There’s a silent movement.

It’s gaining traction slowly but still growing in popularity.

It’s a movement borne out of consciousness about healthy food.

It has led to some growth in the uptake of farming among a number of urbanites.

Small spaces, frontyards, backyards, balconies and patios have been converted to green spaces which produce food.

But this silent movement isn’t just in towns.

Some rural folk seem to have bought into it.

There is a growing interest in safe food…

Food that has been produced without the use of harmful pesticides mineral fertilizers.

It might seem simple but in many ways it’s not and here’s one reason why.

SOIL

The soil is the anchor for plants.

It’s the nutrient source which nourishes our crops enabling us to enjoy a bumper harvest.

But what happens when we use our soils over and over again?

It loses fertility and no better way to return it than to use mineral fertilisers.

Mineral fertilizers are like the ‘fast foods” for soils.

They pump it up with nutrients which boost the next harvest but end up leaving the soil worse than before.

Over application of mineral fertilisers may lead to increased salt in soil (soil salinity) and may also alter the pH which may affect  useful organisms that thrive in it.

But mineral fertilizers don’t supply one soil commodity that is so crucial to crops.

CARBON

Carbon is the gamechanger in soils.

Don’t get me wrong…

Other nutrients do matter but for soils to thrive, they must carry a significant carbon content.

That way, useful soil microorganisms will find a nutrient source for life.

But what ways can we use to inject that useful carbon to soils?

One is through the use of manure.

Aged manure is one that has spent a while before being applied to soils.

It is known to improve soil texture, nutrient balance and injects life into the soil in the form of microorganisms.

Manure is good.

But there is a better option.

COMPOST

The thing with compost is it can be derived from any form of rotting waste…

Kitchen scraps will do…

Livestock manure is good.

Like manure, it injects the same combination of carbon, microorganisms and nutrients.

But it does so more efficiently which is why it is bound to become a priced commodity with time.

THE PROCESS

Composting involves conversion of rotting waste over time through the action of water, air, microorganisms and heat.

Composting could be a slow process taking over six months or it could happen in weeks depending on the methods used.

So whether it’s hot or cold composting,  Bokashi, vermicomposting or using black soldier fly larvae the end product is still the coveted crispy dark material called compost.

Since compost transfers value to farmers, it creates an opportunity for a brand of entrepreneurs who have a focus on generating and selling compost.

A BUSINESS

Composting as a business has several advantages.

First, it creates a circular economy around waste.

Infact there’s nothing called waste to a composter because its a raw material

Second, composting sorts out the problem of solid waste.

Lastly, composting is a journey towards value addition.

This is because it derives value from what was intended for waste.

These are a few opportunities available to those who choose to roll up their sleeves and venture into the rewarding world of composting.

A few startups are making it big in this area including Essentia Kanan, Takataka Solutions, Planet Worms among others.

But composting opportunities cannot be exhausted simply because we grapple with the solid waste problem on a daily basis.

These are opportunities waiting to smile on anyone ready to roll up their sleeves and dig in.

So let’s start composting.