Social entrepreneurs inspire change
Top proposals announced
After fine combing through 152 submissions that were entered for the 2nd phase of the Capricorn Foundation Food Waste Challenge, the top 5 have been announced and will compete for the cash prize of N$100 000 and a brand package valued at N$50 000 from Synergi.
While most entries in phase 2 of the Capricorn Foundation Food Waste Challenge were received from Namibia and Botswana, the top 5 all hail from here, with two finalists from the capital, one from Rundu, one from Opuwo, and one from Walvis Bay.The finalists will now receive mentoring from Business Box for the teams to prepare for the final round of judging.
The challenge called on the public to enter their solutions to create self-sufficient social enterprises to address the issue of food waste in Namibia and to create employment.
The Impact Tank Analysis Foundation from Windhoek, with team leader Johanna Shihepo, proposes to address the challenges faced by communities in terms of food waste through greenhouse gas emissions. “Our organisation came up with a business idea of composting food waste that occurs at a household level, retail establishments, and the food service industry in Namibia using iCompost technology that composts organic waste in just six hours,” she said.
SuperFly Bio Converters, also from Windhoek, focuses on sustainability by nature. This includes food waste recycling, sustainable insect protein products, and natural fertiliser. Team leader Oliver Bause said insect protein is gaining acceptance worldwide as a food source. “It has the added benefit of also being a good natural source of protein for other common animal proteins consumed by people such as fish, poultry and pork.”
Ndasilohenda Katangolo-Nakashwa of Ndinandali Farm operating in Opuwo, developed a unique approach to preserving the nutrients in fresh produce during Covid-19. “Ndinandali Farm is a pioneering agricultural venture dedicated to preserving the nutritional value of fresh produce while extending its shelf life. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, we have developed a unique approach that has revolutionised how we market and distribute our crops, resulting in preserved products that retain their original taste, nutritional value, and quality,” she said.
From the coast, Nova Research Consultancy (NRC) aims to address the issue of hunger and poverty. According to Victoria Erasmus, seafood can play a major role in reducing hunger and at the same time creating employment opportunities. “We want to set up a workstation that will eventually grow into a factory and use seafood heads and livers to make food products for human consumption,” she said.
From Rundu comes team leader Eddy Ngonga with the Eagle Foodhub app. “This social enterprise will empower restaurants, shops and individuals to donate surplus food through an app and web platform, connecting them with food shelters, orphanages and those in need,” he said.
The final round of judging, dubbed The Eagles Den, takes place on 22 June, where each participant or team will pitch their business to a panel of judges. The ultimate winner of the challenge will be announced by 13 July 2023.