EWC 2023 Top 16 - Tunisia

Summary

This video highlights Tunisia's environmental and agricultural challenges, including soil infertility, water scarcity, and pollution from chemicals. It showcases the efforts of a social enterprise, Wafir, in addressing these issues through sustainable, low-cost fertilizers made from local waste. By transforming sheep wool, palm leaves, chicken manure, and nettles into valuable products, Wafir has not only reduced costs for farmers but also contributed to environmental conservation. Their approach is scalable, promising widespread economic and ecological restoration while empowering local entrepreneurs and communities across Tunisia.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tunisia faces significant environmental and agricultural challenges, including soil infertility, water scarcity, and pollution, which impact its economy and food security.
• 😀 The We Fear initiative focuses on recycling organic waste into fertilizers to address these challenges, offering sustainable alternatives to chemical fertilizers.
• 😀 We Fear produces several types of fertilizers, including nitrogen-rich fertilizers, biochar, and liquid fertilizers, using local agricultural waste such as sheep manure, palm tree waste, and nettles.
• 😀 The fertilizers produced by We Fear are 40% cheaper than alternatives on the Tunisian market, making them more accessible for farmers.
• 😀 In just eight months, We Fear generated $244,000 in revenue and employed 17 people, while benefiting 250 Tunisian farmers by reducing their fertilizer costs by 12%.
• 😀 The company uses a CO2-free pyrolyzer for biochar production, ensuring a more sustainable process with minimal environmental impact.
• 😀 We Fear has created strong partnerships with local farmers and entrepreneurs, providing them with guidance, expertise, and a reliable source of sustainable fertilizers.
• 😀 The company is also developing new fertilizer products from cactus leaves and olive residues, with plans to obtain ISO certifications for quality control.
• 😀 By the end of 2023, We Fear plans to secure $1.2 million in investment to scale up production, generating $792,000 in revenue and creating 17 more jobs over the next three years.
• 😀 We Fear is focused on sustainability and aims to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural practices by optimizing waste recycling, reducing CO2 emissions, and improving soil fertility and water efficiency.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the project described in the transcript?

The project focuses on recycling natural and organic waste to create eco-friendly fertilizers, improving soil fertility, and addressing environmental and economic challenges in Tunisia, particularly in the agricultural sector.

How does the project help solve Tunisia's agricultural challenges?

The project tackles Tunisia's agricultural challenges by offering cost-effective, eco-friendly fertilizers that improve soil quality, reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, and boost agricultural productivity.

What are the key products developed by the project so far?

The key products include a nitrogen-rich fertilizer made from sheep wool and manure, biochar from palm tree waste, a chicken manure-based fertilizer, and a liquid fertilizer derived from nettles.

How do the fertilizers produced by the project compare to existing alternatives in the market?

The project's fertilizers are 40% cheaper than other available alternatives on the national market and 52% cheaper than imported fertilizers, making them more affordable for local farmers.

What is the environmental impact of the project?

The project has contributed to reducing natural waste in Tunisia by 2,800 tons, cutting down CO2 emissions by 200 tons, and decreasing the use of imported fertilizers, all while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

What role do local farmers play in the project?

Local farmers are actively involved in the project as subcontractors, with many contributing to production processes and benefiting from the affordable fertilizers. The project also offers them training and support to optimize their agricultural practices.

How is the project contributing to the local economy?

The project has generated significant revenue and employment, creating jobs for local workers and farmers, reducing fertilizer costs, and contributing to a more sustainable agricultural industry in Tunisia.

What are the future plans for scaling up the project?

The project plans to secure a $1.2 million investment to expand its production capabilities, particularly for chicken manure-based fertilizers, and to scale the business into a nationwide social franchise, creating 340 jobs and impacting 4,900 farmers in the next five years.

How does the project ensure sustainability in its sourcing of raw materials?

The project ensures sustainability by forming strategic partnerships with local suppliers and entrepreneurs, which helps minimize the cost of raw materials and prevents environmental over-exploitation as the project scales.

How does the project plan to support farmers in making informed decisions?

The project is partnering with a Tunisian startup to develop a customized device and mobile app that will help farmers receive tailored recommendations on the best fertilizers to use based on their specific needs, helping them make more informed decisions.