Kenya: Proparco invests in Farm to Feed to cut food loss

Proparco has invested €150,000 in Farm to Feed, a Kenyan agritech company working to reduce food loss while raising incomes and market access for smallholder farmers, according to a press release published on September 29, 2026. The company runs a technology-enabled platform that coordinates fragmented agricultural supply with predictable buyer demand. This helps farmers commercialize more of what they grow while cutting waste across the food system. Founded in 2021 by three women entrepreneurs, Farm to Feed makes this a 2X-labelled investment. The financing will accelerate the company’s growth and scale its value-added activities.

In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 50% of fruits and vegetables are lost before reaching the market. This causes lost farmer incomes, wider economic losses across the agricultural sector, and unnecessary environmental impacts. Food loss is driven by fragmented and unpredictable markets and by the lack of reliable input resources for farmers. Producers often lack visibility on future demand, reliable inputs, and the information needed to plan production. Buyers, in turn, struggle to source consistent volumes, quality, and products from large supplier pools.

Farm to Feed’s bespoke platform coordinates farmers, buyers, and internal operations across sourcing, demand forecasting, sales, logistics, warehousing, and payments. Its “Grade Rescue” and “Ready to Use” product lines create markets for imperfect and surplus produce while extending shelf life. The company has 5,500 registered farmers on the platform and more than 160 B2B customers, including hotels, schools, hospitals, food processors, and institutional feeding programs. Farm to Feed has grown by more than 100% year-on-year for three consecutive years, with a Net Promoter Score of 92. It is now expanding beyond Nairobi into other regions of Kenya.

The company’s 2025 impact report recorded a 249% farmer income increase through reliable markets, fair pricing, and higher offtake volumes. It also reported an 81% reduction in food loss on farms working with the company. Payments to farmers arrive within days rather than weeks, supported by demand forecasting and transparent transactions.

“Food loss is a major challenge for climate, food security and farmers’ livelihoods alike. By supporting Farm to Feed’s growth ambitions, Proparco is backing an innovative business model that provides tangible solutions to these challenges,” said Fabrice Perez, Head of the Financial Institutions and Innovation Division at Proparco.

Claire van Enk, Chief Executive Officer of Farm to Feed, noted that Africa’s population is expected to nearly double by 2050. She said the investment allows the company to accelerate its work, create more value for farmers, and reduce waste. Proparco’s financing will strengthen Farm to Feed’s technology platform, operational capabilities, and network of partner farmers. It will also support the expansion of value-added activities to increase the share of harvested produce commercialized. The investment reflects Proparco’s strategy of backing innovative companies that combine economic performance with environmental impact and smallholder inclusion.