The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), in partnership with FIPS Africa, convened the Food Loss Reduction Solutions (FL-RS) Cost-Benefit Analysis and Business Modeling Workshop through the RE-GAIN Programme, funded by AGRA, to review findings from a study that has been documenting commercially viable business cases for Food Loss Reduction Solutions across Kenya’s agricultural value chain.The workshop was hosted on June 30th 2026 in Wote Town in Makueni County.
The study assessed the commercial viability of FL-RS enterprises among Village-Based Advisors (VBAs), agro-dealers, suppliers, farmers,farmer groups, financial institutions, processors, traders,County staff and other market actors. Its findings will guide the development and scaling of practical business models that create sustainable income opportunities while accelerating the adoption of post-harvest technologies.
Opening the workshop, EAGC Executive Director Gerald Masila emphasized that reducing food loss must be driven by commercially sustainable enterprises. He encouraged farmers to organize into groups to improve access to Food Loss Reduction Solutions, structured markets, and affordable services through EAGC Grain Hubs. He noted that stakeholder feedback collected throughout the study would strengthen the refinement of practical business models that will be rolled out under the RE-GAIN Programme, adding that continued engagement with value chain actors would ensure the models respond to real market needs.
Besides review and inputs into the study findings, the workshop showcased the commercial opportunities emerging from Food Loss Reduction Solutions. A peer-to-peer knowledge exchange enabled MSMEs already investing in FL-RS businesses to share practical experiences, demonstrating how the technologies can generate profitable enterprises while reducing post-harvest losses.
The Business-to-Business (B2B) session for Solutions and grains translated these opportunities into market action by connecting buyers and sellers, generating expressions of interest to trade more than 85MT of green grams, red cowpeas, pigeon peas, and other commodities valued at approximately KSh 8 million through structured grain trade. The workshop also recorded strong market uptake through the B2B session, with participants expressing intents to trade for two tractors, seven threshers, three winnowers, 300 tarpaulins, and 1,150 hermetic bags anticipated to be actualized in Q3 2026.
The workshop strengthened partnerships between farmers, agro-dealers, suppliers, financial institutions, processors, traders, and county governments, creating stronger market linkages needed to scale investment in Food Loss Reduction Solutions.
Ms Mary Muteti Director of Agriculture in Makueni County and Eng Kova Director of mechanization in Kitui County
reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the commercialization of Food Loss Reduction Solutions through policies and programmes that promote climate-smart agriculture, strengthen Village-Based Advisor and agro-dealer networks, and expand access to post-harvest technologies.
FIPS Africa RE-GAIN Project Manager, Mr. Benard Omom, reiterated the consortium’s commitment to working with partners to accelerate adoption of Food Loss Reduction Solutions that protect harvests while creating sustainable business opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
Ms. Alice Wamae, Treasurer of the Kenya National Agro-Dealers Association (KENADA), encouraged agro-dealers to strengthen their businesses by joining the association to benefit from policy advocacy, business networking, capacity building, and market linkages.
The workshop concluded that Food Loss Reduction Solutions are not only effective in reducing post-harvest losses but also represent bankable business opportunities for farmers, service providers, agro-dealers, suppliers, financial institutions, processors, traders, and other market actors. The ongoing documentation of business cases and business models will provide a roadmap for scaling commercially sustainable FL-RS enterprises under the RE-GAIN Programme.
