Program 06 · Agriculture & Food

Every Grain
Counts

Ghana Communities Since 2023 Food Waste → Compost Climate-Smart Farming
Partner With Us → Learn More →
1/3Of All Food Is Wasted
8–10%Of Global Emissions
ZeroOrganic Waste Wasted
100%Community-Led
Overview

Turning food waste into farming gold

Every Grain Counts is Banyani's food waste reduction and climate-smart agriculture program. We work with homes, schools, markets, and restaurants to intercept organic waste before it reaches landfill — and convert it into high-quality compost and manure that local farmers use to grow more food with fewer chemical inputs.

Food waste is one of the most overlooked climate issues. When organic matter decomposes in landfill, it releases methane — a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period. By diverting that waste and composting it properly, we eliminate those emissions while simultaneously rebuilding soil health and reducing farmers' dependence on synthetic fertilisers.

The program creates a closed-loop system that connects households and markets directly with local farmers — turning what was once a waste problem into a food system solution. Every grain of food that doesn't go to waste is a small victory. Multiplied across thousands of households, it becomes transformation.

Composting and climate-smart farming

"In Ghana, we waste thousands of tonnes of food every year. Every Grain Counts exists to make that number zero."

The Problem

Why food waste is a climate emergency

"If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world — after the USA and China."

In Ghana, post-harvest losses and household food waste are significant contributors to both food insecurity and environmental degradation. Markets generate tonnes of organic waste daily — most of which ends up in open dumps, burning sites, or waterways.

Meanwhile, smallholder farmers struggle with depleted soils, rising fertiliser costs, and erratic rainfall patterns driven by the very climate crisis that food waste is worsening. Every Grain Counts closes this loop — connecting the waste source directly to the farmers who need what it can become.

1.3bn Tonnes of food wasted globally each year
8–10% Of global greenhouse gas emissions from food waste
40% Of food in sub-Saharan Africa lost post-harvest
80× More potent than CO₂: methane from landfill food waste
How It Works

A closed loop from waste to harvest

01
🏠
Collection

We establish organic waste collection points in homes, schools, markets, and restaurants. Participants receive simple training on what to separate and how to store it.

02
🔄
Processing

Collected organic waste is transported to community composting sites where it is layered, aerated, and managed through a 6–8 week composting cycle supervised by our trained facilitators.

03
🌱
Compost Production

Finished compost and organic manure is quality-tested before packaging. Farmers can collect directly from composting sites or receive delivery through our community distribution network.

04 🌾
Farm Application

Farmers apply Banyani compost to improve soil structure, water retention, and nutrient content — reducing their chemical fertiliser bills and growing healthier, more climate-resilient crops.

Triple Benefits

Good for climate, community, and crops

🌡️

Climate Impact

Diverting organic waste from landfill eliminates methane emissions. Each tonne of food waste composted rather than landfilled prevents the equivalent of roughly 0.5–1 tonne of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.

👩‍🌾

Farmer Livelihoods

Access to quality, affordable organic compost reduces smallholder farmers' input costs by up to 30% while improving yields — directly improving the incomes and food security of farming families.

🌍

Soil Regeneration

Ghana's soils are increasingly depleted by decades of chemical farming. Regular compost application rebuilds organic matter, improves water retention, and restores the microbial life that makes healthy farming possible.

🏘️

Community Sanitation

Reducing organic waste in open dumps and drains directly improves sanitation, reduces disease risk, and makes communities cleaner and healthier — especially important around market areas and schools.

💰

Local Green Jobs

Composting site operators, collection coordinators, and distribution staff are hired locally — creating green jobs in the communities that need them most.

🔁

Circular Economy in Action

Every Grain Counts is a living example of the circular economy — where one community's waste becomes another's resource, and nothing of value leaves the local system.

Impact

What every grain adds up to

♻️

Waste Diverted

Tonnes of organic waste collected from homes, markets, and schools — diverted from open dumps and converted into valuable compost.

🌾

Farmers Supported

Smallholder farmers receiving quality organic compost — reducing their input costs and improving crop yields season after season.

🏫

Schools Engaged

School canteens and kitchens participating in the collection network — integrating food waste education into daily school life.

💨

Emissions Avoided

Tonnes of methane-equivalent emissions prevented by keeping organic waste out of landfill and converting it into stable soil carbon.

"Before Banyani, I was spending so much on fertiliser. Now my neighbour brings me compost from the market — my maize has never grown better, and my costs are down."
— Smallholder Farmer, Greater Accra Region
Get Involved

Join the food waste revolution

🏠
Join as a Household

Register your home as an organic waste collection point. We'll provide a collection bin, simple training, and regular pickup as part of our community network.

Register Now →
🏪
Partner as a Market or Business

Markets, restaurants, schools, and food businesses generate significant organic waste. Partner with us to divert it into compost — reducing your waste disposal costs and your environmental footprint.

Become a Partner →
👩‍🌾
Access Compost as a Farmer

Smallholder farmers can register to receive Banyani compost at subsidised rates — improving your soil, reducing your fertiliser costs, and boosting your yields sustainably.

Register as Farmer →
Our Other Programs

Explore more of our work

🌳Tree Planting 🎨Waste to Art 🏫School Clubs 🌍Resilience Academy 🌊Ocean Literacy

Help us turn Ghana's food waste into farmland gold.

Fund composting sites, collection networks, and farmer outreach — every donation creates a ripple through the food system.

Donate Now Partner With Us