Biovision Africa Trust

What Biovision Africa Trust does

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is a Pan-African not-for-profit organization founded in 2009 and headquartered at the ICIPE campus in Nairobi, Kenya. Established by the Biovision Foundation for ecological development in Switzerland, BvAT's stated mission is to alleviate poverty and improve livelihoods of smallholder farming communities through dissemination of ecological and agroecological agricultural knowledge. The organization operates a portfolio of programs — the Farmer Communication Programme (FCP), the AU-led Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative, the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture (KCOA), and the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA) — delivering content through TOF Magazine, TOF Radio Programs, the Infonet-Biovision digital platform, Mkulima Mbunifu, Community Resource Centers, and structured training modules.

Technically, BvAT's core asset is the Infonet-Biovision digital knowledge platform that aggregates practical agricultural information for smallholder farmers, supplemented by an AI-powered smartphone-based crop disease photo-diagnosis feature referenced in TOF Magazine content. Programs are delivered through a hybrid model combining digital platforms, print publications, radio broadcasts, and physical Community Resource Centers across at least 14 Kenyan counties, with regional coordination hubs in five African regions.

BvAT does not generate commercial revenue. The organization is funded primarily through development grants from international donors including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), GIZ, the IKEA Foundation, and Porticus. All programs, publications, and resources are provided free of charge to smallholder farmers and partner organizations. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, currently operates under its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan titled 'Transforming Livelihoods Sustainably in Africa', and coordinates the EOA Initiative Continental Secretariat under a formal MoU with the African Union Commission.

Name

Biovision Africa Trust

Legal name

Biovision Africa Trust

Website

https://biovisionafricatrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Biovision Africa Trust is a Kenyan-registered non-profit founded in 2009 that disseminates agroecological and organic farming knowledge to smallholder farmers across nine African countries via print, radio, digital platforms, Community Resource Centers, and continental coordination of the AU-led EOA Initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Extension Services

NAICS

Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture & Food Security Development (BPAGABAB), Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management (BPADALAG), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM)

Keywords

• Agroecological knowledge dissemination
• Organic agriculture training
• Farmer extension services
• Rural community development
• Smallholder farmer education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Development Funding and Grants: BvAT operates as a not-for-profit organization funded primarily through development grants from international donors including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), GIZ, and other development partners. The organization does not generate commercial revenue but relies on project funding and donor support to sustain operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Biovision Africa Trust disseminates practical, field-tested knowledge on organic and agroecological farming to smallholder farmers across Africa through the Farmer Communication Programme (FCP), which delivers content via TOF Magazine, TOF Radio Programs, the Infonet-Biovision digital platform, Mkulima Mbunifu outreach, and Community Resource Centers. It also coordinates the African Union-led Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative Continental Secretariat and the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture (KCOA) with regional hubs.

Product overview

Biovision Africa Trust operates as a multi-program organization focused on agroecological transformation of African agri-food systems. The core offering is the Farmer Communication Program (FCP), which delivers knowledge through TOF Magazine, TOF Radio Programs, Infonet-Biovision platform, and Mkulima Mbunifu. Major initiatives include the African Union-led Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative hosted at BvAT, the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture (KCOA) with five regional hubs, and the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA). Additional programs include the Native Plants for Environment and People (Native PEP) project and various training modules covering livestock and crop production. BvAT serves as the EOA Continental Secretariat and coordinates agroecology efforts across multiple African countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TOF Magazine: The Organic Farmer magazine providing practical, field-tested knowledge to help farmers stay resilient in the face of changing climate and market conditions.
• Infonet
• Mkulima Mbunifu

