Giraffe Bioenergy
Standing Tall for Food and Fuel
We are establishing local manufacturing of ethanol cooking fuel from cassava to serve the growing clean cooking market in Kenya impacting rural livelihoods.
Build 128 million litres of ethanol cooking fuel capacity
Increase the incomes of 15,000 smallholder farmers mainly women
Improve food security for 20,000 members of the community
Problem & Solution
We import the majority of ethanol cooking fuel used in Kenya despite having all the resources necessary for robust domestic production from cassava including:
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High demand for ethanol cooking fuel
Established last-mile distribution infrastructure
Ample under-utilised semi-arid land
Plenty of skilled and semi-skilled labour
Protective tariffs and political will
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to establish rural bioeconomies increasing the incomes of women in farming communities through large-scale cassava farming and manufacturing of ethanol cooking fuel.
Our vision is to leverage the central role that women play in the value chain in cassava production and processing and as beneficiaries of ethanol cooking fuel replacing charcoal and kerosene.
The team
Founder and CEO
Linda Davis, PhD
Over 2o years experience in several senior executive positions globally leading biorefinery business departments. PhD Degree in Microbiology specialising in producing ethanol from novel technologies.
Farm Manager
Mark Kaloki
Mark has over 15 years of experience in the agricultural field, having worked in a range of positions to support and encourage excellence in production.
Nick Brooks
Advisor and Board Member
Nick led 25 years at Shell International, establishing and managing ventures across diverse global regions. Since 2005, he's concentrated on renewable energy, founding or joining boards of biofuel/bioenergy firms in Europe, Africa, and China, spanning various value chain segments.
Theo Chiyoka
Agricultural Director
Theo is a senior agri-business expert with extensive experience in multi-cultural environments in agriculture production, agricultural investments, value chain optimization and agricultural products marketing in Sub Saharan Africa, West and the East Africa
Christine Mutoni, PhD
Senior Agronomist
Christine earned a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Nairobi, specializing in creating disease-resistant cassava varieties. With extensive agricultural research experience, she's dedicated to enhancing cassava farming through ongoing scientific engagement.
Amina Kazungu
Propagation Associate
From the local community, trained at the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization and experience at Giraffe Bioenergy in novel rapid cassava propagation technologies.
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Testimonials
Since working for Giraffe, I have attended training in rapid propagation technology and increased my income. My children enjoy 3 meals a day and I am able to pay school fees. Above all, I love that I am learning each day working hand in hand with a scientist.
Amina Swaleh
Our Impact
Income generation and poverty alleviation for women and communities
Commercial cassava farming provides rural communities, especially women, with opportunities for income generation. By participating in the production and sale of cassava, communities can earn a steady income, which drives investment in education, healthcare, and other basic needs
Food security and nutrition
Cassava is an ideal feedstock for both food and fuel
Giraffe Bioenergy utilises semi-arid, non-fertile land in areas with unreliable rains that are prone to drought and are therefore not suitable for food production. We have adopted and rapidly propagated drought-resistant edible cassava strains developed by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture that can thrive in semi-arid land
Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability
Sustainable cassava commercial farming using improved drought and disease tolerant varieties promotes sustainable practices like soil management, water conservation, and agroforestry, enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability