Moringa Oleifera is a fast growing, hardy tree found throughout the tropics, whose seeds and leaves are in high demand for their organic cosmetic and “superfood” uses. However, the supply of high-quality moringa is currently constrained by a lack of sophistication in production and cultivation in major growing areas.
The moringa market was estimated at more than $4 billion globally in 2015 and is projected to grow 9% per annum, becoming a $7 billion market by 2020. Two primary products drive the growth in the moringa market: moringa seed oil and moringa leaf powder. Moringa oil is rich in antioxidants and unique moisturizing agents such as linoleic acid and behenic acid, some of the most widely used fatty acids in the cosmetic industry. In addition, moringa oil has a longer shelf life and greater ability to repair scars, wrinkles and stretch marks than other cosmetic oils. Moringa oil is used in a variety of beauty and personal-care products such as perfume, shampoo, soap, lotion and oil. Moringa leaf powder, made from moringa leaves, is highly nutritious—in a gram-per-gram comparison, moringa leaves have more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more protein than eggs and more iron than spinach. There is growing body of scientific evidence from respected institutions like John Hopkins University detailing its efficacy in preventing and treating a host of diseases.
MoringaConnect integrates the value-chain for moringa, facilitating the process from farmer to consumer. MoringaConnect works with local smallholder farmers in Ghana to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality moringa and then processes the leaves into powder and the seeds into oil at a local processing facility, using proprietary, cutting-edge technologies. MoringaConnect’s True Moringa and Minga Foods-branded products are sold domestically and internationally via e-commerce and retail channels, and its wholesale moringa is purchased by top organic brands.
