serve. Our approach involves regular engagement through workshops, +400 detailed surveys, and pilot programs that allow us to gather insights directly from the farmers. This ongoing dialogue ensures that our solutions are not only technically sound but also culturally and practically relevant.

Guidance by Community Input:

• Tailored Solutions: The feedback mechanisms we have established, such as community workshops and pilot testing feedback sessions e.g., we recently had 50 user trials on our MVP farm, directly influence the development and refinement of our systems. For example, adjustments in system design to accommodate local crop preferences and the integration of simple, user-friendly technology interfaces have come directly from user suggestions.
• Collaborative Approach: We prioritise community-driven agendas in our project planning and execution. This is evident in our cooperative partner model, where farmer groups play a critical role in decision-making processes, ensuring that the implementation of our systems aligns with their economic and social priorities.

Strategic Partnerships and Advisory Support:

• Local and International Support: Our advisory board, which includes experts from related fields and regions, provides strategic guidance that enhances our operational and cultural competence. Partnerships with local NGOs (Save the Children), international agencies and Universities (Edinburgh Napier, Cornell, RICA and others) ensure that our deployment strategies are robust and sustainable.

The combination of Lars and Faisal’s strategic oversight (informed by decades of international experience), grounded in substantial regional experience, alongside a local team that embodies the community’s characteristics and aspirations, ensures that NjordFrey is exceptionally well-positioned to deliver this solution. By leveraging local knowledge, fostering community engagement, and aligning our goals with those of the farmers, NjordFrey is not just implementing a solution but advancing a community-led technology leap in sustainable agriculture.

NjordFrey has actively progressed from concept to operational implementation with a focus on refining and expanding our aquaponic farming systems. Our accomplishments to date include the development, testing, and deployment of our innovative aquaponic systems (demonstrated by our MVP farm in Eastern Kayonza), which have been tailored specifically to meet the needs of smallholder farmers in Rwanda.

Development and Testing:

• Aquaponic System Development: We have designed and built locally applicable aquaponic systems that integrate fish farming with crop production in a closed-loop, water-conserving and nutrient-recycling system. Our systems are uniquely engineered to operate with minimal water usage, reducing the water requirement by up to 95% compared to traditional farming methods.
• Digital Farm Monitoring System: We developed a comprehensive monitoring system equipped with sensors that track water quality, plant health, and overall system efficiency. This technology allows for monitoring and management, ensuring optimal conditions for plant and fish growth.

Pilot Implementation:

• Initial Pilot Testing: We built Rwanda's first commercial aquaponic farm in May 2022. This pilot successfully demonstrated the viability of our system, yielding significant increases in fish and vegetable production compared to traditional methods. The first year trial produced 1.5 tonnes of lettuce and 375kg of tilapia fish. Showcasing a 1800% increase in fish and 500% increase in crops compared to traditional farming via this MVP. 
• Expanded Field Testing: Following the success of the initial pilot, we expanded our testing phase to include new crops and fish in the system. We are currently running production trials and targeting 3000% increase in fish and 700% increase in crops (plus a greater variety of crops) and currently on track to achieve these in Q3 of 2024.

Scale and Impact

Our pilot to date has provided employment for 20 local farmers and ongoing training and awareness for 100's more. Our goal is to add 5 additional identical modules to the pilot to make up a standard 1ha farm, which will be our standard offering and then push to scale across the region. We are targeting 2000 farms within +5 years which will impact a minimum of 100,000 farmers and their 400,000 family members.

Community Engagement and Feedback:

• Farmer Training and Support: We have conducted extensive training sessions for all participating farmers, providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to manage an aquaponic system. Ongoing support is facilitated through our digital platform and expert knowledge, which offers troubleshooting, advice, and optimisation strategies.
• Feedback Integration: Farmer feedback has been integral to our iterative design process. Adjustments such as system size modifications, integration of local crop varieties, and enhancements to system resilience have all been implemented in response to specific needs and suggestions from the users.

The proven effectiveness of our aquaponic systems in a real-world setting, coupled with positive feedback from farmers, underscores our capability and readiness to scale our operations. Our achievements so far demonstrate a strong foundation for future expansion and a lasting impact on food security and economic stability for smallholder farmers in Rwanda and potentially across Sub-Saharan Africa.

