Established in 2014, Sahara Sahel Foods is a social enterprise that specializes in the production of nutritious and delicious foods from indigenous and under-exploited perennials. We believe we can regreen drylands, while also feeding people nutritious foods and offering them means to live a healthy life. To achieve this, we transform fruits, seeds, leaves and other plant-based produce into delicious products such as cakes, oils, juices, pseudo-cereals and more.
By using the foods generously offered by these perennials, we uncover essential contributions to our human nutrition, that can help solve the pressing malnutrition problems of our time. At the same time, we create livelihoods and economic incentives around these native plants that make rural family farmers and nomads want to protect and propagate them, thus effectively combating desertification and helping restore the ecosystems.
As a result, we now boast an assortment of 60 different products that are made from 21 woody species, working with a network of approximately 2000 women located in 80 different villages, primarily in the provinces of Zinder and Maradi.