Safe foods , save lives

Inua Slice Foods is addressing the intertwined issues of food wastage, malnutrition, and limited economic opportunities, particularly prevalent in Kenya's slums and arid regions. The problem is multifaceted, encompassing post-harvest losses, inadequate access to nutritious food, and economic disenfranchisement among small-scale farmers and marginalized communities.

In Kenya, where 80% of food is produced by small-scale farmers, post-harvest losses pose a significant challenge. Factors such as reliance on rainfed farming and unpredictable climate patterns exacerbate this issue, leading to simultaneous harvests and subsequent wastage. Approximately 40% of produce is deselected at the farm gate due to cosmetic imperfections, leaving farmers with substantial losses. During periods of abundance followed by extended dry seasons, communities become vulnerable to starvation and food insecurity due to the perishable nature of fruits and vegetables.

The impact of food wastage extends beyond economic losses; it also has environmental implications. For every kilogram of fresh farm produce left to rot, 2.5 kilograms of carbon equivalent are released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, without intervention, reproducing the lost food would require significant resources, including approximately 4 kilograms of atmospheric carbon and 220 liters of water per kilogram of vegetables.

In slums and arid counties, limited access to affordable fresh produce exacerbates food insecurity. The existing market processes involve bureaucracy, high costs, and transportation inefficiencies, resulting in secondary selection and wastage despite the initial deselection at the farm level. This inefficiency perpetuates a cycle of poverty and malnutrition, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.

Inua Slice Foods addresses these challenges through a multifaceted approach. By purchasing deselected produce directly from small-scale farmers, they not only prevent post-harvest losses but also provide farmers with a reliable market. Processing the produce into convenient slices and distributing them to slum retailers and consumers ensures access to fresh, nutritious food at a lower cost. Additionally, their rural-based community food drying and processing unit empowers local women and youth with valuable skills in food preservation, creating economic opportunities and reducing food waste at the community level.

The scale of the problem is significant, with millions of people affected by food insecurity, malnutrition, and economic marginalization in Kenya alone. Globally, similar challenges exist in other developing regions, where small-scale farmers struggle with post-harvest losses and limited market access. By addressing these issues at the grassroots level, Inua Slice Foods not only impacts immediate communities but also provides a scalable model for addressing food insecurity and wastage globally.

Inua Slice Foods is a Kenyan-based social enterprise that tackles two major problems: food wastage and malnutrition. We take "deselected" fresh farm produce—fruits and vegetables that are often discarded due to their appearance—and turn them into convenient slices. These slices are then sold directly to consumers and retailers in urban slums, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most.

Our solution is simple yet powerful. We operate on a three-point business model: aggregation, processing, and distribution. First, we buy all the deselected produce from small-scale farmers, preventing it from going to waste. Then, we process these fruits and vegetables into slices at our facility. Finally, we distribute these slices to retailers and consumers in slum areas.

Our technology is straightforward but effective. We use basic slicing and packaging equipment to process the produce, ensuring that it remains fresh and convenient for consumption. By brining and conservatively packaging the slices, we maintain their quality and safety during transportation and storage.

Additionally, we've implemented a rural-based community food drying and processing unit. This unit serves a dual purpose: it provides training to local women and youth on food preservation techniques, and it offers them access to our drying facilities on a pay-as-you-produce basis. This empowers these individuals to preserve their own food for sale or personal consumption, further reducing food wastage and creating economic opportunities at the grassroots level.

Our impact speaks volumes. Since our inception in 2018, we've been able to save an impressive 10 tonnes of fresh farm produce every day. This translates to feeding approximately 3,500 families in slums such as Mukuru, Mathare, and Waruku. By purchasing all the deselected produce from small-scale farmers, we've ensured that no food goes to waste at the farm level—a significant achievement in a country where post-harvest losses are rampant.

