A new groundbreaking study from the O-Farms program, implemented by Bopinc and Village Capital and supported by the IKEA Foundation, shares key insights on the untapped potential of circular agribusiness to reduce food losses and create jobs in Uganda.
Nairobi, Kenya, Utrecht, the Netherlands and Washington, DC, USA (March 28, 2022): Bopinc and Village Capital today will launch the third in a series of new studies that explores the promise of circular agribusiness in Kenya, Ethiopia and now Uganda. Circularity has the potential to sustainably feed growing populations while contributing to economic growth, job creation and the stimulation of new income-generating opportunities.
The report Scoping the Potential of Circular Agribusiness assesses the current state of circularity in Uganda, and identifies key opportunities and challenges in the “Pearl of Africa.” An accompanying factsheet, also launching today, presents top-line findings from our Uganda report alongside those from similar landscaping studies for Kenya and Ethiopia, launched late last year.
Key findings
In Uganda, our research finds that the most promising opportunities for circular agribusiness lie in by-products from horticulture – especially fruit – and the production of cereals, grains, dairy and fish.
Our research finds that the greatest challenges hampering the development of circular agribusiness in Uganda include:
- Immature supply and demand in the market for circular products
- Low levels of technological development
- Limited access to tailored financial services for SMEs
- Absence of conducive policies
- High costs of collecting food losses and by-products for circular agribusiness
Investors, policymakers, agricultural trade organisations, wholesalers, researchers and other key stakeholders all have a role to play in making circularity a mainstream approach in East Africa. We encourage you to read Scoping the Potential of Circular Agribusiness reports for Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia to find out what role you can play.
These reports are produced by the O-Farms program, Africa’s first SME accelerator completely focused on circular agribusiness. Funded by the IKEA Foundation, the project engages local entrepreneur support organisations (ESOs) to accelerate 40 innovative circular agribusinesses in Kenya and Uganda.
The first O-Farms cohort of 11 SMEs in Kenya are completing a series of capacity building events, while the first cohort of SMEs in Uganda is currently being selected. The accelerator program focuses on business model development, technical skills, investment readiness and networking with a community of investors and mentors, who work in and around the food system. Second cohorts of SMEs in Kenya and Uganda will follow.
Full reports
To access each of the O-Farms landscaping reports, including the factsheet,
follow this link.
For further information
