EcoVita

NovFeed

EcoVita

NovFeed offers eco-friendly biofertilizers that restore soil health, boost crop yields, and empower farmers to combat climate change impacts

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

TZA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Soil infertility, worsened by excessive chemical fertilizer use, poses a major threat to Tanzania’s agriculture, with over 65% of arable land degraded due to nutrient depletion, salinization, and erosion (World Bank, 2020). This has led to a 40% decline in maize yields between 1999 and 2019, costing $600 million annually and exacerbating food insecurity in a country where 37% face chronic malnutrition (FAO, 2021). Smallholder farmers, who produce 80% of Tanzania’s food, are particularly affected, as fertilizers account for 30-50% of production costs (World Bank, 2022). Environmental impacts are equally severe. Overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizers accelerates soil acidification, nutrient imbalances, and organic matter depletion, while releasing nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas. Agriculture contributes 38% of Tanzania’s greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP, 2021), worsening climate change effects like droughts and erratic weather, which further reduce crop yields. Addressing these challenges requires a shift to sustainable practices, such as organic farming, crop rotation, and integrated soil management, to restore soil health, enhance resilience, and secure food systems. Without urgent action, soil degradation will continue to undermine Tanzania’s agricultural productivity, food security, and economic stability.

NovFeed produces and distributes biofertilizers from organic waste through innovative fermentation. By leveraging non-GMO microbes, we transform waste into nutrient-rich, eco-friendly fertilizers that restore soil health, boost crop yields, and reduce reliance on chemical alternatives. Our solution tackles waste management, supports a circular economy, and promotes environmental resilience. Currently producing 5,000 liters monthly, we aim to scale up to industrial levels, making biofertilizers accessible and affordable for smallholder farmers. We bring sustainable farming practices to the grassroots through partnerships with Local Service Providers (LSPs). LSPs train farmers in biofertilizer use, soil health management, and climate-smart techniques while earning commissions through soil testing services. NovFeed’s biofertilizer solution offers a highly cost-effective alternative to the subsidized and unsubsidized chemical fertilizers commonly used by farmers in Tanzania. While chemical fertilizers, whether subsidized ($76 to $131 per acre) or unsubsidized ($131 per acre), remain prohibitively expensive for many smallholder farmers, NovFeed's biofertilizer is priced at just $23 per acre, significantly lowering the cost of inputs. This affordability is coupled with the added benefit of sustainability. NovFeed’s Biofertilizers have been shown to enhance crop yield by 30–50%, directly translating to increases in farmer income, often ranging from $200 to $400 per acre in net additional income.

NovFeed targets agro-input suppliers, cooperatives, and small-scale farmers through a B2B2C model, aiming to transition Tanzania’s chemical fertilizer use to eco-friendly alternatives, enhancing crop productivity by 45%. Our market potential is vast, with Tanzania’s annual fertilizer consumption at 1.5 million metric tonnes. Our target customers span B2B, B2C, and B2G segments. Competing against industrial fertilizer companies, we differentiate by offering sustainable, cost-effective products that improve yields. Having supplied over 560 farmers, our strategy includes expanding production capacity to 2000 liters daily and establishing nationwide distribution stores by 2030. By scaling operations and providing farmer training and demo plots, we aim to achieve widespread adoption of EcoVita, revolutionizing sustainable agriculture and significantly impacting the fertilizer markets. Additionally, we have several products in the pipeline, including bio-control and nitrogen-fixation bacteria, which will further increase our reach and support farms with exhausted soil fertility.