Moreover, our direct delivery model to slum retailers ensures that fresh food is delivered at the lowest cost possible. Compared to mass market prices, our sliced produce is 40% cheaper, making it more accessible to low-income communities. And because we package the slices conservatively and deliver them directly from the farm, we guarantee their safety and freshness, eliminating the need for secondary selection and reducing waste in city markets.

But our impact doesn't stop there. We're also empowering women and youth through our training programs and pay-as-you-produce model. So far, we've trained over 800 women and youth on effective food preservation techniques, giving them valuable skills and income-generating opportunities. Additionally, our production of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) has helped combat severe acute malnutrition in Kenya's arid areas and refugee camps, reaching hundreds of women and children with essential nutrients.

we are in final stage of developing our food save app, a mobile based  application that enables retailers in market to redirect their overripe that would otherwise go to waste back to our facility to be processed .

Inua Slice Foods serves two primary populations: small-scale farmers and residents of urban slums and arid regions in Kenya. These communities face significant challenges related to food security, economic empowerment, and access to nutritious food.

1. Small-scale farmers: These farmers, who produce 80% of Kenya's food, often struggle with post-harvest losses and limited market access. Inua Slice Foods directly addresses these challenges by purchasing deselected produce from farmers, preventing post-harvest losses, and providing a reliable market. As a result, farmers experience a substantial increase in income, with reports indicating a 30% to 50% rise in revenue. This boost in income not only improves the livelihoods of farmers but also strengthens the resilience of rural communities against agricultural uncertainties.

   Additionally, our intervention has led to significant reductions in food wastage. Since our inception in 2018, we have saved an impressive 10 tonnes of fresh farm produce every day. This translates to preventing approximately 4,000 tonnes of food wastage annually. By maximizing the utilization of deselected produce, we contribute to a more sustainable and efficient agricultural system while ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation for their crops.

2. Residents of urban slums and arid regions: These marginalized communities often face limited access to affordable and nutritious food, leading to high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. Inua Slice Foods directly impacts these populations by providing access to fresh, nutritious produce at reduced prices. Our direct delivery model to slum retailers has resulted in a significant reduction in food prices, with reports indicating a 40% decrease compared to mass market prices. This reduction in food prices not only improves affordability for low-income families but also promotes healthier eating habits and reduces reliance on processed food options.

Through these interventions, Inua Slice Foods aims to improve the lives of small-scale farmers and underserved communities by addressing their immediate needs for income generation, food security, and access to nutritious food. By empowering farmers with increased income opportunities and providing affordable food options to urban slums and arid regions, we contribute to sustainable development and poverty alleviation in Kenya.

At Inua Slice Foods, our team is deeply embedded within the communities we serve, and our proximity to these communities uniquely positions us to design and deliver impactful solutions. Our team lead and members reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the populations we aim to empower, ensuring that our interventions are not only culturally sensitive but also responsive to the specific needs and challenges faced by small-scale farmers and residents of urban slums and arid regions in Kenya.

Our team lead, Esther , grew up in a rural farming community and has firsthand experience with the challenges faced by small-scale farmers. Her deep understanding of agricultural practices and local dynamics informs our approach to engaging with farmers and addressing their needs effectively. Moreover, Her  background in community development and entrepreneurship equips her with the skills and insights necessary to navigate complex challenges and drive sustainable change.

Similarly, our team members come from diverse backgrounds, including agriculture, community development, and entrepreneurship. Many team members have direct ties to the communities we serve. This proximity allows us to establish trust and rapport with community members, facilitating meaningful engagement and collaboration.

The design and implementation of our solution are guided by the input, ideas, and agendas of the communities we serve. Since our inception in 2018, we have actively sought feedback from farmers, retailers, and consumers to inform our business model and service delivery. For example, our decision to introduce sliced produce was driven by feedback from retailers and consumers who expressed a preference for convenient, ready-to-use options.