NjordFrey is applying to Solve because we believe that the partnership, resources, and network that MIT Solve provides can help us overcome several critical barriers that are currently limiting our ability to scale our innovative aquaponic farming solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa. These challenges span the following:

Financial Barriers:

• Capital for Scale: Despite proving the viability and impact of our systems in Rwanda, scaling up requires significant capital investment. We need funds to build more units, expand our team, and invest in the necessary infrastructure.
• Access to Flexible Financing: Many smallholder farmers struggle to access the financing needed to install our systems due to high local interest rates and stringent collateral requirements. Solve's network could connect us with funding partners who offer more suitable financial products or who are willing to invest in innovative agricultural technologies. In turn they can access an amazing pipeline of financially sustainable projects.

Technical Barriers:

• Advanced Technological Development: While we have developed a robust digital monitoring system, further enhancement is needed to integrate advanced predictive analytics and AI to improve yield predictions and system diagnostics.
• Technical Training and Support: Collaborations with Solve partners could provide tech/AI expertise and resources to enhance our capability and reach.

Market Barriers:

• Market Access: Entering new markets requires understanding local regulations, cultural norms, and establishing distribution networks. Solve can help connect us with local country partners, easing market entry and helping to navigate these complexities.
• Building Consumer Trust: In new regions, building trust in new technologies is always challenging. Solve partners can assist in advocacy and educational campaigns to increase awareness and acceptance of aquaponic systems.

Cultural Barriers:

• Adaptation to Local Practices: Our systems need to be culturally sensitive and adaptable to local farming practices and preferences. Engagement with cultural experts and local communities through Solve’s network could enhance our understanding and integration of these aspects.

We are particularly interested in the opportunities that Solve’s ecosystem offers for collaboration with like-minded innovators, potential investors, and experts in fields relevant to our mission. The exposure to a global audience and potential customers, along with the credibility that being a Solver team provides, could significantly accelerate our mission.

Through Solve, we aim to harness these opportunities to enhance our solution, expand our operational capacity, and ultimately increase our impact on the lives of smallholder farmers by providing them with sustainable, high-yield farming systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

NjordFrey's solution is innovative not only in its technology but also in its approach to addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Our aquaponic system offers a significant advancement over traditional farming methods, introducing a scalable, sustainable model that integrates modern technology with ecological practices.

Technological and System Innovation:

• Closed-Loop Aquaponic System: Unlike traditional agriculture that relies heavily on soil quality and rainfall, our aquaponic systems combine fish farming with hydroponic crop production in a symbiotic environment. This system recycles water and nutrients, using up to 95% less water than conventional farming, crucial in drought-prone areas. By producing both fish and vegetables, it diversifies income and nutrition sources for farmers (offering much needed protein), reducing risk and enhancing food security.
• Digital Farm Monitoring: Incorporating non-invasive sensors and a centralised data analysis unit, our system monitors critical parameters such as water quality, nutrient levels, and growth rates. This IoT technology enables precision farming, where conditions are optimised continuously, leading to higher yields and lower resource waste.

Market and Economic Innovation:

• Reduced Entry Barriers: Financial constraints often prevent smallholder farmers from adopting advanced agricultural technologies. Our business model, which groups a minimum of 40 farmers together and facilitates finance through an partner credit model, minimises these barriers. This approach, coupled with the high yield and low operating costs of our systems, makes our solution economically attractive and viable even for farmers with limited capital.
• Scalable and Flexible Design: The modular design of our systems allows for scalability with reduced per-unit costs. This adaptability ensures that our systems can be implemented in various settings, from remote rural areas to peri-urban environments.

Cultural and Social Innovation:

• Community-Centric Development: Our solution is developed in close collaboration with the communities it intends to serve. By engaging local farmers in the design and refinement process, we ensure that the technology is not only acceptable but also adapted to meet local needs and practices. This participatory approach fosters community ownership and increases the likelihood of successful adoption and sustained use.

Potential to Catalyse Broader Impacts:

• Model for Sustainable Agriculture: By demonstrating the viability of aquaponics in Sub-Saharan Africa, we can inspire and inform similar initiatives, potentially transforming agricultural practices in other resource-limited regions. 
• Influence on Market Dynamics: As aquaponic farming becomes more prevalent, it could drive changes in the agricultural market, promoting sustainability. 

