Award-winning innovator Sukoluhle Ndebele transforms food waste into opportunity

Loraine Phiri

With Zimbabwe increasingly facing unpredictable rains and severe droughts, a young innovator, Sukoluhle Ndebele is proving that the most effective climate solutions can start locally. Ndebele, founder of USIKO Dried Fruits, is tackling the massive problem of post-harvest food waste a major driver of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by transforming seasonal fruit into climate-smart, nutritious snacks.

Ndebele’s innovative approach recently earned her the Hivos Urban Futures Project Agriwomen Connect “Leading Woman in Value Addition and Processing” award. She views the recognition as a vital affirmation of her mission to address food loss, empower farmers, and provide sustainable, healthy alternatives.

“This recognition is a meaningful affirmation of the hard work and dedication that have gone into building USIKO Dried Fruits,” Ndebele said. “Personally, it motivates me to keep growing and pushing forward. For USIKO, it marks a powerful step in our journey; highlighting our commitment to reducing food waste, empowering local farmers, and providing healthy natural snacks.”

USIKO was born from a simple but pressing climate challenge, food waste. While taking a Green Skills course, Ndebele discovered how much fruit never reaches consumers due to poor storage, long transport chains, and lack of processing infrastructure.

“I was shocked by how short the lifespan of most fresh fruits is, and how much ends up wasted,” she recalls. “USIKO was born from the desire to save food, support farmers, and provide communities with sustainable, wholesome snacks that nourish the body and respect the planet.”

Ndebele identifies food waste as an “invisible” driver of emissions. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 30% to 40% of perishable items like fruits and vegetables is lost in developing countries’ value chain due to factors like poor storage, lack of modern logistics, and inefficient transport systems.

 “Food waste is a major, but often invisible, driver of greenhouse-gas emissions, and in Zimbabwe’s fruit value chain the problem is very real,” Ndebele explained. “When you add in losses in the field, during transport, handling, and processing, that number can go up to 40 %.”

USIKO’s core operation turns perishable fresh fruit into dried fruit, extending its shelf life from days to months. This value-addition process ensures more of the harvest is utilized and less is left to rot, significantly reducing the GHG emissions associated with decomposition.

“At USIKO, we contribute the little that we can by turning fresh fruit into dried fruit, we are directly reducing food waste,” Ndebele stated. “We take produce that might otherwise spoil and give it a longer shelf life. That means more of what farmers grow actually gets used, and less is left to rot.”

Ndebele wants communities to recognize that food waste is more than just discarded garbage. “One thing I really want communities to understand is that ‘waste’ is not just garbage it is lost food, lost effort, lost nutrition, lost income,” she stressed. “What looks like ‘just food’ to many of us is actually a huge resource. By preserving even, a fraction of that fruit, we can make a big difference for families, for farmers, and for the climate.”

Smallholder farmers, who constitute the majority of Zimbabwe’s agricultural producers, remain on the frontline of climate change as unpredictable rains and recurring droughts make harvests increasingly uncertain. “Smallholder farmers are at the frontline of climate change; unpredictable rains and droughts make harvests uncertain,” Ndebele explained. Through USIKO, her team works directly with these farmers by purchasing their fruit for value addition. This reduces waste and provides a stable market, supporting income even in difficult seasons. “At USIKO, we work closely with them to help build resilience,” she added.

The company also promotes long-term adaptation strategies such as seed conservation and the adoption of grafted trees, which offer healthier, more productive, and disease-resistant harvests. In its processing, USIKO blends traditional African preservation techniques such as sun-drying with modern equipment and packaging. Ndebele noted that this approach “allows us to celebrate our cultural heritage while delivering high-quality products that meet today’s standards.”

As a young woman entrepreneur working in climate and food systems, Ndebele has faced scepticism. She describes navigating personal and external doubt as her biggest hurdle.

“The biggest challenge has been navigating doubt,” she shared. “Being a young woman in the climate and food systems space, I’ve often faced scepticism. People question your ideas, your experience, and sometimes even your right to lead. Convincing others to believe in your vision, to invest in it, or to trust that it can work is incredibly hard.”

However, the purpose behind the work keeps her going. “What has kept me going is the bigger picture; the farmers whose produce I can help preserve, the communities that gain access to nutritious food, and the knowledge that my work can create real change,” Ndebele said. “I remind myself that persistence, passion, and purpose can turn doubt into determination. Every small success, every life impacted, makes the tears, the long nights, and the challenges worth it.”

For young people passionate about climate-smart entrepreneurship, Ndebele encourages boldness, resilience, and starting with available resources. “Innovation does not wait for perfect conditions; it begins with courage, persistence, and the willingness to learn from every setback,” she advised.

 “I dream of USIKO growing into a globally recognized brand that remains deeply rooted in Zimbabwean authenticity and sustainability,” Ndebele expressed. Her long-term hope is for USIKO to contribute to restoring Zimbabwe’s reputation as the “bread basket of Africa” while inspiring climate-friendly food systems across the continent.

Ndebele encourages communities to support local farmers and sustainable snacking through USIKO’s range of dried products, which include bananas, apples, pineapples, mixed fruits, mangoes, and peaches (coming soon). Products are available in 35g at $1 and 100g at $4.

“Our dried fruits are perfect to enjoy on their own… or used in baking and cooking for natural sweetness,” she said, adding that USIKO gift boxes offer a thoughtful and sustainable option for the holidays.