Our history of operation speaks to our commitment to community engagement and empowerment. Since 2018, we have steadily expanded our reach and impact, saving an impressive 10 tonnes of fresh farm produce daily and training over 800 women and youth on food preservation techniques. These achievements are a testament to the effectiveness of our approach and the meaningful partnerships we have forged with communities, local organizations, and government agencies.

We've chosen the growth stage because our solution has already laid a solid foundation, demonstrating significant traction and impact since our launch in 2018. We've diligently built and tested various aspects of our business model, continuously refining our approach based on real-world feedback and outcomes.

A significant accomplishment lies in establishing a robust supply chain, effectively linking small-scale farmers with urban slum retailers and consumers. This integrated approach, where we aggregate deselected produce from farmers, process them into convenient slices, and directly deliver them to target markets, has not only curbed post-harvest losses but also provided farmers with a steady market, resulting in increased income and reduced food wastage.

Moreover, we've successfully piloted and scaled our rural-based community food drying and processing unit. Over 800 women and youth have been trained in effective food preservation techniques, empowering them with valuable skills and resources. By offering access to solar and electric drying facilities on a pay-as-you-produce basis, we've democratized food processing technologies and catalyzed economic opportunities at the grassroots level.

In terms of impact, our solution has reached thousands of customers and beneficiaries across urban slums and arid regions in Kenya. On a daily basis, we save an impressive 10 tonnes of fresh farm produce, feeding approximately 3,500 families in slums like Mukuru, Mathare, and Waruku. Our direct delivery model has led to a significant reduction in food prices, making fresh, nutritious produce more accessible to low-income communities.

Furthermore, our production and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) have been instrumental in addressing severe acute malnutrition in Kenya's arid areas and refugee camps. By sourcing excess nutritious produce from local small-scale farmers and collaborating with rural producing women, we've provided essential nutrients to vulnerable populations. Today, 293 women in Kakuma refugee camp receive a weekly supply of high-vitamin compound RUTF flours, highlighting our commitment to holistic community health and well-being.

our venture have sustainable and trackable impact to 4 communities
1. Rural based smallholders farmers : so far we have worked with 18743 smallholders farmers who supply their deselected fresh farm produce to us . These farmers , who without us we suffering from post harvest fresh farm produce wastage of upto 40% of their produce are benefitting with total sale of all their produced, increased income of upto 60% and all year round access to quality food as they are able to preserve their excess food in our rural agroprocessing hub for later usage .
2. Rural women and youth who get free weekly training on food processing and preservation from our rural agroprocessing hub and a place for them to do processing on pay as you produce basis. so far we have trained 831 youth and women, out of these 113 frequently book for processing (food drying ) pay as you produce spaces in our food agroprocessing hub with 17 of them starting dry food selling business in adjacent nakuru and nyahururu town . if we are able to scale these model , we will be able to create franchise and every village will be having a food hub, no wastage of any excess food .
3 .Regular consumer schools and families in Waruku and Mathare slums in Kenya , they access safe and affordable sliced foods at 20% cheaper compared to if they were to buy these food from market . before covid disruption , we had 2356 families we we supplying weekly but disruption changed our model where we distribute only via slum based retailer women . so far we have 13 of them as drop and pick point .
4. Pregnant and nursing women, in arid Turkana county in Kenya suffering from malnutrition . 293 are today receiving ,high nutrients Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) specifically formulated to address severe acute malnutrition while providing adequate amounts of essential nutrients to women specifically produced through food that would have otherwise gone to waste .
over all we measure our impact on : amount of food saved , number of farmers impacted, rise income in engaged farmers , number of people in slums and arid areas fed and how cheap was our delivered food .

We are applying to Solve because we believe their platform can provide invaluable support in overcoming specific barriers that hinder our growth and impact.

Financially, while we have made significant strides in our operations, we face challenges in scaling our solution to reach more communities and expand our impact. Solve's network of partners can help us secure additional funding and investment opportunities to fuel our growth. For instance, with access to financial resources, we aim to increase our daily capacity to save fresh farm produce from the current 10 tonnes to 20 tonnes, doubling our impact on reducing food wastage.

