From Spoiled Milk to Sustainable Innovation: How 2024 TEF Alumni Jovia Kisaakye Is Reducing Food Waste and Empowering Communities in Uganda

For Jovia Kisaakye, they see opportunity.

As the founder of Ecobed Biotech and NutriGrab, the 2024 Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Alumni is proving that some of society’s most pressing challenges can become powerful engines for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.

What started as a small business selling just 250 units of eco-friendly products has grown into an enterprise that has sold more than 200,000 products, created jobs, reduced food waste, and opened new income opportunities for farmers and traders across Uganda.

Jovia’s journey shows how entrepreneurship can turn environmental challenges into scalable solutions that benefit entire communities.

Turning Waste into Value

Ecobed Biotech was born from a simple but innovative idea: finding practical uses for spoiled milk that would otherwise be discarded.

Drawing on biotechnology and local research, Jovia developed a range of sustainable products from milk waste, including mosquito repellents, cosmetics, animal feed, and organic fertilisers.

Rather than allowing valuable resources to end up in landfills, Ecobed converts agricultural waste into products that support healthier communities, improved agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability.

This approach aligns with the principles of the circular economy, where materials are recovered, repurposed, and kept in productive use for as long as possible.

For Uganda, where food loss and waste continue to impact both livelihoods and environmental sustainability, solutions like Ecobed offer a practical way to create value while reducing waste.

Solving the Root Cause of Food Waste

As Ecobed expanded, Jovia discovered an unexpected challenge.

Because there was growing demand for waste-derived products, some farmers and food sellers were deliberately allowing milk and other food items to spoil before selling them.

The experience revealed an important lesson: solving food waste requires more than finding productive uses for waste. It also means preventing good food from becoming waste in the first place.

This insight led to the creation of NutriGrab, a digital platform designed to connect farmers, retailers, and food vendors with consumers interested in purchasing products approaching their expiry date at discounted prices.

The platform helps ensure that food remains in the consumption chain rather than ending up as waste.

By connecting buyers and sellers through technology, NutriGrab helps farmers recover value from products that might otherwise be lost, while providing consumers with more affordable options.

The result is a solution that addresses food insecurity, supports local businesses, and contributes to a more sustainable food system.

Building Jobs and Opportunities

Beyond its environmental impact, Jovia’s businesses are creating meaningful economic opportunities.

When she joined the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in 2024, Ecobed operated with a small team of just two to three employees.

Today, the organisation employs 12 team members, including programme managers, food waste collectors, logistics personnel, and operational staff.

The growth of the enterprise demonstrates how green innovation can become a source of employment and economic empowerment.

By working directly with farmers, traders, food vendors, and consumers, Jovia has created a model that benefits multiple stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.

Her work illustrates an important reality about entrepreneurship in Africa: businesses can generate profit while simultaneously solving social and environmental challenges.

Jovia Kisaakye’s Growth Fueled by Innovation

Since receiving support through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, Jovia has significantly expanded the reach of her businesses.

Product sales have grown from 250 units to more than 200,000 units, reflecting increasing demand for sustainable products and growing awareness of environmental solutions among consumers.

The business has also embraced technology as a key driver of scale. Through NutriGrab, Jovia is leveraging digital tools to improve market access, reduce waste, and connect communities more efficiently.

This combination of biotechnology and technology-driven innovation is helping position Ecobed and NutriGrab as emerging leaders within Uganda’s sustainability and agribusiness ecosystem.

Recognition on the Global Stage

Jovia’s impact has attracted international recognition.

Most recently, she received support through the Global Citizen Award in partnership with PayPal, providing additional momentum for her mission to build sustainable solutions that address food waste and strengthen livelihoods.

She has also secured a partnerships to promote agroecology and sustainable agricultural practices, further expanding her impact within farming communities.

These achievements highlight the growing global interest in African entrepreneurs who are developing innovative responses to environmental and economic challenges.

The Power of Entrepreneurial Capital

Jovia’s story demonstrates what can happen when entrepreneurs are given access to funding, training, mentorship, and the right ecosystem of support.

What began as a small venture transforming spoiled milk into useful products has evolved into a growing enterprise that is reducing food waste, creating jobs, supporting farmers, and driving environmental sustainability.

Her journey reflects a broader truth at the heart of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s mission: when entrepreneurs are empowered, they do more than build businesses. They create solutions, strengthen communities, and unlock opportunities for others.

From turning waste into value to building technology-driven solutions for food security, Jovia Kisaakye is helping shape a future where sustainability and economic growth go hand in hand, proving that some of the most impactful innovations begin by reimagining what others throw away.

See her bio: https://agrifood.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SME-Accelerator-Website-Profile_Jovia-Kisaakye.pdf