Producing dried fruits, gluten-free flours, eco-friendly tableware, and vermicompost from locally-sourced organic produce
Innovation Type:
Water-Energy-Food
Product Segment:
Energy – Value-Added Processing
Country of Incorporation:
Iraq
Country of Implementation:
Iraq
Company Stage:
Stage 1: 0 to 100 end-users
Seeking Investment:
Yes, $150,000 USD
Financing Goals:
Seeking combination of debt and equity
Contact Name:
Sonia Ismael Ali
Contact Email:
Challenges
In Iraq, traditional methods of agriculture and usage of chemical fertilizers pose challenges for farmers looking to, or trying, to maintain soil fertility. Over time, these practices contribute to soil degradation, nutrient depletion, and soil acidification. Moreover, they result in environmental pollution through water runoff and greenhouse gas emissions. Smallholder farmers also face economic impacts, as they must deal with the burden of continually purchasing fertilizers.
Solutions
Zhany converts organic waste into vermicompost, aerated vermicompost tea, and alkaline vermicompost extract using red wiggler worms. Zhany’s competitive advantage lies in its low-cost pricing, strong network and market understanding, unique product offerings, and a customer-centric approach. The technology the company offers helps farmers to enhance their soil and crops with rich vermicompost and mitigates the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers for crops, thus reducing water needed for irrigation for fruits and vegetables.
