DFCD to support Limbua Group in strengthening climate-resilient, deforestation-free smallholder sourcing
The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD), through its Origination Facility, intends to support Limbua Group Limited, an established organic agribusiness sourcing from more than 9,000 certified smallholders in Kenya’s Mount Kenya region. Limbua operates four decentralised processing hubs and maintains a highly certified, transparent value chain for macadamia, avocado oil, and dried mango.
The project with Limbua has been put forward by the World Wide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF-NL), which, together with SNV, a global development partner, manages the DFCD’s Origination Facility to develop new projects for the climate investment fund. WWF-NL intends to sign a €257,500 grant funding agreement with Limbua to carry out activities supporting responsible scaling and sustained access to export markets, complemented by an additional €50,000 in targeted technical assistance from WWF-Kenya.
Smallholders in Embu, Kirinyaga, and Meru counties face rising climate pressures, including erratic rainfall, heat stress, and land degradation, each affecting perennial crops such as macadamia, mango, and avocado. At the same time, global buyers - especially in the EU - are tightening requirements around deforestation-free supply chains, traceability, and certification, including the EUDR and CSRD.
Limbua already maintains strong systems, but scaling its inclusive sourcing model requires additional strengthening of traceability, risk mapping, ESG safeguards, and labour and food-safety systems to ensure long-term export eligibility and investor readiness.
Limbua has demonstrated sustained growth, diversified revenues, and strong investor backing. Its decentralised processing model, zero-waste approach, and 1:150 extension-to-farmer ratio make it one of East Africa’s most inclusive and resilient agribusinesses.
The DFCD Origination Facility will help future-proof this model by supporting essential upgrades to certification, regulatory compliance, biodiversity and watershed intelligence, and institutional capacity - enabling Limbua to scale responsibly and maintain access to premium export markets.
DFCD will provide €257,500 in grant funding. In addition, WWF-Kenya will implement €50,000 in technical assistance focused on biodiversity mapping, risk overlays, a human–wildlife conflict (HWC) risk assessment, and field officer training to support integration of ecological and deforestation risk data.
Key DFCD-Supported Activities:
The project is expected to:
With DFCD support and WWF‑Kenya’s technical expertise, Limbua will strengthen climate‑resilient, deforestation‑free value chains in the Mount Kenya region. This partnership will help improve smallholder livelihoods, reinforce sustainable land‑use planning, and secure long‑term market access for organic macadamia, avocado, and mango products.
“This partnership with the DFCD Origination Facility and WWF marks an important milestone for Limbua. For more than 15 years, we have built our business around smallholder inclusion, organic integrity, and long-term relationships with farming communities in the Mount Kenya region. As climate pressures and regulatory requirements increase, this support allows us to strengthen traceability, biodiversity safeguards, and institutional systems - ensuring that smallholders remain at the center of deforestation-free, climate-resilient export value chains. We see this collaboration as an investment in future-proofing inclusive agribusiness in East Africa.”
- Matti Spiecker, Limbua Founder & Director
“Limbua is already setting the standard for what inclusive, climate-smart agribusiness should look like - combining organic certification, fair pricing, and year-round farmer support with rigorous traceability. We’re proud to support a company so deeply rooted in its community. Their smallholders are at the heart of the business. With over 13 certifications and a proven model already reaching 9,000+ farmers, this is about accelerating what already works and preparing it for the next level of climate and market demands.”
- Ian Isherwood, East Africa Regional Lead
For more information, contact Ian Isherwood, DFCD Regional Lead for East Africa at iisherwood@wwf.nl. In case you have any grievances in relation to this project of the DFCD’s Origination Facility, please contact us through our service desk at servicedesk@wwf.nl.
The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) is a climate fund, dedicated to supporting climate adaptation and mitigation projects which benefit vulnerable communities and landscapes. Initially funded by the Dutch government, it is powered by a consortium of four expert organisations: FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank), CFM (Climate Fund Managers), SNV, a global development partner, and WWF Netherlands.