Changing the Landscape:

• Environmental Impact: By reducing dependency on chemical fertilisers and pesticides and significantly lowering water use, our systems promote environmental sustainability, aligning with global goals to combat climate change. Our renewable solar power integration project will also look to reduce our farm carbon footprint.
• Economic Transformation: By significantly boosting farmers' incomes (10x) and productivity, our solution can uplift entire communities.

In conclusion, NjordFrey's innovative approach not only solves immediate agricultural challenges but also sets the stage for a sustainable transformation of the farming landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, paving the way for a more food-secure and resilient future.

Activities:

1. Deployment of Aquaponic Systems: We install high-yield, sustainable aquaponic systems that integrate fish farming and hydroponics in closed-loop setups.
2. Capacity Building and Training: We provide comprehensive training for smallholder farmers on how to operate and manage the aquaponic systems effectively.
3. Financial Facilitation: We collaborate with financial institutions to facilitate accessible financing options for farmers to afford the initial setup costs of the aquaponic systems (which is only possible due to our core product offering such high yields of production).
4. Monitoring and Support: Utilising our Digital Farm Monitoring System, we offer continuous monitoring, feedback, and technical support to optimise the systems' performance and ensure their sustainability.

Outputs:

1. Increased Agricultural Productivity: Our aquaponic systems, demonstrated through our pilot tests, significantly increase the yield of fish and vegetables; 2000% fish and 500% crops established and on track to achieve 3000% for fish and 700% for vegetables in our revised system, compared to traditional farming methods.
2. Enhanced Farmer Skills and Knowledge: Farmers receive hands-on training and continuous support, improving their agricultural practices and technical skills.
3. Improved Access to Capital: By partnering with financial institutions, we lower the barriers for farmers to access necessary capital, reducing the dependency on high-interest loans and stringent collateral requirements.
4. Sustained System Performance: Through real-time data monitoring, we ensure that the systems are running efficiently and any potential issues are addressed promptly, leading to sustained high performance.

Outcomes:

1. Economic Growth: The increased productivity directly translates to a 10x increase in income for farmers. This income uplift contributes to economic stability and poverty alleviation.
2. Food Security and Nutritional Improvement: With more reliable and diverse food production (fish protein and different new crops), the communities experience improved food security and enhanced dietary nutrition.
3. Environmental Sustainability: The use of aquaponic systems reduces water usage by 95% and eliminates the need for chemical fertilisers, contributing to environmental conservation and sustainability.

Evidence and Support for Links:

• Research on Aquaponics Efficacy: Studies, including those by universities, agricultural research institutes, development agencies like FAO, WFP and others demonstrate the efficiency of aquaponics in various environments, validating increased yield and resource efficiency.
• Pilot Program Results: Our initial implementation in Rwanda has shown a clear increase in productivity and farmer income, supported by our monitoring data.
• Feedback from Farmers: Through +400 surveys and interviews with participating farmers have highlighted a high level of satisfaction with  the usability of the systems and value addition, indicating a successful adaptation to their needs and conditions.
• Environmental Impact Studies: Independent assessments by FAO have confirmed the environmental benefits of aquaponics, particularly in terms of water conservation and reduction in agrochemical use.

Long-term Impact: 

By addressing the financial, educational, and technical needs of smallholder farmers, NjordFrey sets a foundation for sustainable agricultural practices that can be scaled and replicated. This not only transforms the lives of individual farmers and their communities but also sets a precedent for sustainable agriculture practices worldwide, which we are extremely excited to be part of.

Impact Goals:

1. Increase Income and Economic Stability of Smallholder Farmers: Our primary goal is to significantly enhance the economic well-being of farmers by increasing their agricultural productivity, which directly translates to increased income.
2. Improve Food Security and Nutritional Outcomes: By providing a sustainable method of food production that yields a diverse range of produce, we aim to improve food security and the nutritional health of communities all year round.
3. Promote Environmental Sustainability: Our systems are designed to be renewably powered, minimize water usage and eliminate the need for chemical fertilisers, thereby reducing environmental degradation and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Measuring Progress Towards Impact Goals:

To effectively measure our progress towards these impact goals monitor:

1. Economic Indicators:

   • Increase in Farmer Income: We measure the average increase in income per farmer after implementing our aquaponic systems compared to their baseline income. This data is collected through annual financial surveys conducted with participating farmers.
   • Return on Investment (ROI) for Farmers: We track the ROI for farmers, calculated based on the cost of the system against the increase in earnings over time. This helps assess the economic viability and attractiveness of our systems.

