“The Youth Climate Innovation Incubator gave me the vision to transform research work into a sustainable solution that contributes to the development of our society.”

Samia

Samia and Nadia, two students at the Cadi Ayad University and co-founders of the Shrimp Green Water (SGW) start-up, are amongst the many entrepreneurs participating in NEF’s Youth Climate Innovation Incubator in Morocco.

The SGW co-founders are solving the issue of water salinity in agriculture by offering an innovative water filter created from shrimp shelling waste and organic matter, a biofertilizer rich in phosphorus and mineral elements. As temperatures increase and rainfall patterns change, farmers increasingly must rely on irrigation to support their crops. But, irrigation water often contains dissolved salts that can accumulate in the soil, reducing agricultural productivity. SGW’s product not only filters but also enriches the water to increase agricultural yield.

NEF and its local partner, Emerging Business Factory, developed the Youth Climate Innovation Incubator to support innovative, youth-led business solutions to climate change impacts, with an emphasis on agribusiness. SGW was selected to take part in the project’s three-month business incubation, offering training, networking, and coaching sessions. Following the incubation phase, and based on their high performance, SGW was selected to receive a start-up grant and to participate in additional business acceleration services. The tailored acceleration services are helping SGW to grow and professionalize their business.

Following the incubation phase, and based on their high performance, SGW was selected to receive a start-up grant and to participate in additional business acceleration services. The tailored acceleration services are helping SGW to grow and professionalize their business.

Samia and Nadia are building on their success. They were awarded an additional start-up grant from the Government of Morocco’s National Human Development Initiative funding program, which aims to improve economic and social conditions in the country. And, following participation in trade fairs, the young start-up has already secured clients and recruited 6 employees.

The Youth Climate Innovation Incubator is the first in Morocco to provide competitively selected young entrepreneurs with access to business training and planning, technical expertise, one-on-one mentoring, networks, and start-up funding to test and launch green business solutions for the agriculture sector.

Special thanks to the Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation, Elsa Louise Soderberg, and Islamic Relief USA in funding the Youth Climate Innovation Incubator.