The Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA), in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and other development stakeholders, has launched a new project aimed at introducing simple and affordable technologies that convert food waste and avocado residues into animal feed and organic fertiliser, in a move expected to directly benefit farmers and livestock keepers across Tanzania.
The project was officially launched on June 1, 2026, in Dar es Salaam, bringing together government institutions, researchers, and development partners under a shared goal of promoting practical innovation that improves livelihoods and strengthens the agricultural sector.
Speaking during the launch, BRELA Intellectual Property Director, Loy Mhando, said the initiative marks a shift in how intellectual property work is used in Tanzania, moving beyond protection of inventions to ensuring innovations are applied to solve real community challenges.
She said BRELA, working closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), identified technologies from global databases that can be adapted locally to support farmers and reduce production costs.
She explained that the project will first be implemented in pilot areas in the Southern Highlands, including Mbeya, Iringa and Njombe, where agriculture and livestock keeping are key economic activities.
According to her, the project will help transform food waste into useful products, reduce environmental pollution, and lower the cost of animal feed, which remains one of the biggest challenges facing farmers in the country.
WIPO Project Coordination Head, Purevdorj Vaanchig, said the focus of the project is to build skills among researchers and university experts so they can develop practical solutions that respond to community needs.
He said strengthening the link between research and real-life applications will help ensure that innovations do not remain in laboratories but reach farmers and create impact on the ground.
Director General of the COSTECH, Amos Nungu, said the project is an important opportunity for young Tanzanian innovators to develop and protect their ideas while also creating products that can compete in the market.
He said the initiative will help youth turn ideas into practical solutions and eventually support wider national economic growth once scaled across the country.
On the research side, Director of Research and Innovation at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Thomas Kivevele, said the project will strengthen local capacity by helping researchers convert scientific knowledge into simple technologies that farmers can use in their daily activities.
He said this approach will help bridge the gap between science and farming communities, especially in rural areas.
Representing beneficiaries, farmer and livestock keeper from Njombe Region, Anna Upendo Gombela, said the project brings hope to farmers who have long struggled with high feed costs and shortages.
She said affordable technology that converts waste into animal feed will reduce costs, improve livestock productivity, and make farming more sustainable.
The project brings together key institutions including the COSTECH and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), reflecting a strong partnership between government, research institutions, and development partners.
It is guided by the theme: “Promoting Circular Agriculture through Innovation: Turning Research into Affordable and Sustainable Animal Feed Technologies.”
Following the launch, a five-day training programme will run from June 1 to June 5, 2026, bringing together project teams and experts to discuss implementation strategies and ensure the project delivers real impact to farmers and livestock keepers.
