Nzatu Food Group at the Regenerative Society Foundation’s annual meeting
Nzatu Food Group’s Michele Sofisti shared the group’s vision at the Regenerative Society Foundation’s annual meeting of founding members in…
A regenerative agriculture model that works to produce sustainable food without interfering with natural resources and preserving wildlife habitat.
About Nzatu Food Group
NZATU is a regenerative agriculture model that works to produce sustainable food without interfering with natural resources and preserving wildlife habitat.
We focus on training and supporting capabilities of small scale and medium-size business that are involved in honey and coffee bean production.
Nzatu Visionaries
Nzatu was created in Zambia under the vision of the two sisters who believe that regenerative agriculture can be a nature-based solution that we must adopt to create value in Africa, for Africa.
Gwen having grown up in Zambia moved to the United States over 20 years ago and has spent her entire career spanning over 30 years, on global food security, and communitiy development initiatives. Her network across sub-sahara africa is unique and spans the continent.
Denise lives between South Africa and Zambia and over the last years has developed an expertise as an apiary manager and trainer.
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Stories
Denise Madiro
Gwen Jones
Michele Sofisti
Prithvi Naik
Andrea Chiesi
Ameenah G. Fakim
Krithi Karanth
Terry D. Garcia
Duccio Berzi
What does NZATU do?
Market Problem
• Food Security
• Crop Diversification
• Climate Change Resilience
• ESG impact
• Women and Youth Inclusion
Nzatu’s Solutions
• Implementation partner for regenerative agriculture
• Soil science advisory
• Partnership for public and private sector CSR and ESG initiatives
• Produce for domestic and export markets
Dimensions of Regenerative Agriculture
AGROFORESTRY
• Silvopasture including integrated livestock/grazing practices
• Agroforestry crop practices such as windbreaks and alley-cropping
• Farmer-managed natural regeneration
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE
• Crop management such as cover cropping, crop rotation and crop diversification
• Soil management including reduced tillage, soil cover and methods which build organic soil carbon
What’s in it for Farmers?
Our goal is to support farmers along the value chain to help them transition to regenerative practices.
By 2040, through just a 50% adoption of regenerative agriculture across Africa, farmers could see:
• 20% reduction in soil erosion
• Up to a 60% increase in water infiltration rates
• 24% increase in nitrogen content
• 20% increase in carbon content, or higher depending on the
intervention – and not just topsoil (this is huge as soil is the second biggest storehouse of carbon, after oceans).
The benefits are even greater when shrubs and grasses are promoted through agroforestry.
Nzatu’s Support to Farmers
• Nzatu can guarantee market linkage for honey, coffee and other agroforestry products
• Nzatu provides training to the rural communities in production, processing, harvesting and apiary management
• Wherever economically viable, Nzatu will also provide extension support to the farmers
• When not viable, alternative structures and models will be established to ensure that farmers have the required technical advisory support that they need to increase productivity
Nzatu’s Support to Communities
• The rural communities and subsistence farmers are the key beneficiaries of this initiative
• This project will create a favorable environment to market produce by establishing collection and processing centers that are linked to markets
• They will train other farmers on beekeeping since some will have been trained as T.O.Ts (Trainers of Trainees)
• This is achieved through a combination of adequate training and easy access to acquiring equipment, extension and advisory support, a guaranteed market for their produce at a mutually acceptable price
Nzatu marketing opportunities
Ethical Investing
• ESG Sustainable Investing
• Climate change resilience
• Women inclusion
• Social impact
• Education programs
• Wildlife & Biodiversity defense
Nzatu Heritage Grains
- Nzatu believes that there exists a tremendous social impact opportunity to create a push-pull business opportunity for small holder farmers to have a secure stable off-take market through branded products that contain indigenous, neglected, and underutilized crop species (NUCS).
- Using the same method of re-introduction of the very grains that were once replaced, by creating the export channels that offer the ability to pay farmers in USD prices making it more attractive to grow and trade NUCS.
- •This can reverse the current staple of maize to Heritage Grains and thus encourage more consumption which will result in reduced malnutrition.”
Where does Nzatu’s Produce come from?
• Currently sourcing produce from most countries in the Miombo woodlands region and beyond
• All produce is responsibly sourced from Nzatu’s network of smallholder farms
• All produce is certified and traceable. Nzatu’s network of strategic partners in biodiversity and agroforestry can ensure that the produce is sourced responsibly
• Honey: Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, Angola, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda
• Coffee: Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, Malawi, Ivory Coast, Angola, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda
• Grains: Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, South Sudan, Egypt
Go-To market
• Through its operational arms, Nzatu has already created a growing member group of thousands of local farmers in 15 countries
• This model has already been implemented in Zambia and has proven to be scaleable
• Nzatu honey will be associated with various locations across countries and labeled with iconic African wildlife areas like Kruger, Okavango, Serengeti, Virunga etc.
