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Enterprise for Development (EfD) is excited to welcome Chanzi to its portfolio of high impact, sustainable and scalable enterprises across sub-Saharan Africa, supporting them to scale their black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) production and expand Okota, their waste management facility in Arusha, Tz. 

In supporting Chanzi’s second seed round fundraise through a convertible debt note, EfD are providing the capex for Chanzi to develop Okota to full capacity, providing the continuous supply of waste they need to be able to expand BSFL production.  The BSFL provides a low cost, high-quality sustainable protein additive in livestock and fish feed, as well as indigenous low-cost organic fertilizer for increased productivity and improved soil structure, both especially valuable for small holder farmers.  Okota creates wider social impact by providing low-income families who previously scavenged on municipal waste dumps, with employment, consistent fair wages, and safer working conditions.

EfD, alongside co-investors are providing pre-Series A investment capital to enable Chanzi to confirm the venture can scale profitably as a prelude to a Series A fundraise planned for next year.  For more info you can find a link to Chanzi in our Agriculture section.

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Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 requires the creation of large carbon sinks as well as large reductions in carbon emissions. Growing trees is currently one of the most important ways to create carbon sinks at scale. This is already recognised by the UK government as demonstrated by e.g. the creation of the Woodland Carbon Guarantee and the proposed Nature for Climate Fund. While valuable pathfinders, these initiatives are tiny compared to the huge scale of the problem. According to the Climate Change Committee the UK will need to plant about 75-100 million trees on space equivalent to 30,000 to 50,000 football pitches every year to capture the carbon needed to meet the UK target!