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Mavuno Organic Kenya Limited Land Use & Deforestation Policy

Mavuno Organics predominantly works with contracted individual farmers who grow avocados in their legal lands.

Our recruitment of farmers is guided by our observation of environmental stewardship and the farmer’s commitment to good agricultural practices. Our main theme is organic production and other smart agriculture practices.

Mavuno does not register farms whose land has come into being as a result of:

Deforestation
Cultivation of riparian land
Protected lands by the community or the people
government
Lands near and along water catchment areas

The farmers are obliged to commit to our Internal Organic Standards, which principally push for practices that conserve soil fertility, protect indigenous trees, establish wood lots, and ensure the integrity of the land.

Mavuno Organics is committed towards environmental conservation. We endeavour to conduct our business with respect and consideration to the environment.

Champions of organic farming that’s good for the planet and people

We are proud pioneers in Kenya’s organic produce industry. Our businesses, farms, and growers are all dedicated to achieving the pinnacle of organic farming practices. We ensure all our farmers know climate change and support them in mitigating its effects.

We provide training, knowledge, and resources, cultivating a mindset of collective care for our planet so that each of our farmers is driven to protect our environment by adopting sustainable farming systems.

Our Organic Farmers

Healthy and enriched soils

We protect the resilience and integrity of our precious soil by utilising minimal tillage. We also harness the natural power of compost and green manure, producing soil rich with invaluable organic matter. This leads to abundant water retention, heightened microbe growth, and greater atmospheric carbon absorption.

Balanced biodiversity

Most of our farms are owned by tight-knit families who tend to the land with tenderness, tenacity, and expertise. They meticulously craft beautifully balanced and biodiverse ecosystems, which minimise the risks of unwanted pests and diseases and culminate in maximum output at minimal costs.

Far-reaching foliage

We encourage permaculture principles, resulting in farms that work in perfect harmony with their unique natural environment. Led by this ethos, we’ve seen the growth of thousands of avocado trees across our lands. This sweeping tree cover increases carbon sequestration and decreases our carbon footprint. It also generates new avenues for income for our farmers.

Carefully considered energy use

Across our growing network of farmers, you will find numerous renewable energy sources. From solar to wind to biogas. We employ cutting-edge technologies and break new ground with energy-saving tools and resources. We also closely monitor our energy use and seek new and innovative methods to reduce it.

Relying on rainfall

Water is the fountain from which all life flows, and we do all we can to protect and preserve this precious resource. We reduce our water footprint by nourishing most of our crops with rainwater. We seek to arm our farmers with the expertise and technology to capture and store rainfall so our harvest can be sustained with abundant rainwater, even when the skies are dry.

Upholding our ‘Deforestation Policy’

We aim never to produce a single harvest from deforested lands. Our robust Deforestation Policy underlines this commitment – helping us uphold our pledge to ensure none of our partner farms have been formed due to deforestation.

Setting our standard

Where some might be satisfied with ‘good enough’, we’ve set our sky-high bar for excellence. Known as our ‘Internal Organic Standards’, these guiding principles are our sustainability north star. Each of our farmers must display their commitment to upholding these standards, showcasing their dedication to soil fertility, indigenous foliage protection, and all-around conservation of the integrity, singularity, and spectacular beauty of our cherished lands.

Letting nothing go to waste: reduction of Greenhouse gasses

We’re honoured to harvest our quality produce and see each crop as a treasured gift from nature. As such, we let none of it go to waste. Any avocados unfit for the market – such as those that are too small or have visual imperfections, are put to excellent use as part of our delicious and healthy avocado purees, guacamoles and IQF range.

After all, they may not look perfect on the outside, but they still taste perfect on the inside. This seemingly simple act of upscaling our rejected produce has a profound effect. It minimises food waste and loss, reducing the amount of produce in landfills and methane gas. It also empowers our farmers to make the most of their crops, improving their ability to earn on each harvest.

Life-extending technologies

We reduce food waste using state-of-the-art HPP (High-Pressure Pasteurisation) technology, extending the shelf life of our delectable ready-to-eat guacamole range. This innovative technique preserves essential nutrients and halts the growth of microbes, so it remains remarkably fresh and perfectly preserved for 18 months, significantly reducing food waste.

Keeping Kenyan homes warm

Where some might see debris, we see possibility. This is why every part of our produce is harnessed for good, down to its skin and seeds. We upcycle these unassuming elements into briquettes; the ideal kindling for fuel burners. Doing our part in our local communities, we sell these briquettes to low-socioeconomic homes at an affordable price so they can keep their homes warm and their heating costs down.

Rigorous selection of farmers

With our thriving network of farmers, our sustainability vision comes to be. This is why we hand-pick our farmers based on their shared passion for peak agricultural practices, dedication to the land and commitment to organic farming.

We operate under the ‘Mavuno Organics Kenya Limited Land Use Policy’. We partner primarily with individual legal land-owner farmers whose farms have come into being due to deforestation or cultivation of riparian land. We also register those whose land is protected by the government or local community or lies alongside water catchment areas. These measures mean we’re home to a remarkable collective of farmers, each helping us usher in a new era of organic Kenyan produce.

As part of our commitment to conservation, we treat our environment with the utmost respect and consideration at every turn. This means we have pledged not to grow or source our products from farmlands that have appropriated nature’s precious resources, such as forests, water catchment areas, rangelands, or riparian lands.

Developing our biofertilisers

Biochar is a charcoal-like biological fertiliser made from organic wastes and residues, such as avocado seeds. It’s created by burning biomass in low-oxygen conditions, producing a carbon-rich substance many field experts believe is pivotal to soil rejuvenation. As a light and porous substance, biochar acts almost as a sponge. It provides a hospitable habitat for the numerous microorganisms that can enhance the health of soil and plant life. Biochar is also capable of storing carbon for lengthy periods. Tucked into the soil, biochar sequesters carbon away from the atmosphere, helping reduce greenhouse emissions.

Here at Mavuno, we’ve invested in the tools and equipment required to produce our own biochar. Any unused skins and seeds are composted into bio-fertilisers, which our farmers use to replenish and regenerate their soil. Both the environment and our farmers love this waste-saving measure.