2. Agricultural Productivity Indicators:

   • Yield Per Cycle: We measure the quantity of fish and vegetables produced per cycle and compare it to traditional farming outputs in the same space. This indicator helps assess the effectiveness of our systems in enhancing agricultural productivity.
   • System Efficiency: Efficiency metrics such as water usage per unit of production and nutrient utilisation rates are monitored through our Digital Farm Monitoring System.

3. Nutritional and Food Security Indicators:

   • Diversity of Diet: We survey the types of food consumed by farmers' families before and after system installation to assess improvements in dietary diversity, a key aspect of nutritional health.
   • Frequency of Food Shortages: We measure the frequency of reported food shortages within the communities we serve, aiming for a significant reduction as our systems provide a stable, year-round supply of food.

4. Environmental Sustainability Indicators:

   • Water Savings: We calculate the volume of water saved by using our aquaponic systems compared to traditional water usage rates in agriculture.
   • Reduction in Chemical Inputs: We track the reduction in chemical fertilisers and pesticides used by farmers, aiming for a substantial decrease as our systems do not require these inputs.
   • Carbon Savings: through the use of renewable energy sources we measure the carbon saved compared to common fossil fuel alternatives. 

Data Collection and Analysis:

• Real-time Monitoring: Using sensors integrated into our aquaponic systems, we collect data continuously, allowing for real-time analysis and adjustments.
• Surveys and Interviews: Regular feedback from farmers through structured surveys and informal interviews provides qualitative insights.
• Third-party Evaluations: We collaborate with academic institutions and independent organisations to validate our findings.

By aligning our activities with these clear impact goals and measuring our progress through defined indicators, NjordFrey aims to ensure that our solution not only meets but exceeds the expectations for transformational impact on the lives of smallholder farmers.

NjordFrey’s core technology centres around an integrated aquaponic system, which merges the disciplines of aquaculture and hydroponics through a synergistic, water-efficient, closed-loop system. This modern approach is powered by several key technological components that enhance productivity, sustainability, and scalability.

1. Aquaponic System Technology:

• Closed-loop Water Recycling: Our aquaponic systems recycle water between fish tanks and soil-less grow beds. Fish waste provides natural fertiliser for the plants, which in turn purify the water that cycles back to the fish tanks. This system dramatically reduces water usage—up to 95% less than traditional farming methods—making it particularly effective in water-scarce regions.
• Modular System Design: The systems are modular, allowing them to be scaled up or down based on capacity. This modularity ensures that our technology can be implemented in a variety of settings.

2. Digital Farm Monitoring System:

• IoT Sensors: Integrated sensors continuously monitor critical parameters such as water quality (pH, nutrient levels, temperature), plant health, and fish health. This data is collected in real-time, enabling precise and proactive farm management.
• Data Analytics Platform: The sensor data feeds into a central analytics platform that will use machine learning algorithms to optimise growing conditions, predict potential issues before they arise, and provide actionable insights to farmers. This platform supports decision-making, enhances yield, and minimises resource waste.

3. Mobile Application:

• User Interface: Farmers will access our system through a simplified mobile application, which provides a user-friendly interface for system status, receiving alerts, and accessing educational content. This app will ensure that farmers can easily understand the system regardless of their technical background.
• Remote Support and Guidance: The app also connects farmers with our support team, allowing us to support troubleshooting.

Combination of Modern and Ancestral Technologies:

• Integration with Local Practices: While our solution is rooted in modern technology, it is designed to complement and enhance traditional agricultural practices. By integrating with existing soil and fish farming techniques and adapting to local conditions and crops, our systems respect and build upon ancestral knowledge, ensuring cultural relevance and acceptance.

Environmental and Social Impact:

• Sustainability Focus: By reducing dependency on chemical inputs and significantly lowering water use, our technology not only provides a practical solution to the challenges faced by farmers but also aligns with broader environmental sustainability goals.
• Community Empowerment: The technology empowers communities by providing stable food sources and improving economic outcomes, thus contributing to social resilience against climate variability and economic instability.

