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French development finance institution Proparco has invested $171k in Farm to Feed, a Kenyan AgTech company that helps smallholder farmers sell more of their harvest and lose less of it.
The company plans to use the funds to strengthen its technology platform, operations and network of partner farmers. It will also expand its value-added activities, so that more of the harvested produce can be sold.
“Africa’s population is expected to nearly double by 2050. That growth represents an enormous economic opportunity, but we need to build the food systems to support it now. Today, farmers lack visibility on demand, buyers struggle to source consistently, and too much of what is grown never finds the right market. Farm to Feed was built to address that fragmentation. Proparco’s investment allows us to accelerate this work, creating more value for farmers, reducing waste and unlocking the economic opportunity of Africa’s growth,” said Claire van Enk, Chief Executive Officer of Farm to Feed.
Farm to Feed was founded in 2021 by Claire van Enk, Anouk Boertien, and Zara Benosa. Its platform covers sourcing, demand forecasting, sales, logistics, warehousing and payments. Farmers get a clear picture of what buyers need, and they are paid within days rather than weeks.
The goal is to cut down on waste and help farmers make more money. In sub-Saharan Africa, about 50% of fruits and vegetables are lost before reaching consumers. Farmers often overproduce or send out lower-quality crops because they don’t know what buyers want. Buyers face challenges dealing with many small suppliers and struggling to get consistent supplies.
The company purchases the entire harvest, including imperfect or surplus items. Through its “Grade Rescue” and “Ready to Use” product lines, it sells lower-grade produce and processes it to enhance usability and shelf life. These products are available in both local and international markets.
Farm to Feed has 5,500 registered farmers and more than 160 business customers, including hotels, schools, hospitals, food processors and institutional feeding programmes.
It has grown by more than 100% year on year for three years in a row and has a Net Promoter Score of 92. It is now expanding beyond Nairobi into other parts of Kenya. The company’s 2025 impact report shows a 249% rise in farmer income and an 81% fall in food loss on farms working with it.
Farm to Feed will use the funds to strengthen its technology platform, operations and network of partner farmers. It will also expand its value-added activities, so that more of the harvested produce can be sold.
Proparco is a development finance group that is partially owned by the French Development Agency and private investors from developed countries.
It encourages private investment in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Previously, the company invested in South African private equity firm Capitalworks, Luanda-based mobility and fintech startup Anda Angola, Cauridor, an Africa-focused fintech building cross-border payment infrastructure as well as South African vaccine manufacturer Biovac.
“Food loss is a major challenge for climate, food security and farmers’ livelihoods alike. By supporting Farm to Feed’s growth ambitions, Proparco is backing an innovative business model that provides tangible solutions to these challenges. This investment fully reflects our strategy of supporting innovative companies that combine economic performance with environmental impact and the inclusion of smallholder farmers, on top founded by strong women entrepreneurs,” said Fabrice Perez, Head of the Financial Institutions and Innovation Division at Proparco.
