AquaDeep’s Post

In 2022, I hit rock bottom. After two failed ventures, I was left with a broken dream—a promise I made to the world, my country, my community, and myself: 🌍 To contribute to a food-secure Africa. I felt ashamed. Guilty. Defeated. How could I face the world after failing to deliver on something so important? But I didn’t give up. I took a step back, reflected, and found new energy. It was during this time that the #TECA Program by BFA Global came into my life. And with it, a chance to start again. Together with my co-founder Shamaine, we launched AquaMnara—an aquaculture venture that combines my passion for entrepreneurship with my deep connection to Lake Victoria. Growing up by the shores of the lake, I witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of overfishing and climate change. Fish stocks were dwindling, and the livelihoods of over 30 million people were under threat. AquaMnara is our response. We aim to restore balance by promoting sustainable fish farming practices that support both the environment and the communities that rely on the lake. One year later, AquaMnara is still part of my vision for a food-secure Africa. The how may have changed, but the mission remains the same. If you're passionate about sustainable food systems, aquaculture, or climate action, let’s connect! 🌿 Join us on this journey to build a thriving, food-secure future for Africa. #Entrepreneurship #SustainableAquaculture #ClimateAction #FoodSecurity #AfricaRising #InnovationForImpact #FailingForward

What an eventful day it was. As one of the 17 judges (Plus a Chief Judge) we were tasked with huge responsibility to select the top innovator of the AgYouth and Tech AYuTe Africa challenge 2024 of Heifer International The top 5 finalists convinced the judges on how they have the best solutions that address the pressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Their solutions ranged from market access (Agri Farmer's Market), Uber like digital extension (Extension Africa); post harvest technologies (Silo Africa), mechanization (Agri Adopter) to biofertilizers (Thur Biotech). It was encouraging to see how Heifer is deliberate and intentional about investing in those solutions that specifically reaching that last mile. It was also interesting to see hundreds of youth who chose agriculture as their career of choice and continue to think outside the box 📦 to be part of the solutions. One of the major highlights was how robust and rigorous the selection process was. Led by the Chief Judge (very experienced I must say); the 17 judges had to first take open oath. An auditing firm provided oversight to ensure free, fair and transparent process. Well done to the Heifer Africa team and the Innovators Cherry 🍒 on top was that Rwanda 🇷🇼 Kigali was just the perfect host country #PERFECTOpportunities #AYuTe2024

Traditional fishing in Africa is crucial for food security and the economy of many coastal and inland communities. Despite challenges like overfishing and industrial competition threatening biodiversity, it remains vital to African culture and economy. Over the past two years, E4Impact, a social change organization committed to empowering a new generation of African impact entrepreneurs, has deepened its understanding of the blue economy, focusing on the socio-economic dynamics within local communities. Supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and together with CIHEAM Bari, E4Impact launched two multi-country projects in Senegal, Uganda, and Tanzania to strengthen traditional fishing through entrepreneurship and public-private dialogue. E4Impact Foundation #blueeconomy #bluetransformation

Agritech and the green transition play a key role in Africa's start-up scene: Agriculture & Food is one of the three sectors that attracted the most funding in January 2024, according to Africa: The Big Deal. How can technology best be used to develop climate-friendly agriculture, biodiversity protection, and climate-resilient infrastructure? These and other questions were discussed today at the second cohort of ventures for #Agtech showcase on the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi, where our CEO Rhoda Berger connected with key stakeholders. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH #ATSNBO #AfricaClimateTech #AfricaStartupSummit #AfricaTech

🌵 A g r o e c o l o g y I n S e n e g a l 🌍 A system analysis by horizont3000 provides insight! horizont3000 has been supporting its West African partners in Senegal with project financing for many years. Particularly against the backdrop of climate change, horizont3000 and its partners in Senegal are focusing on rural development, food security and the promotion of resilient and sustainable agriculture. In the rural areas where horizont3000's partners are active, food security is still not guaranteed for a large part of the population. The partners' program activities increasingly focus on agroecological cultivation methods that take into account and harmonize the economic, ecological and social aspects of the producers as well as the regional and local conditions. In March 2022, horizont3000 also sent an Advisor to the West Africa region for the first time in the person of Claudia Digruber. The aim of the Advisor's assignment is to identify the potential for increased networking between the project partners in the region in order to be able to use the knowledge management experience gained by horizont3000 over 20 years of cooperation for a wide range of interest groups. Read the full article on our website! 👉 Link: https://lnkd.in/d4di3WAc 📸 Credit: horizont3000: Claudia Digruber, Insa Bousso and Adame Boukar Diouf. Many thanks to our funder Austrian Development Agency and our member organisations: DKA, kfb, SSF Salzburg & Graz, BSIN Innsbruck & Kärnten & Feldkirch, plan:g, Caritas Austria, Welthaus Graz and Erzdiözese Wien #horizont3000 #PeopleAtTheCentre #DevelopmentCooperation #SustainableDevelopment #SDGs #Agenda2030 #HumanRights

