Josiah Muriuki: Harnessing Agribusiness for Community Impact

From his childhood on the coffee farms to the global stage of leadership and social impact, Josiah Muriuki always believed in one principle: we should not consume what we don’t produce. As a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Pretoria, Mandela Rhodes Scholar, Founder of Beta Mentor Africa, Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) Board Member, and Peer Coach for the Africa Career Networks, Josiah dedicated his career at the intersection of food science, innovation, and youth empowerment.

Building Favour Giants: A Zero-Waste Dream

Josiah’s venture into agribusiness was not solely on farming, but rather on reimagining sustainability. Together with his co-founders, he launched Favour Giants, an innovative rabbit farming initiative with a zero-waste approach. The project uses rabbit droppings as compost, converts urine into pesticide and foliar spray, and provides a source of protein-rich rabbit meat, to combat hunger and malnutrition in Kenya.

However, the impact of this project goes beyond food production. By training and equipping over 30 young people and women farmers, Josiah is promoting community resilience and self-sufficiency and creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. In just four months, the project has expanded from 100 to over 300 rabbits, sourcing from smallholders and creating a ripple effect of prosperity for smallholder farmers.

Innovation with Purpose

Asked about how he envisions the adoption of technology and AI in the agribusiness space Josiah says, “technology should empower people, not replace them.” He envisions using AI powered sensors for FavourGiants. These sensors will monitor the health of rabbits and environmental conditions on the farms. Helping farmers access real time insights and prevent losses. He hopes that his approach to tech in the agribusiness space will help keep the balance of People, Planet and Profit.

Challenges and Lessons

One of the major challenges in implementing the project has been the high cost of specialised rabbit cages, which has hindered widespread adoption. However, Josiah and his team have remained true to their philosophy that taking action leads to rewards. They have actively sought creative solutions to keep farmers engaged despite this obstacle. Josiah’s biggest lesson from this experience? “Working with people is not easy, it takes time to achieve good things”. When you build a step at a time, you are able to eventually build a castle.”

The Road Ahead

Looking towards the future, Josiah is determined to move swiftly towards building systems, policies, and procedures that will withstand the test of time. His personal ambition extends to policy and politics, where he hopes to influence food systems at a national and continental level.

Why Co-Creation Fund program matters

Josiah’s story is a powerful example of what is possible when young innovators have access to the right platforms. Opportunities like the Co-Creation Fund give young agripreneurs the chance to articulate their solutions, test their ideas, and create meaningful impact.

“The AL for Agriculture Co-Creation fund offered us US$3000 to start implementing our project over a 6-month period. Together with my team members, we received monthly coaching calls led by expert coaches that were provided by the AL for Agribusiness network. These sessions enabled us to refine our work and build sustainability mechanisms for our project even beyond the implementation period”. Josiah further emphasises that:

“Articulate your solution the way you understand it. People buy people. It’s less about how you start and more about why. Don’t allow yourself to miss out on opportunities, grab them while you can.”

Through the Co-Creation Fund, more young changemakers like Josiah can turn their ideas into sustainable ventures, uplifting marginalised communities and reshaping Africa’s agribusiness landscape.