The Limbua Initiative covers the Mount Kenya region where 5,000 small farmers produce valuable macadamia nuts under one umbrella organisation. It all began with the idea of developing an ecological, social and economic operating model for the region along with the local people. To achieve this, the local agricultural and cultural structures were carefully examined and integrated.

Since the start in 2009, the production has been certified organic and processed directly in three local plants in the villages. The packed nuts were initially only sold privately in Germany by students. The nuts are now marketed more widely, and famous cosmetics companies also use the nut oil. In addition, an exchange programme was established for the pupils so that they can now get to know the farms and experience them for themselves.

Since the 2018/2019 season, the first farms are now also producing biodynamically. The preparations for this are made in the nursery next to the macadamia seedlings and are distributed to anyone interested. Regular training sessions with external lecturers take place for the initiative’s advisers and producers. This enables the production, application and effects of biodynamic agriculture to be jointly developed.

Each farm has an average area of 1 hectare. With over 5,000 farms and with 2-3,000 others on the waiting list, they form a large area and cooperation in the macadamia nut region. Regular participation in further training courses is a requirement for acceptance, in addition to the nut trees. At the same time each farm is different with its individual characteristics: a complex system that works with the local conditions and customs and thus functions as one unit for the region.

All the participants share a healthy curiosity, a thirst for knowledge and the joy of trying out new cultivation methods. True to the motto of Luka Macharia "Just start today, accept the challenges, and after a few years you will have reached a standard that the whole world can accept!"

Further information about the Limbua intiative can be found here: http://www.limbua-group.com/de/home