Technically, we see opportunities to enhance our supply chain and distribution systems to make them more efficient and scalable. Solve can connect us with technical experts and advisors who can provide insights and guidance on optimizing our operations. By streamlining processes and leveraging technology, we aim to increase the reach of our solution and serve even more beneficiaries. For example, by implementing advanced data analytics and logistics solutions, we aim to reduce delivery times and improve the freshness of our produce, ultimately benefiting the 3,500 families we currently serve in urban slums.

In terms of market barriers, we recognize the importance of strategic partnerships and collaborations in expanding our reach and impact. Solve's network of partners can facilitate connections with organizations, governments, and other stakeholders who share our vision and goals. By forming strategic alliances, we aim to amplify our impact and reach new markets, ultimately benefiting more underserved communities in Kenya and beyond.

Our vision for growth with Solve partners is to create a scalable and sustainable model that effectively addresses food wastage, malnutrition, and economic empowerment in Kenya and beyond. Through collaborative efforts and collective expertise, we aim to accelerate our impact, reaching more beneficiaries and creating lasting change in the communities we serve.

unlike other players in market ,we concentrate on deselected fresh farm produce which is generally assumed. with a direct delivery model to slum retailers, we ensure fresh food is delivered at the lowest cost. our fresh farm produce are brined and conservatively packaged, these ensure they are delivered in a microbial safe and convenient way to the market. with rural slicing, we make it easy to transport and package close to final consumption model. slicing also ensures we only deliver only what’s is consumed in market saving tones of waste on farm for manure making. With village based food drying and processing facility, we are able to reach rural small scale farmers and safe food for long term supply ensuring year round supply of nutritious fruits and vegies hence helping in fight against malnutrition.
our processing facility is act as a training facility as well as offer pay as you produce model transforming hundreds of trained women to be processors for their own usage and sale in market .
For the last 2 years , we have being being able to research and have being producing locally manufactured ,high nutrients Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) specifically formulated to address severe acute malnutrition while providing adequate amounts of essential nutrients to pregnant and nursing women and young kids in kenya arid areas and refugee camps .to make our rutfs, we buy local small scale farmers excess nutritious produce( that could otherswise go to waste and through a community processing units work with these rural producing women in co production . these helps maintain good health for mothers and child which could not be achieved otherwise . today 293 women in kakuma refugee camp receive weekly supply of high vitamin compound ruft flours .
With RUFTS collection happening on Thursdays and Tuesdays , we organize these young mothers into focus groups where we give them counselling ensuring good mental health , sexual and reproductive health education as well as family planning to evert any unwanted pregnancies .

Our theory of change is straightforward: by intervening at multiple points along the agricultural value chain, we expect to reduce food wastage, improve access to nutritious food, and empower underserved communities.

our theory of change can be traced back to our  sustainable and trackable impact to 4 communities
1. Rural based smallholders farmers : so far we have worked with 18743 smallholders farmers who supply their deselected fresh farm produce to us . These farmers , who without us we suffering from post harvest fresh farm produce wastage of upto 40% of their produce are benefitting with total sale of all their produced, increased income of upto 60% and all year round access to quality food as they are able to preserve their excess food in our rural agroprocessing hub for later usage .
2. Rural women and youth who get free weekly training on food processing and preservation from our rural agroprocessing hub and a place for them to do processing on pay as you produce basis. so far we have trained 831 youth and women, out of these 113 frequently book for processing (food drying ) pay as you produce spaces in our food agroprocessing hub with 17 of them starting dry food selling business in adjacent nakuru and nyahururu town . if we are able to scale these model , we will be able to create franchise and every village will be having a food hub, no wastage of any excess food .
3 .Regular consumer schools and families in Waruku and Mathare slums in Kenya , they access safe and affordable sliced foods at 20% cheaper compared to if they were to buy these food from market . before covid disruption , we had 2356 families we we supplying weekly but disruption changed our model where we distribute only via slum based retailer women . so far we have 13 of them as drop and pick point .
4. Pregnant and nursing women, in arid Turkana county in Kenya suffering from malnutrition . 293 are today receiving ,high nutrients Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) specifically formulated to address severe acute malnutrition while providing adequate amounts of essential nutrients to women specifically produced through food that would have otherwise gone to waste .
over all we measure our impact on : amount of food saved , number of farmers impacted, rise income in engaged farmers , number of people in slums and arid areas fed and how cheap was our delivered food .

