Two Nigerian-American entrepreneurs, Ikenna Nzewi and Uzoma Ayogu, are working to transform Nigeria’s palm oil industry by combining technology, agricultural processing and innovation to tackle longstanding challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
Through their agritech company, Releaf, the founders are developing advanced processing equipment designed to make palm kernel processing faster, more efficient and better suited to the needs of local farmers.
Founded in 2017, Releaf began with a broader mission to improve Africa’s agricultural supply chains. The founders eventually focused on Nigeria’s oil palm sector after studying agricultural value chains and identifying major inefficiencies in traditional processing methods.
Nigeria has a long history of palm oil production, with smallholder farmers playing an important role in supplying the industry. However, many processors have relied on labour-intensive methods or equipment that struggles to process local palm nuts efficiently.
These limitations can lead to lower-quality output, wasted raw materials and higher operating costs, making it harder for farmers and processors to maximise the value of their harvests. Releaf set out to address these challenges through locally adapted processing technology rather than relying entirely on conventional methods.
One of its innovations is Kraken, a proprietary palm nut de-shelling system designed to separate palm kernels from their shells more efficiently. The technology is intended to improve processing quality and help food manufacturers obtain more consistent raw materials.
Releaf’s approach goes beyond developing machinery. The company has also focused on locating processing operations closer to farming communities, reducing the distance agricultural produce must travel before it is processed.
This model can help lower logistics expenses, improve processing efficiency and create opportunities for farmers to receive better value for their produce.
In January 2023, Releaf announced two additional technologies, Kraken II and SITE, aimed at making its processing operations more flexible and reducing logistics costs. By connecting agricultural production with more efficient processing systems, the company is working to strengthen the link between smallholder farmers and industrial food manufacturers.
Releaf’s technology-driven approach has attracted investor interest. The company announced a $4.2 million seed funding round in 2021, which included a $1.5 million grant, and a further $3.3 million pre-Series A round in January 2023.
Reports published in 2026 have put its total funding at more than $10 million, although reported totals can vary depending on which investments and grants are included.
The investment reflects interest in technology that addresses practical problems in African agriculture, particularly the inefficiencies that prevent farmers and food processors from reaching their full potential.
Releaf’s work has also expanded into the potential uses of palm processing by-products. Through Releaf Earth, the company is exploring ways to convert agricultural waste, including palm kernel shells, into biochar, a carbon-rich material with potential applications in soil improvement and carbon removal.
The initiative offers another way to extract value from palm processing while exploring opportunities in climate technology.
The work of Ikenna Nzewi and Uzoma Ayogu illustrates how engineering and business innovation can be applied to longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Rather than focusing only on increasing production, Releaf is addressing what happens after crops are harvested: how they are processed, how much value is lost and how farmers can become better connected to industrial markets.
As Nigeria continues to explore ways to strengthen local food production and processing, companies such as Releaf are demonstrating the potential of technology to improve agricultural efficiency and create new opportunities across the value chain.
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