Products and services

• Farmer Communication Program (FCP) BvAT's flagship communication initiative bridging scientific research and farmer-led solutions through print, radio, digital platforms, and community-based training for smallholder farmers.
• TOF Magazine (The Organic Farmer) A practical quarterly magazine providing field-tested agricultural knowledge on organic and agroecological practices for smallholder farmers across East Africa.
• TOF Radio Programs Radio broadcast programs disseminating organic farming knowledge and agricultural best practices to rural farming communities.
• Infonet-Biovision An online agricultural knowledge platform providing practical information and resources for farmers on sustainable farming practices.
• Mkulima Mbunifu A farmer communication outreach initiative supporting agricultural knowledge exchange and capacity building for smallholder farmers.
• Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA) Regional coordination hub managed by BvAT in collaboration with PELUM Uganda, promoting organic and agroecological knowledge exchange across Eastern Africa.
• Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture (KCOA) Pan-African initiative with five regional knowledge hubs to scale up adoption of organic and agroecological farming practices across Africa.
• Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative African Union-led initiative hosted by BvAT to mainstream ecological organic agriculture into national agricultural systems across Africa.
• Native Plants for Environment and People (Native PEP) Project focused on promoting native plant species for environmental restoration and livelihood improvement in pastoral communities.
• TDLI Programme Programme under the Farmer Communication Program supporting farmer training and agroecological knowledge dissemination.
• THE LDF Project Livelihood Development project supporting smallholder farmer livelihoods through agroecological interventions.
• USAU Project Project supporting agroecological initiatives in Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of farmers trained on agroecological and organic farming practices
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• GIZ-KenyamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025GIZ-Kenya launched the project 'Strengthening Regional Trade Through Compliance with the East African Organic Product Standard (EAOPS)' with BvAT, holding country workshops in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
• ICIPE (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology)supportingOthers · 1 January 2025BvAT headquarters is located at the ICIPE campus in Kasarani, Nairobi. ICIPE provides hosting facilities for BvAT's operations.
• African Union Commission (AUC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2022AUC officially designated BvAT as host of the EOA Initiative Continental Secretariat through an MoU signed in July 2022. BvAT coordinates implementation of the AU decision on organic farming across African countries.
• African Organization for Standardization (ARSO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2021BvAT and ARSO signed an MoU to collaborate on harmonizing organic standards across Africa, working with the AfCFTA Secretariat to promote organic trade on the continent.
• PELUM KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019PELUM Kenya implements farmer training activities under the KCOA-KHEA project, coordinating with BvAT for master trainer programs and farmer-level training rollouts.
• Uganda Martyrs University NkozisupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 December 2019An associate partner of KHEA handling the research component, evaluating impact of farmer training programs on organic farming practices in Uganda.
• Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2019ROAM serves as Country Implementing Partner for KCOA-KHEA in Rwanda, implementing farmer training and organic market development activities.
• Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2019TOAM serves as Country Implementing Partner for KCOA-KHEA in Tanzania, implementing farmer training and organic market development activities.
• Participatory Ecological Land Use Management Uganda (PELUM Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019PELUM Uganda serves as Co-Hosting Partner for the KHEA project. Together with BvAT, they coordinate agroecological knowledge sharing and farmer training across Eastern Africa.
• IFOAM - Organics InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019International partner charged with ensuring quality of trainings and adherence to organic principles under the KCOA-KHEA project.
• Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Biovision Foundation (Switzerland) established BvAT in Kenya in 2009 as the African arm of the Biovision network. The foundation provides ongoing strategic support and is the originating organization.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): Large Africa-focused agricultural development organization working on policy, seeds, soil health, and market access. Comparable in continental-scale smallholder agriculture focus, though AGRA takes a conventional-input approach vs. BvAT's agroecology model.
• Heifer International: Global nonprofit working with smallholder farmers on livestock, sustainable agriculture, and livelihoods. Comparable in smallholder-focused capacity-building model and multi-country African presence.
• Biovision Foundation (Switzerland): Swiss parent foundation that established BvAT and operates the broader Biovision network on ecological development. Comparable as the founding network on which BvAT's model is built; provides strategic and financial support to BvAT.

Direct peers

• Farm Africa: UK-headquartered NGO working with smallholder farmers across Eastern Africa on sustainable agriculture, market access, and climate resilience. Directly comparable to BvAT's agroecology training and Eastern Africa geographic focus.
• IFOAM - Organics International: Global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement. Comparable to BvAT's organic agriculture advocacy, knowledge dissemination, and partnership role within KCOA-KHEA (BvAT partners with IFOAM on training quality assurance).
• One Acre Fund: Africa-focused nonprofit organization supporting smallholder farmers with training, inputs, and market access. Highly comparable to BvAT in mission (smallholder livelihood improvement), target beneficiary (African smallholders), and channel model (farmer training and extension).
• PELUM Association: Pan-African network of civil society organizations promoting ecological land use and participatory agroecology. Directly comparable as a coordinating network partner (PELUM Kenya/Uganda co-host KHEA) running parallel farmer training programs across Eastern and Southern Africa.
• Slow Food International: Global grassroots movement promoting local, sustainable food systems and agroecology. Comparable in philosophy (organic/traditional farming, biodiversity preservation) and farmer-community engagement model across multiple African countries.

Emerging players

• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT): International agricultural research organization working on dryland farming and smallholder productivity in Africa. Comparable in Africa smallholder focus and research-to-extension model, though primarily a CGIAR research center vs. BvAT's NGO model.
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF): International research organization promoting agroforestry and sustainable land use in Africa. Comparable in mission on regenerative and sustainable land management practices targeting African smallholder contexts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BiovisionAfrica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX4Cl-NovRrRtpycI1azYhA
• Facebookfacebook.com/BiovisionAfricaTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biovision-africa-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Biovision Africa Trust