• Nzatu Grains, Coffee and Honey will be produced adopting regenerative, organic agricultural practices with pollination of biologically diverse trees and flowers
• Grains, Honey and Coffee will be branded and marketed under Nzatu
Retail Coffee Model
Nzatu’s Honey Specialists
Denise Madiro, from Zambia is a trainer and advisor to local communities and farmers, on best practices for beekeeping, and apiary management is recognized across sub-Saharan Africa for her passion and professionalism gained through her entrepreneurial successes and community development initiatives.
Denise advises Nzatu’s farmer networks and biodiversity & conservation partners on apiary management, harvest training, field operations and quality control.
Nzatu’s Coffee Specialists
came out of an idea that reflects the culture of our past, of a land steeped in tradition and art, of a life experience and passion for our work. We judged our coffee like exacting and stringent art critics, bringing to life a product that does justice to a city that is as beautiful as it is demanding, and that gazes on Europe with taste and refinement. Artcafé coffee is not only an exceptionally high-quality product, but it is also the result of a long experience in the world of coffee and of an innovative choice in taste and quality.
All the blends are my creations. I conceived them, realized them, and roasted them and they are the fruit of all my years of passion and experience in the world of coffee. They are the result of my in-depth knowledge and study of the subject: from the plant to the harvesting of the fruit, to the type of processing. My ongoing personal challenge is to obtain the best from every batch of coffee and bring out the real character of every bean. It is only when I achieve this goal that I can define my blends as “special”.
Luca Montagna
Founder and CEO, Artcafèz
Founding Team
Denise Madiro
An entreprenuer with enterprise development experience within the Southern African region, in particular Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Focuses on the capacity development to enhance skills of small and medium enterprises.
Gwen Jones
Over 25 years of global entrepreneurial experience.
Advisory board member of the World Food Bank, and Resolve NGO.
Namwala Ila Tribal Council member, collaborates with Tribal Chief to sustain social and cultural heritage.
Michele Sofisti
Founder and President of SOFOS Management.
International expertise in strategic consulting for the entertainment, food, automobile, fashion, outdoor industries. Including marketing, branding, business development, management and distribution.
Prithvi Naik
Climate economist, with expertise in plastics and chemicals in a circular economy, sustainability and climate policy.
Experienced in the petrochemicals industry and related global associations and non-profit industry.
Andrea Chiesi
Head of Special Projects, Chiesi Pharmaceuticals.
Chairman of the board of Confindustria, Emilia Romagna.
Advisors to the Board
Ameenah G. Fakim
Biodiversity scientist, entrepreneur, author and 6th President, Republic of Mauritius. Founding Member of the Pan African Association of African Medicinal Plants. Awarded L’Oreal-UNESCO Prize for Women in Science. 2016 Forbes List of 100 “Most Powerful Women in the World”. 1st of Forbes Top 100 Women in Africa 2017, 2019.
Krithi
Karanth
Chief Conservation Scientist & Executive Director at the Centre for Wildlife Studies.
Rolex Laureate, National Geographic Explorer.
Terry D. Garcia
President, Exploration Ventures.
Ex-Chief Science and Exploration Officer, National Geographic Society.
Ex-deputy Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Giuseppe Mistretta
Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deputy Director-General for Global Affairs.
Gloria B. Herndon
Author and accomplished musician. Founder, Small Business Administration’s (SBA) program.
Ex-member, Council on Foreign Relations at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Active on the Smithsonian, National HeadStart Ass., NAFEO, and US Angola Chamber of Commerce.
Duccio
Berzi
Founder, Canislupus Italia (CLI). Italian Pronatura Federation.
Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri
Tribeca award-winning Disruptive Innovator, director, photographer, and movement marketer, mobilizing millions for good.
Princeton-trained anthropologist, BIPOC LGBT+ neurodiversity advocate for equality, education, ecosystem regeneration, indigenous and women empowerment.
Keegan Goudiss
Keegan Goudiss is a communications strategist renowned for his expertise in digital media and political campaigns. He has played a pivotal role in leveraging online platforms for progressive causes,
most notably with Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign.
Partners
Conservation & Global Organizations
Soil Science
Distribution Partners
For more information, you can contact the following addresses. Thank you
Nzatu Europe SA
Chemin du Pontet 2, 2013 Colombier, Switzerland
Nzatu Food Group (Pty) LTD | South Africa
25 Umthunzi Valley, Walton Road, Johannesburg, South Africa
Nzatu Food Group | Zambia
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