logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
23m 46s

Coconuts fixing the world

Bbc World Service
About this episode

We eat millions of tonnes of coconuts every year - with the dense white flesh of the fruit making a tasty snack and the juice a refreshing drink.

But the inedible husk and shell go to waste – and it’s this part that innovators and entrepreneurs around the world are now putting to work to solve a whole host of problems.

In Sierra Leone, a personal tragedy was the catalyst for young entrepreneur Alhaji Siraj Bah to start a business which takes the coconut husk and turns it into an alternative to charcoal - which is good for the forests and could potentially save lives too.

And we’ll hear about the start-up using coconut to keep fish, fruit and vegetables cool for longer, without using any plastic.

Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter: Eric Mugaju Producer: Craig Langran Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Gareth Jones Editor: Penny Murphy

Email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk

Image: A coconut (Getty Images)

Up next
Yesterday
Front Yard Floods
Frequent floods blight the poorest neighbourhoods of New Orleans but the residents are fighting back, one yard at a time. Physicist Helen Czerski joins the team behind the Front Yard Initiative as they strive to keep the Big Easy safe and dry, 20 years after the devastation of Hu ... Show More
24m 40s
Aug 19
A Washing Machine Solution
British Sikh engineer, Navjot Sawhney gave up his lucrative career to go and work in India, to use his skills to help solve problems for rural communities. While there, he became fascinated with the problems his neighbour, Divya, was facing while handwashing clothes, sometimes fo ... Show More
22m 59s
Aug 12
Speaking out
Communication is a human right - but what happens when someone can’t speak for themselves?Sean Allsop struggled to talk until he was eight years old, when he began to speak thanks to years of speech therapy. He explores the technologies and innovations helping people around the w ... Show More
22m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2022
Nigeria's push to grow its own coconuts
Most of Nigeria has the perfect climate for growing coconuts and yet it imports 70% of the fruit, which is widely used to make snacks, drinks and to make everything from oil to cosmetics. With demand for coconuts increasing both domestically and around the world, plans are now af ... Show More
18m 55s
Oct 2022
Trouble in Paradise: Coconut War Waters and Coconut Oil Controversies
Whether enrobed with chocolate in a candy bar or sucked up through a straw on the beach, coconut has become shorthand for the good life: clear blue waters, white sand beaches, and an ocean breeze. But it’s not just a tropical treat. All around the world, people who live alongside ... Show More
47m 47s
Jul 2022
Can Nigeria produce enough coconut?
Coconuts. Such a versatile product. You can eat them, you can drink its fresh sweet juice. You can even use it on your skin and hair. But as Alan has been finding out they can also be made into coco-peat and they can produce energy. So a very handy crop.And this is why Nigeria, d ... Show More
16m 8s
Aug 2020
Vita Coco: Michael Kirban
So—no joke: two guys really do walk into a bar. While sharing a few drinks on a winter night in New York City, best friends Michael Kirban and Ira Liran met two young women from Brazil. That chance encounter eventually led to a business idea: to sell Brazilian coconut water in th ... Show More
1h 10m
May 2022
How Innovators Are Disrupting Our Broken Food System
This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens and Paleovalley. Our current food system is not working. Food waste is at an all-time high, food deserts exist in many neighborhoods, and our produce is falling short in flavor and nutrients. The good news is that innovators in va ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 2023
The Skills You Need To Be An Entrepreneur, When To Start Your Business, How To Stop Fearing Failure, The Benefits Of Coconut Water & Giving Back w/ Mike Kirban Of Vita Coco
Ep. #51 Today, I'm excited to be chatting with Mike Kirban, the co-founder and executive chairman of Vita Coco, one of the most revered beverage brands on the planet. Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a global brand? How do you get your product from the ground floor t ... Show More
40m 24s
Mar 2024
A Conversation with Kimbal Musk: How His Trauma Led to Helping Fix Our Food System Through Community
View the Show Notes For This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal Food has the power to change everything, from our health to family dynamics, the environment, and so much more. And it all starts with one bite. Today ... Show More
1h 9m
Apr 2024
Why are chocolate and coffee getting more expensive?
The cost of cocoa - the key ingredient for making chocolate - has reached an all-time high. In fact, the price has roughly doubled over the past year. The soaring cocoa prices are squeezing major chocolate makers and filtering through to consumers who are paying more for their sw ... Show More
15m 24s
Oct 2022
Junaid Kalmadi x Altruistic Entrepreneurship
Did you know that 30-40% of all food across the US food system is wasted? Did you know you’d have to eat 8 oranges to match the vitamin A of 1 orange from our grandparents era? ME NEITHER. This week my guest is Junaid Kalmadi, who I would describe as an altruistic entrepreneur. H ... Show More
43m 46s