Food forests are connecting vulnerable consumers and organic farmers in Kenya

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is collaborating with Feedback to the Future (FttF) and Diabetes Awareness Trust (DAT) to connect urban consumers with small scale organic producers/farmers. The project is being implemented in Kilome sub-county, Makueni County, where the farmers are located, and Makadara sub-county, Nairobi County, where the consumers reside.

The overall goal of the project is to build a regional, healthy, inclusive, and regenerative food system in Kenya by piloting an organic fruits and vegetables food chain from production to consumption.

Feedback to the Future works on the production side by empowering farmers with knowledge and skills to shift practices towards regenerative agriculture and organic production. Diabetes Awareness Trust is raising consumer awareness of nutritious diets and food safety to prevent malnutrition and non-communicable diseases.  The Alliance is spearheading the research component of the project, assessing current consumption patterns, mapping food environments, and analyzing fruits and vegetables value chains. The data will inform the co-creation of an alternative market linkage model to connect organic producers with consumers, facilitating improved incomes for farmers while ensuring vulnerable consumers’ access to organic, safe, and nutritious food at affordable prices.