AI & AUTOMATION
“The manufacturing sector should recognise the productivity and the dignity of people working within the food value chain ”
UZOMA AYOGU CTO , RELEAF
Releaf has had
US $ 75m
in bookings for this year
“ In the first quarter , about three people used it ,” says Ayogu . “ It was just focused on malaria and typhoid coverage because they ’ re primarily what people are getting sick with .”
Now , farmers contact the Releaf call centre when they want to let the company know that they have crops available .
“ Sometimes , they ' ll call us to talk about problems they ' re having in their lives . For us , that ' s another level of affinity ,” says Ayogu . “ Releaf is not just someone who buys crops . Releaf is a farmer ' s best friend and that emotional connection with the brand we ' re building is , I think , the most powerful longterm road for us .”
A key part of its strategy is to be seen as the company that has access to the farmers , without having to own the land for the farms .
“ Releaf is getting creative about how the manufacturing sector can recognise the productivity and the dignity of people working within the food value chain ,” says Ayogu .
Nigeria became the 6th most populous nation in 2020 , with 216m people , and the food supply crisis is hitting closer to the Nigerian farmers Releaf works with .
Ayogu ’ s prediction for the global food supply chain is that , with the help of Releaf and other food manufacturers , Nigeria can rise up and export its product across a growing human population .
“ When Nigeria becomes the third most populous nation in the world , we want to switch the paradigm ,” says Ayogu . “ We want Releaf to help Nigeria to become the breadbasket of the world with processed products .”
While Releaf sadly accepts that food supply chains are going to continue to struggle , Ayogu knows that the answers do exist . manufacturingdigital . com 85