The Green Wave: One Million Avocados Blockchain Journey

Blockchain is an influential disruptive technological force, revolutionizing how value is exchanged online. Blockchain's core characteristics (transparency, security, and immutability) have opened new frontiers where two parties can exchange value without needing third parties, such as banks, governments, and big corporations, to establish trust — it is poised to impact all sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, finance, supply chain, and healthcare e.t.c. Combined with AI, they stand at the forefront of shaping the envisioned Web 3.0.

I recently had a Question & Answer session with Kevin D. Nyakaru , the Founder of One Million Avocados , exploring how they are deploying blockchain technologies in Avocado farming, challenges they have encountered, partnerships, the impact it had on farmers, and future plans.

On challenges One million Avocados have faced

Ndabari: How One Million Avocados has navigated regulatory challenges unique to Kenya's blockchain landscape. Could you provide specific examples of regulatory hurdles and how your team addressed them?

Kevin: The most significant hurdle avocado farmers (all in general) face is liquidity to increase their production, quality, and yield. Our blockchain solution allows tokenizing these farm assets fractionalizing ownership to allow for capital influx.

Blockchain Agriculture is a new agricultural concept, and we are grateful to the Capital Markets Authority- Kenya Sandbox Review Committee for their positive engagement with our solution.

On Collaboration and Partnerships:

Ndabari: I'm curious about One Million Avocados' collaborations or partnerships within the Kenyan blockchain ecosystem and internationally. Could you share any notable collaborations that have contributed to the growth of your organization in the region?

Kevin: Being members of 'The Blockchain Association of Kenya,’ we are continuously networking and learning how to implement better business practices within the blockchain and the industry. We are newly minted members of Kenyan NFT Club , where we use digital art to promote youthful participation in the agricultural sector.

Outside Kenya, we acknowledge Dimitra Technology and especially their CEO, Jon Trask , for supporting us with an advanced tech stack.

User Adoption and Impact:

Ndabari: In terms of user adoption, how has the Kenyan market responded to your blockchain solutions? Are there any success stories or impactful use cases you could highlight?

Kevin: The response has been positively overwhelming. Charles, one of our farmers, had a bacterial infection on some of his trees. Using data, we were able to perform early detection and mitigate before Christmas. The health of the trees is recorded on Blockchain, giving all stakeholders visibility over the production process. This continued engagement creates trust between parties, allowing for better trade.

Future Plans:

Ndabari: As the blockchain and crypto space evolves, what are your plans and strategies for further engagement and expansion in Kenya? Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you can disclose?

Kevin: One of our key strategies is working with relevant stakeholders and institutions to develop robust legal policies that support the development of Blockchain in agriculture. The Kenyan Avocado industry loses up to $200 million annually due to traceability challenges. We intend to expand our offering beyond the farms and across the supply chain to curb this leakage. Smart Contracts can enhance instant payments and tracking transactions, benefiting the ecosystem.

Community Engagement:

Ndabari: Community engagement is crucial in fostering blockchain awareness. How is One Million Avocados actively engaging with the local community in Kenya? Are there any educational or awareness programs you've been involved in?

Kevin: Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) takes some getting used to, and we understand the need for constant educational content, thus the emphasis on our blog page. In addition, thanks to Heifer International Kenya , we were able to showcase during the Kenya Innovation Week 2023. We are organizing a "Blockchain for Agriculture" awareness event, to be announced later this year, aiming to enlighten farmers on the benefits of DLT.

Technological Innovations:

Ndabari: To provide a more technical perspective for my readers, could you share any recent innovations or advancements within One Million Avocados that have contributed to the effectiveness of your blockchain solutions in Kenya?"

Kevin: The recent adoption of ERC-3643 by the Ethereum community has effectively dealt with compliance and security issues, enabling a robust tokenization standard. By deploying IOT (Internet of Things) to get precise data on the farm and embedding specific identity guidelines, we adhere to local regulations, heightening transparency and investments. We are further developing our system to be modular and multi-layered as different users perform various roles.

On-boarding Farmers:

Ndabari: A farmer or would-be avocado farmer is reading this. Can you explain how you enlist new farmers and how a person interested in blockchain for Agriculture can contact you?

Kevin: As One Million Avocados, we have an on-boarding process, but basically, you have to give us your Name, contacts, location, and proof of farm ownership; then we do an evaluation. If approved, we will go ahead and sign an agreement.?

Conclusion

One Million Avocados exemplifies the fusion of technology and agriculture, showcasing how blockchain can not only revolutionize farming practices but also contribute to sustainability, transparency, and community empowerment. We look forward to witnessing their continued impact on the Kenyan agricultural landscape.

To get in touch with them, check their website: https://onemillionavocados.com

Reach Kevin on this Email: [email protected]

Credits: Ndabari Thuku

Email: [email protected]