NjordFrey’s solution represents a sophisticated blend of aquaponics science, IoT technology, and data analytics, tailored to meet the specific needs of millions of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

NjordFrey is made up of:

Full-Time: 9 employees 

Part-Time: 1 intern

Contractor: 1

NjordFrey has been actively working on the aquaponic farming solution since its inception in December 2018. As of now, that totals approximately 5.5 years of dedicated effort in developing, refining, and implementing the solution across various regions in Rwanda, with plans to expand further in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

This timeline includes the initial concept development, pilot testing and continuous improvements based on feedback.

NjordFrey is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, which we believe is crucial for our mission to deliver sustainable and innovative agricultural solutions. This is ensured through the following:

Diversity in Leadership and Staff:

• Leadership Composition: Our leadership team, including co-founders Lars Hededam and Faisal Razzaq, embodies a mix of backgrounds and expertise. Lars brings a deep understanding of global studies and applied food technologies from his years living in Rwanda, while Faisal contributes a robust engineering background and experience in developing operational strategies in East Africa.
• Rwandan Senior Management: Recognising the importance of local knowledge and leadership, our in-country management roles are filled by Rwandans/African citizens, including key positions like Team Lead with Florence Uwinema (Rwanda) and Ronald Mhona, Farm Officer who is from Zimbabwe. This local representation ensures decisions are informed by first hand understanding of the community and market needs.

Minimising Barriers to Opportunity:

• Inclusive Hiring Practices: We strive to minimise barriers to employment within our organisation by using inclusive, bias-aware hiring practices. We have a Gender & Inclusion Expert (Natalie Au) on our advisory board who ongoing support as well as we recently completed the Intellecaps Women Economic Empowerment accelerator that looks to promote diversity for business development. This has resulted in NjordFrey drafting job descriptions that encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups, such as women and people with disabilities, and using structured interviews to ensure fairness in candidate evaluation.
• Professional Development: We employ continuous professional development reviews of our staff (formal 6 month reviews), providing opportunities for training and advancement within the company. This is how we promoted Florence from Finance Officer to Team Lead.

Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Environment:

• Competence Training: All new hires participate in an induction process to ensure they understand the company value and build relationships with other team members. This includes reviewing our policies such as H&S and safeguarding.
• Regular Feedback and Dialogue: We maintain open channels of communication, encouraging team members to share their suggestions for improving workplace inclusivity. Regular meetings and anonymous google forms are used to gauge staff sentiment and gather feedback on our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Goals for DEI

• Short-Term Goals: Increase female representation in our technical roles by 50% within the next 18 months.
• Long-Term Goals: Ensure all our farms have diversity that represents the community; typically this will be majority female and youth users as women represent +70% of agriculture workers.

Actions Taken:

• Partnerships for Diversity Recruitment: We partner with local universities like RICA, ALU and international organisations to attract a diverse pool of applicants, especially targeting programs that support women in science and technology fields.
• Inclusive Policy Review: We regularly review our policies with support from our Advisory board to ensure they are equitable and support diversity, from recruitment practices to family leave policies.

By actively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team, NjordFrey not only enhances our internal culture but also strengthens our capacity to serve the diverse communities where we operate.

We are centred around sustainable, high-yield aquaponic systems for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Rwanda. Our model is designed to address the unique challenges faced by farmers, i.e., limited access to water, inadequate technology, and financial constraints, while also creating a sustainable revenue stream for our operations.

Key Components of Our Business Model:

1. Product and Service Offering:

• Aquaponic Systems: We provide modular aquaponic systems that combine fish farming with hydroponic vegetable production in a closed-loop system. These systems are designed to be scalable.
• Continuous Monitoring: Our service includes ongoing support through our Digital Farm Monitoring System, which allows for real-time monitoring of system parameters and proactive maintenance, minimising downtime and maximising yield.
• Training and Support: Alongside the physical system and monitoring, we offer comprehensive training programs on system management, fish and vegetable care, and basic troubleshooting. This ensures that farmers can maximise the productivity of their systems.

2. Customer Segments:

• Smallholder Farmers: The primary beneficiaries and customers of our systems. They are typically rural female farmers who face challenges such as water scarcity, poor soil quality, and limited access to technology.
• NGOs and Government Programs: Partnerships with NGOs, Development Agencies and government initiatives focused on agricultural development and food security can facilitate broader system deployment under their ongoing programmes.

