Kenyan farmers are transforming banana stems, previously considered waste, into valuable fibre for crafts, textiles, and sanitary products, creating new income streams and promoting a circular economy.

• Ziada Solutions, co-founded by Samuel Thuo and Pauline Wangui, processes approximately 3 tonnes of banana stems daily, yielding 30 kg of fibre.
• The initiative aligns with the Kenyan government's priority to develop natural fibre value chains and reduce reliance on synthetic materials.
• Organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) are supporting this transition through training and research.