Toothpick Company Ltd., Kenya (Toothpick Project) Improving food security with a agri-biotech revolution against weeds

Striga (witchweed) is considered the #1 pest threat in African food security, associated with malnutrition, economic hardship, and land abandonment. Striga is an increasingly destructive parasitic weed on 40 million farms across sub-Saharan Africa. Attacking the roots of staple crops it depletes yield by 20-100%. Up to 50 million hectares of croplands in Africa show Striga infestation, causing $9+ billion in crop loss annually. 85% of maize smallholder farmers are women, making Striga a gender-sensitive food security issue.

Our bio-herbicide technology kills the worst weed in sub-Saharan Africa, thereby increasing crop yield by approximately 42-56%. Village Inoculum Producers (VIPs) grow a live active inoculum from a fungal-coated toothpick and distribute it to farmers (a micro-agribusiness). The product is safe, effective, and affordable.

Other solutions fail to restore crop yield, are toxic, and/or are poorly adopted by farmers. Farmers are eager for our product team.