Thur Biotech Manufacturing - Emmanuel Development Association

Investing in Impact

P4G awarded the partnership with about US $192,000 in grant funding.  

The African continent is home to 65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land but much of the land is now degraded because of unsustainable farming practices. With the agriculture sector being a major economic contributor across the continent, there is growing call for the adoption of regenerative and sustainable farming including the adoption of biofertilizers. 

Thur Biotech Manufacturing is an Ethiopian biotechnology company developing high-quality bacterial biofertilizers and biocontrol agent suits and more for increasing crop yields and reducing pests respectively. 

Biofertilizers are preparations containing living microorganisms which when applied to seeds or plants promote the availability of nutrients for optimal plant growth. The microorganisms restore nutrients in the soil and enhance soil health. Biofertilizers are easily applicable and scalable. 

Thur Biotech has developed custom biofertilizers for Ethiopia’s different agricultural zones. The startup has tested the effectiveness of the product on large scale plots and built a strong supply chain. The startup now aims to scale its offering through the establishment of a production facility in Sheger City. The new facility will be designed to produce 300 tons of product a year to ensure that the supply of products meets the demand. This growth in production will also allow the startup to expand its offerings to the regional East African market. 

Over the next three years, Thur Biotech’s products will benefit about 500,000 farmers, increase their soil health and incomes. Through this application, the startup also hopes to reduce chemical fertilizer use by about 35%. The startup will also at least 500 extension workers and cooperative leaders on the proper use of biofertilizer. 

Emmanuel Development Association (EDA) is an Ethiopian nonprofit with a focus on sustainable agriculture and economic development. As the administrative partner, EDA will support Thur Biotech with farmer outreach, policy interventions, and impact measurement. 

During the partnership period, Thur Biotech aims to raise almost US $1.5 million in investment and raise awareness of the effectiveness of biofertilizers with almost 10,000 people. The startup also hopes to open 4 shops to serve customers more effectively. 

The partnership comprises the following partners: Thur Biotech Manufacturing (lead business partner); Emmanuel Development Association (lead administrative partner)