🌱🚀 **Exploring Egypt's Thriving Agritech Ecosystem 🇪🇬** 🌾🌍 Diving into the heart of innovation! Take a look at this vibrant map illustrating Egypt's flourishing agritech ecosystem. From cutting-edge startups to established industry players, the landscape is abuzz with creativity and sustainable solutions. Key Features of the Map: - Startups Sprouting Innovation: Witness the rise of dynamic agritech startups revolutionizing farming practices. - Investment Hotspots: Discover where capital is flowing into groundbreaking agritech ventures. - Research & Development Hubs: Uncover the centers driving agricultural research and technology advancement. - Government Initiatives: Explore how policymakers are fostering growth and sustainability in the sector. Why Egypt? Egypt's rich agricultural heritage combined with a tech-savvy mindset is propelling the agritech industry to new heights. This map reflects the collaborative spirit and dedication of all those driving this transformative journey. 💬💡 Join the Conversation: What excites you the most about Egypt's agritech scene? Share your thoughts and let's cultivate a dialogue on innovation, sustainability, and growth! #Agritech #Innovation #Egypt #Sustainability #TechInAg #Agriculture #EcosystemMap

🌊 Exciting times for Kenya's blue economy🌐 Kenya is making significant strides in its blue economy, aiming for a threefold increase in revenue from the current KSh 37.6 billion to KSh 120 billion annually. 🌱 This ambitious target is driven by substantial investments, including KSh 1.5 billion in the coast region for landing sites and KSh 1.4 billion for mapping fisheries infrastructure in the Lake Victoria region. Additionally, the Kabonyo-Kanyagwal fish project in Kisumu will receive KSh 1 billion. 🌍✨ Recently, Kenya hosted the BlueInvest Africa 2024 conference in Diani, Kwale County. This event brought together 29 innovative startups and SMEs from 17 African countries, showcasing projects in sectors like aquaculture, maritime transport, and waste recycling. Six Kenyan companies, including Rio Fish Ltd and The Flipflopi Project Foundation, were among those selected to present their blue economy initiatives. 🌍✨ The conference emphasized sustainable development and investment opportunities in Africa's maritime sector, fostering connections between African innovators and global investors. It highlighted the importance of the blue economy in driving economic growth and job creation while preserving marine ecosystems. These developments demonstrate Kenya's leadership and commitment to harnessing the potential of its blue economy for sustainable growth and prosperity. #BlueEconomy #Sustainability #Innovation #Kenya #BlueBiz #Coastalreselience

Few things you should know about Africa and Nature Tech… 🌍 Africa contributes only 3% of global emissions. 📊 In Africa, agriculture accounts for over 60% of jobs and Nature Tech is helping to find  innovative solutions that benefit both communities and the planet. 🌳 Africa is emerging as a key player in the voluntary carbon market. Carbon markets in Africa could generate up to $6 billion annually by 2030 and supply up to 20% of the global carbon credits. Africa is a continent of immense biodiversity and untapped potential, but did you know it’s also emerging as a hotspot for Nature Tech innovation? In my latest article for The Nature Tech Memmo, I explore: ✅ Why Nature Tech is gaining momentum across Africa ✅ Inspiring examples of startups like Komaza ✅ How investors can seize the opportunity to fuel this growing sector Thank you to Ollie Potter for giving me the opportunity to contribute to The Nature Tech Memmo and to Desirée Pettersson, Investor & Head of Impact at Satgana, for sharing her expertise and insights. 📖 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ebdVmZ2c 📬 Want more insights like this? Subscribe to The Nature Tech Memmo to stay updated on trends, opportunities, and stories shaping the Nature Tech ecosystem globally. What do you think are the biggest challenges or opportunities for Nature Tech in Africa? Romain Diaz Satgana Holocene GreenTec Capital Partners Novastar Ventures Komaza Conservation International Ventures LLC Thomas Festerling Erick Yong #NatureTech #ClimateTech #Innovation #Africa #Sustainability #InvestingForImpact

It was a pleasure to welcome #IFAD Member States from Latin America and the Caribbean to HQ today, alongside Dr. Manuel Otero Director General of the Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA) (#IICA). Member states around the table had a clear and shared mission: to support and invest in #rural communities. Their contribution to our societies goes far beyond the #food we enjoy. Rural #women and #men sustain community #economies and social #cohesion, care for our resources and #biodiversity, and transmit #ancestral #knowledge and wisdom. Through our partnership with IICA, together we will strengthen #family #farming in #Latin America and the #Caribbean through investments in #climate #resilience, #biodiversity and access to #technologies and #markets.