Episode #5 — Supporting Moringa Farmers Around the Globe

Lisa CurtisCEO & Founder at Kuli Kuli Foods 

Agriculture has a huge impact on the planet – we all have to eat, after all. And while right now a lot of the impact is negative, we can use agriculture to create positive changes for the planet and the many people who support themselves by tending it. This week, we’re joined by Lisa Curtis of Kuli Kuli Foods to talk about how her company is leading the way with this approach.

Show Notes

Agriculture has a huge impact on the planet – we all have to eat, after all. And while right now a lot of the impact is negative, we can use agriculture to create positive changes for the planet and the many people who support themselves by tending it. This week, we’re joined by Lisa Curtis of Kuli Kuli Foods to talk about how her company is leading the way with this approach.

Kuli Kuli Foods got its start when Lisa was working in Niger as part of the Peace Corps. When she was lacking nutrition, she asked some of the women in her community what she could eat to feel better and have more energy. They introduced her to moringa, which Lisa quickly learned was packed with nutrients. What followed was a collaboration between Lisa and moringa farmers to bring the ingredient to bigger markets in a sustainable, transparent, and ethical way.

In this episode, Lisa tells us the story of Kuli Kuli Foods and how it is helping small farmers around the world access big food markets like the US. We chat about the benefits of moringa, why it’s important to form entrepreneurial partnerships that empower people around the globe, and what other food manufacturers can do if they want to invest in small share farmers, too. We also discuss regenerative agriculture and the vision for Kuli Kuli’s future.

    What You'll Learn

  • How Lisa was introduced to moringa and why the community wanted to create a market for growing it.
  • Why moringa is a climate smart crop that benefits farmers, consumers, and the planet alike.
  • How Kuli Kuli Foods uses language that is respectful and not patronizing to its partners in its marketing.
  • What other food manufacturers can do if they want to support small farmers and increase the demand for sustainably produced ingredients.
  • What moringa tastes like and what’s next for Kuli Kuli’s product lines.

Links Mentioned

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