Our impact goals for Inua Slice Foods are centered around reducing food wastage, improving access to nutritious food, and empowering underserved communities. These goals guide all aspects of our work and are essential for creating transformational change in people's lives.

1. Reduce food wastage: Our primary goal is to minimize post-harvest losses by ensuring that all deselected produce from small-scale farmers is utilized and reaches consumers. To measure our progress, we track the amount of fresh farm produce saved daily, aiming to increase this figure over time. Specific indicators include the tonnes of produce saved annually and the percentage reduction in post-harvest losses.

2. Improve access to nutritious food: We aim to increase the availability and affordability of fresh, nutritious food in urban slums and arid regions. Progress towards this goal is measured by tracking the number of families and individuals accessing our sliced produce, as well as monitoring changes in food prices compared to mass market prices. Indicators include the number of families served daily and the percentage reduction in food prices.

3. Empower underserved communities: Our solution seeks to empower small-scale farmers, women, and youth by providing them with income-generating opportunities and valuable skills in food preservation. To measure our progress, we track the number of farmers engaged, the number of women and youth trained in food preservation techniques, and the income generated by participants in our pay-as-you-produce model. Specific indicators include the number of farmers reached annually and the percentage increase in participant income.

4. Address malnutrition: Through the production and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs), we aim to combat severe acute malnutrition in arid areas and refugee camps. Progress towards this goal is measured by tracking the number of beneficiaries receiving RUTFs, as well as monitoring improvements in nutritional status and health outcomes. Indicators include the number of women and children receiving RUTFs weekly and the percentage reduction in malnutrition rates.

The core technology that powers Inua Slice Foods is a combination of innovative agricultural practices, food processing techniques, and logistical solutions aimed at reducing food wastage, improving access to nutritious food, and empowering underserved communities.

1. Agricultural Practices: Our solution leverages sustainable agricultural practices to maximize crop yield and minimize post-harvest losses. By working closely with small-scale farmers, we provide training and support on improved farming techniques, such as proper harvesting and storage methods, crop rotation, and pest management. These practices not only enhance crop quality and yield but also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing the use of chemical inputs and minimizing land degradation.

2. Food Processing Techniques: Inua Slice Foods employs advanced food processing techniques to transform deselected farm produce into convenient slices that are ready for consumption. Our processing facility is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery for slicing, brining, and packaging fruits and vegetables, ensuring consistent quality and safety standards. By processing the produce at the farm level, we extend its shelf life and reduce the risk of spoilage during transportation, thereby minimizing food wastage and increasing market accessibility.

3. Logistical Solutions: Our solution utilizes innovative logistical solutions to streamline the distribution of sliced produce to urban slums and arid regions. We have developed a direct delivery model that bypasses traditional market channels, reducing transportation costs and ensuring fresher products for consumers. Additionally, we leverage data analytics and route optimization algorithms to optimize delivery routes, minimize carbon emissions, and improve efficiency in our supply chain operations.

4.  food save app :we are in final stage of developing our food save app, a mobile based  application that enables retailers in market to redirect their overripe that would otherwise go to waste back to our facility to be processed .

