IKEA Foundation CEO Jessica Anderen(left) and Kilimo Trust CEO Dr. Birungi Korutaro (Centre) pose for a photo during the visit.
Kisumu, Kenya
In the face of accelerating climate change, smallholder farmers are on the frontlines—grappling with unpredictable rainfall, degrading soils, and rising temperatures that threaten both livelihoods and food security.
Globally, agriculture accounts for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, yet it also holds immense potential to restore ecosystems, sequester carbon, and build resilient communities. Sustainable and regenerative farming practices—like turning agricultural waste into energy, compost, or biochar—offer practical solutions that protect the environment while boosting productivity and income.
To demonstrate these solutions in action, Kilimo Trust, led by CEO Dr. Birungi Korutaro, recently welcomed a high-level delegation from the IKEA Foundation, led by CEO Jessica Anderen, to witness climate-smart agricultural innovations in Kenya.
Guided by Anthony Mugambi, Kenya Country Team Leader and R4iCSA Project Lead, the delegation saw firsthand how farmers and innovators are transforming rice by-products into clean energy, nutrient-rich compost, and biochar—demonstrating that regenerative agriculture can address climate change, restore degraded landscapes, and strengthen rural livelihoods simultaneously.
Innovations on Display
Clean Energy Stoves – Olex Techno Hub At Olex Techno Hub, Alex Odundo showcased clean energy stoves powered by rice husks, pellets, and briquettes. These stoves reduce smoke-related illnesses, cut firewood use, and help slow deforestation—while freeing schoolgirls from collecting firewood and keeping them in school.
Vermicomposting – Maurice Lang'o At the West Kano irrigation scheme, lead farmer Maurice Lang'o demonstrated vermicomposting using red wriggler worms to turn rice straw into mineral-rich vermicast and vermijuice. Previously, rice straw was burned, harming soils and releasing carbon. Today, this innovation enriches soil, improves water retention, boosts crop yields, and eliminates harmful burning practices.
Biochar – Safi Organics Safi Organics converts rice husks into biochar, a carbon-rich soil amendment that improves fertility, retains water, and sequesters carbon. This approach turns agricultural waste into a tool for climate mitigation and sustainable farming.
Coffee Production Integration – Kipkellion Coffee Factory Kipkellion Coffee Factory demonstrated how biochar can be incorporated into coffee production, highlighting the versatility of rice waste solutions across multiple agricultural value chains.
About the R4iCSA Project
These innovations are part of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rice Initiative for Climate-Smart Agriculture (R4iCSA), a partnership between Kilimo Trust and the IKEA Foundation. The project supports rice farmers in Kenya and Uganda to adopt regenerative farming practices that restore the environment while improving livelihoods.
Funded by the IKEA Foundation, R4iCSA aims to reach 10,000 smallholder farmers and value chain actors, focusing on reducing agricultural waste, recycling by-products into valuable products, creating market opportunities, building resilient farming communities, and tackling both poverty and climate change.