Toniic Investors Bank on Ghana’s Legendary Foods to Address Africa’s Protein Deficiency
A group of impact investors from Toniic, including Katapult, Africa Health Ventures, and Cornelia Tremann, are backing Legendary Foods, a Ghanaian startup tackling Africa’s protein gap with insect-based protein. Legendary Foods is pioneering the sustainable farming of palm larva, known locally as “akokono” in Twi, leveraging its nutritional value and cultural acceptance to revolutionize food production.
Why Palm Larva? A Sustainable Protein Solution
Palm larva offers a complete protein source packed with essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and B-vitamins. Unlike novel protein sources, palm larva is already a familiar and accepted food across West Africa, giving Legendary Foods a significant advantage in market adoption. Furthermore, their operation boasts a climate-positive model. By upcycling over 100 tons of agricultural waste each month, they prevent over 700 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, contributing to a more sustainable food system. Legendary Foods utilizes biotechnology to scale palm larva farming, converting agricultural by-products into both consumer-facing products like protein-rich cookies, sauces, and condiments, and B2B ingredients, including protein powders and oils for other African food manufacturers.
Legendary Foods represents a promising example of African innovation addressing critical nutritional needs with sustainable and culturally relevant solutions, attracting crucial investment to further its mission.
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Related Keywords: Ghana food investment, Africa protein gap, Toniic Investors, legendary foods, alternative protein sources, Ghana food tech, sustainable food Africa, impact investing Ghana, food security Africa, Ghana agriculture investment
