Meal in One

Promoting edible mushroom production through sustainable household farming
2019 SEED Africa & South Africa Climate Adaptation Awards; Government of Flanders
Sustainable Agriculture
Lilongwe
Malawi

Meal in One is an inclusive, locally driven, social enterprise managing 48 active mushroom household farmers in Dowa district on a total land size of 6 hectares. Meal in One sells the mushrooms to end consumers with a mark-up premium, and 70% of total revenues are shared with the farmers.

The farmers contribute to the purchasing of raw materials for production and the well-wishers support for conducting trainings on mushroom cultivation.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Meal in One has mobilised 48 rural household producers and created 100 direct and indirect jobs along the mushroom value chain.
  • Mobilising 48 rural household producers
  • Creating 100 direct and indirect jobs along the mushroom value chain
  • Supporting girls with education support at both primary and secondary levels
  • Providing local farmers with trainings in mushroom production and organic farming
  • Implementing local reforestation measures
  • Sustaining the species of locally edible (button) mushrooms
  • Applying organic fertiliser on selected mushroom species that grow at local outdoor temperatures to minimise energy consumption and environmental impacts of the mushroom production
  • Establishing a local market for edible mushroom with an up-to-date customer database
  • Selling over 20,000 kg of mushroom by the end of 2018
  • Increasing incomes of local farmers at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP)

Partners

Meal in One promotes edible mushroom production. They have 48 active mushroom household farmers in Dowa district (on a total land size of 6 hectares of land) and are selling them to rural and urban consumers locally with a premium.

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) delivers scientific information on edible mushroom species and optimised spawn production

 

African Community Project (ACP) provides the enterprise with tree seedlings and support on reforestation and the need to conserve water