4 

6 years 

i started inua sliced foods at an age of 23 years when i was still in nursing school . the aim them was to ensure proper nutrition to families i was attending to while in attachment that were suffering from malnutrition . at start , it was hard for the community to believe in my cause and even convincing the farmers to sell what other " big companies " have left was hard . These forced me to bring male counterparts in the team for business to happen and it took 2 years of continuous work for them to believe in me . Having suffered during the market  entry , these served to shape the company policy for team formation and hiring and we have a 50/50 membership both in operation and leadership . every 2 years , members have a sponsored personal development and scaling training paid by the venture .

Our business model at Inua Slice Foods revolves around providing value to both small-scale farmers and underserved communities in urban slums and arid regions. We offer products and services that address the challenges of food wastage, limited access to nutritious food, and economic empowerment.

Key Customers and Beneficiaries:

1. Small-scale Farmers: Our primary customers are small-scale farmers who produce fresh farm produce but face challenges in accessing markets and preventing post-harvest losses. We provide them with a reliable market for their deselected produce, ensuring that none of their crops go to waste. By purchasing all the produce that would otherwise be left behind, we help farmers increase their income and improve their livelihoods.

2. Urban Slum Residents and Arid Region Communities: Our primary beneficiaries are residents of urban slums and arid regions who face limited access to affordable and nutritious food. We provide them with convenient, ready-to-use slices of fresh fruits and vegetables at reduced prices compared to traditional market offerings. By delivering directly to their communities, we eliminate the need for middlemen and reduce food prices, making fresh produce more accessible to low-income families.

Products and Services:

1. Aggregation and Processing: We aggregate deselected farm produce from small-scale farmers and process them into convenient slices at our facility. This ensures that all produce is utilized and prevents post-harvest losses.

2. Direct Delivery to Market: We deliver the sliced produce directly to retailers and consumers in urban slums and arid regions, bypassing traditional market channels. This eliminates the need for middlemen and reduces transportation costs, resulting in fresher products and lower prices for consumers.

3. Training and Empowerment: We operate a rural-based community food drying and processing unit where we train local women and youth on effective food preservation techniques. This empowers them with valuable skills and resources to preserve their own food for sale or personal consumption.

4. Hired rural based processing facility as a product . our rural based processing hub act as space where local trained come and produce on a pay as you produce basis . these makes it possible for rural women any youth tp transition and be food manufacturers .

Value Proposition:

1. For Farmers: We provide a reliable market for their deselected produce, increasing their income and reducing post-harvest losses.
2. For Urban Slum Residents and Arid Region Communities: We offer convenient access to fresh, nutritious food at reduced prices, improving food security and promoting healthier eating habits.
3. RUTF is a gamechanger to help eliminate  microstarvation in arid areas in kenya 

Overall, our business model creates value by addressing the needs of both small-scale farmers and underserved communities, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

1. Sale of Products: We generate revenue by selling sliced fresh produce directly to retailers and consumers in urban slums and arid regions. With a profit margin of 20% per kilogram of sliced produce delivered, our sales volume has steadily increased over time. Since our inception in 2018, we have sold an average of 10 tonnes of sliced produce daily, resulting in substantial revenue generation.

2. Service Fees on Pay-as-You-Produce Model: We charge service fees for the use of our rural-based community food drying and processing unit on a pay-as-you-produce basis. This model allows local women and youth to preserve their own food for sale or personal consumption, with a profit margin of 25% on processed products. Currently, we have trained over 800 women and youth on food preservation techniques, with a significant portion actively using our facility. The service fees collected contribute to our overall revenue stream and financial sustainability.

3. Evidence of Success: Our financial sustainability plan has already shown promising results. Through the sale of sliced fresh produce and service fees from our production hub, we have been able to cover operational costs and generate profits. With a profit margin of 20% on sliced produce and 25% on processed products, we have achieved consistent revenue growth, allowing us to reinvest in our operations and expand our reach.

In summary, our plan for financial sustainability revolves around revenue generation through the sale of products and services, including sliced fresh produce and service fees on our pay-as-you-produce model. With evidence of success in sales volume, number of women trained, and profit margins, we are confident in our ability to achieve long-term financial sustainability while continuing to create positive social impact.