3. Value Proposition:

• Increased Productivity and Income: Our aquaponic systems significantly increase the yield of both fish and vegetables, providing a steady source of food and potential income through local markets.
• Resilience to Climate Variability: By not relying on soil, or grid electricity and reducing water usage by up to 95%, our systems are particularly suited to off-grid areas affected by drought and poor soil conditions.
• Sustainable Farming Practices: The closed-loop nature of aquaponics reduces the need for chemical fertilisers, appealing to farmers interested in sustainable and organic farming.

4. Revenue Streams:

• System Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from the sale of aquaponic systems which includes a competitive mark up.
• Service Contracts: We generate ongoing sustainable revenue through service contracts that provide farmers access to our digital monitoring system and access to our supply chain.

5. Marketing and Distribution:

• Direct Sales: We engage directly with farmers and cooperatives through local agricultural exhibitions and workshops. Our surveys have already secured farmers for our first 10 farms.
• Partnerships: Collaborating with local NGOs, development and government agencies helps us reach a broader audience and secure institutional buy-in.

6. Impact Measurement:

• Yield and Income Tracking: We regularly collect data on the increase in yield and income for farmers using our systems.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Ongoing surveys and feedback sessions with our customers help us gauge satisfaction and adapt our offerings to better meet their needs.

NjordFrey's business model is built not only to provide economic value to our customers but also to create a substantial positive impact on their lives and the environment, aligning profitability with social good.

NjordFrey is strategically positioned to achieve financial sustainability through a diverse revenue model. This multifaceted approach ensures a steady flow of revenue while supporting scalability and long-term viability.

Revenue Streams:

1. System Sales: The primary source of revenue comes from selling our high-yield aquaponic systems. We offer these systems at various scales with a competitive mark up applied.

2. Service Contract: We provide access to our digital monitoring system, ongoing training and maintenance services as part of the model. The cost of this is linked to the revenue generated by the farm, therefore our success is linked to the farmers success and provides sustainable ongoing revenue for NjordFrey. 

3. Grants and R&D Funding: Given the innovative and impact-driven nature of our business, we pursue grants from entities focused on environmental sustainability, technology innovation, and agricultural development. These grants support our R&D efforts (only) to further increase efficiencies, though it is not depended on for the financial sustainability of the company. The is driven by items 1 and 2 above.
   

4. Investment Capital: To fuel our expansion and reach 2000 farms in +5 years, we are engaging with investors who can accelerate the rate of deploying new farms and entering into new countries across SSA.

Evidence of Financial Viability and Success:

• Grants Received:

  • We secured a $10,000 grant from the EIT Food Seedbed Programme, which helped us complete our initial customer discovery and product validation phase.
  • Innovate UK supported our Digital Farm Monitoring System development with a $130,000 grant, facilitating the enhancement of our technological offerings. Received from 2019-22.
  • Our participation in the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize provided us with a $23,000 grant to run our MVP trials in 2022/23.
  • We completed the Ignite Food System Accelerator in late 2023 run by Impact Hub Kigali and WFP, which benefited from $30,000 to drove performance upgrades of our pilot.
  • We have secured a second Innovate UK grant to support the integration of renewable energy and cold storage into our aquaponic form, providing $260,000 of grant funding from April 2024 for two years.

• Revenue Generation:

  • Since our commercial launch of our MVP in May 2022, we generated some initial sales of fish (375kg) and crops (1.5 tonnes) during our trials and working towards being revenue focused with our MVP in Q3/Q4 of 2024.

• Investment Funding:

  • We won a $100,000 prize from the MassChallenge accelerator in 2023 as a result of winning two industry awards.
• Debt Funding:
  • We also secured $78,000 of debt financing since 2020 and repaid $40,000 with an agreed 2 year repayment plan remaining for the remaining $38k.

These funding successes not only validate our business model but also demonstrate the confidence that external partners and funders have in our ability to deliver impactful solutions. Moving forward, our goal is to increase revenue from our MVP and scale it to a 1ha full-sized farm (for which we have an open Seed round to raise $500k), which would cover all overheads/be sustainable till year 5.