No. 01Soil
Biochar
Improves soil structure and fertility, holds water in the root zone and locks carbon into the ground for the long term.
Farm waste, reborn as living crop inputs.
OriGenes is a circular bioengineering platform that turns agricultural waste into biochar, biostimulants, biopesticides and biopreservatives.
Synthetic agrochemicals wear down soils, thin out biodiversity and push up costs. Meanwhile, more than a billion tonnes of crop residue and processing waste go unused every year, releasing greenhouse gases as they rot.
Farmers are asked to meet tougher sustainability standards and stay profitable at the same time. We think the answer is already lying in the field.
570M+
farms worldwide depend on agricultural inputs every season.
60%
of Africa's population relies on agriculture for a living.
1Btonnes
of agricultural waste produced each year, most of it never recovered.
An integrated, closed-loop process that pairs microbial fermentation with thermochemical conversion, so one feedstock stream yields several farm inputs.
Agricultural waste
Crop residues and fruit-processing by-products, sourced from farms and packhouses.
Three-stage conversion
A proprietary sequence of fermentation and thermochemical steps, each feeding the next.
Biological inputs
Products that restore soil, protect crops and keep harvests fresh for longer.
One system. Four outputs. Zero waste.
From a single stream of waste we make , , and .
Hover the underlined words to see each one
No. 02Growth
Biostimulants
Help plants take up nutrients, cope with stress and hold yields steady through difficult seasons.
No. 03Protection
Biopesticides
Target specific crop pathogens while sparing pollinators and beneficial organisms, cutting the need for synthetic sprays.
No. 04Post-harvest
Biopreservatives
Extend the shelf life of fresh produce and reduce losses between the orchard and the shelf.
Most inputs do one job, arrive by ship and swing with the exchange rate. Ours are made locally, from local waste, and work together.
| Measure | OriGenes | Traditional inputs |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Integrated, multi-output | Single-function products |
| Source | Produced locally from waste | Largely imported |
| Price | Stable, local feedstock | Exposed to currency and supply swings |
| Chemistry | Biological | Chemically intensive |
We work where agricultural biologicals, regenerative farming and waste valorisation meet, and all three are growing.
R10.1B R13.57B
South African agricultural inputs market.
R3.9B R9.12B
Regenerative agriculture market.
~10% a year
Growth in African biopesticides.
Commercial farmersSmallholder & emerging farmersAgribusinesses & co-opsNGOs & government programmes
We are in advanced prototyping. The science works on the bench; the next step is the field.
Benchtop validation
Core conversion stages proven at laboratory scale.
First formulations
Initial product formulations developed for each output.
Pilot-scale production
Scaling the process up with a pilot bioreactor system.
Farmer field trials
On-farm trials with growers in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
How we earn
- a.Direct product sales
- b.Bulk supply agreements
- c.Licensing of modular production systems
- d.Carbon credits from biochar sequestration
What changes
- —Less reliance on synthetic agrochemicals
- —Carbon stored in soil, waste put to work
- —Healthier soils and more biodiversity
- —Rural and peri-urban jobs, fewer post-harvest losses
A science-led team taking research from the laboratory to the farm gate.
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Edwin Hlangwani
PhD in Biotechnology (UJ). Holds 22 awards. 8+ years in microbial digestion and biocontrol.
Chief Technology Officer
Ms Sebotse Dolly Kgoale
PhD candidate in Biotechnology (UJ). 6+ years in biomolecular R&D and value-chain innovation.
Chief Legal Officer
Ms Mkateko Mahlale
LLM candidate in Corporate Law (UP). Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa. 4+ years in commercial law.
Supported by
Funding from The Innovation Hub is helping us take our process from the bench to pilot-scale production.
We work alongside
Three ways to be part of what comes next.
Farmers & agribusiness
Pilot partnership
Host a field trial and help shape products built for your crops and conditions.
Investors & fundersInvest in OriGenes
Back the move from pilot to commercial production across Southern Africa.
Research & industryBecome a partner
Collaborate on feedstock supply, research, distribution or development programmes.