Nairobi is the most populous city in East Africa and is home to one of the worlds largest urban slums. This means a lot of mouths to feed, but little room to grow food. As a result, Nairobi is struggling to provide sustainable food and nutrition security for its residents. Based on this research, we asked the global creative community to help rethink the food supply chain in this city. → Dive deeper into stories about Nairobi here
Out of some 80 projects, the jury selected 3 projects for the Student Track, 3 projects for the Professional Track and 7 projects for the Startup Track.
01. MFUKO-FRESH
SUBMITTED BY LEON MUTUA | NOMINEE STUDENT TRACK
This product is a lightweight wicker container that can help local vendors ferry produce from farm to market while keeping it safe and fresh. → go to project page
02. 3R_NAIROBI CITY
SUBMITTED BY EMMANUEL OCHOLA | NOMINEE STUDENT TRACK
This project employs the concept of edible plantscaping and local climate zones (LCZs) as a practical mitigation strategy against urban heat islands. The aim is to reduce indoor energy demands through green cooling, and to localize food production systems.
03. FRIDGE YA KIBANDA
SUBMITTED BY NORA KAWIRA | NOMINEE STUDENT TRACK
Fridge Ya Kibanda is a small scale evaporative cooler which revives traditional preservation methods to prevent fruits and vegetables from rotting, thus minimizing food wastage. → go to project page
04. THE WASTE TRANSFORMER
SUBMITTED BY WESLEY VERHOEVEN | NOMINEE PROFESSIONAL TRACK
The Waste Transformer is a plug & play innovation which will create energy and nutrient rich hotspots suitable to African megacities. A flatpack model folds opens into an urban farm, transcending current infrastructural challenges. → go to project page
05. RECYCLED PLASTICS, MODULAR BRICKS
SUBMITTED BY JAY SANDHU | NOMINEE PROFESSIONAL TRACK
A system which collects and recycles waste plastic into modular bricks and posts. The interlocking bricks can be used for low cost sidewalks, and buildings which can potentially last forever. → go to project page
06. TASTE NOT WASTE
SUBMITTED BY DEAN HARDING | NOMINEE PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Mobile technology is used to pick up, transport and cook food waste into affordable meals for Nairobi’s food insecure locals. → go to project page
07. WATER HYACINTH FOR ENERGY
SUBMITTED BY PAUL MAKOKHA | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
This project trains women and youth to produce charcoal briquettes and bio-gas energy from water hyacinths. The quantity of water hyacinth available within the targeted areas is enough to provide alternative energy and fertilizer for Africa and beyond. → go to project page
08. A WASTE TO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
SUBMITTED BY TITUS NJEHIA | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Wecol Limited is a Waste-to-Energy development company currently focused on conversion of agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse) into reusable energy that is being used in place of fuelwood (charcoal and firewood) both for industrial and domestic users. → go to project page
09. SOLAR FREEZE
SUBMITTED BY DYSMUS KISILU | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Solar Freeze offers a portable off-grid toolkit for localized food production, integrating solar powered cold storage solutions, mentorship and training and a mobile app that helps farmers increase their income and reduce post-harvest losses. → go to project page
10. GREENOBI
SUBMITTED BY TIMM DONKE | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Greenobi is a network of lush green oases spanning the roofs of Nairobi, celebrating super local urban food and green spaces. → go to project page
11. ENTELI: SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION THROUGH EDIBLE INSECTS
SUBMITTED BY ADRIAN JANKOWIAK | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
By creating Nairobi’s first insect dining experience, ENTELI aims to break cultural stereotypes, learning how to present, produce and sell sustainable insect products. A small, semi-permanent (or mobile) location will be set up as a pilot to sell simple ready foods and cricket flour, acting as an education center and providing recipes. → go to project page
12. TRANSFORMING NAIROBI’S FOOD SYSTEMS TO SAVE ENERGY
SUBMITTED BY ELIZABETH ONYANGO | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
This initiative seeks to facilitate the production of healthy and nutritious food for urban residents, through energy and space efficient farming methods. → go to project page
13. REINVENTING URBAN FOOD SYSTEMS FROM FORK-TO-FARM
SUBMITTED BY TYLER GOODWIN | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Tamalli is a premium street food brand, which produces delicious food centrally and then serves vendors with a complete kit to safely distribute it. The first offering is a menu which utilizes a Mexican technique for optimizing the nutritional value of maize. → go to project page