THE KULI KULI STANDARD
We use third-party audits and verifications to ensure our standards are met while demonstrating our commitment to producing the highest quality and most impactful products.
We create sustainable supply chains based on climate-smart, nutrient-rich plants to provide reforestation, livelihoods and nourishment to communities around the world.
Kuli Kuli is a mission-driven business that utilizes moringa to drive sustainable economic growth and nutritional security in the communities we source from. Moringa is a tropical tree that requires little water to grow and can help restore degraded soil. By importing moringa leaves to the U.S. for our products, we’ve created an international market for moringa and a sustainable livelihood for farming communities around the world.
Kuli Kuli partners directly with small family farmers and women’s cooperatives around the world to help them scale up their businesses and be able to access the international market. Moringa is often grown and processed by women, making it an excellent crop for women smallholder farmers looking to supplement their household income. By providing ongoing technical assistance and guaranteeing purchase, we unlock the power of the U.S. market for thousands of low-income farmers around the world.
Moringa’s high levels of protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin C have led many international development organizations to advocate the plant as "natural nutrition for the tropics." With a rise in demand for moringa, an increase in production and consequential consumption is occurring in the communities where moringa is grown. Kuli Kuli is incentivizing communities that struggle with malnutrition to invest in a nutrient-dense plant that will nourish their community, both nutritionally and economically.
Moringa is resilient to increasing droughts caused by climate change and can grow in sandy soil, making it ideal for reforestation efforts. Kuli Kuli works with farmers to implement regenerative agricultural practices and evaluates our environmental footprint at all stages of the supply chain.
Moringa’s fast growth rate, large root system,and multiple flushes of vegetation throughout the year enable high rates of carbon dioxide sequestration. One study in particular showed the rate of absorption or assimilation of carbon dioxide by the moringa tree to be twenty times (20x) higher than that of general vegetation. Beyond carbon sequestration, moringa trees act as wind barriers, prevent erosion, improve hydrological cycles, conserve soil, and provide semi-shade, which is useful in intercropping systems where intense direct sunlight can damage crops.
We produce an annual impact report tracking our progress towards these goals and also undergo an annual third party impact audit through B Lab. Kuli Kuli went beyond the certification and re-incorporated as a full-fledged Benefit Corporation, meaning that our social purpose is embedded into our legal DNA.
Kuli Kuli works with cooperatives and family farmers in rural areas across the world. As our organic moringa supply chain expands, our farmers are able to grow their operations and local impact.
Meet Pamela, a social entrepreneur and Kuli Kuli Moringa Supplier. Pamela works with farmers and women’s coops to do sustainable moringa farming in her home country of Uganda. Pamela also launched a successful nonprofit that funds a local school. Women like Pamela challenge the status quo by creating livelihoods for women and rural farmers.
Watch VideoMeet Teddy Ruge, a social entrepreneur who is re-imagining the role of sustainable moringa farming in Uganda. Teddy is a key leader in climate-smart agriculture and ethical supply chains. He envisions a world where sustainable moringa farming is a key component of long-term and positive socio-environmental change.
Watch VideoKuli Kuli understands that to make the greatest impact we must support partners whose moringa may not yet be up to exporting standards to get their farms on the fast track to meeting the requirements. We work with female farmers like Pierrette, an incredible woman running a moringa farm in Benin, who have inspired Kuli Kuli with their stories and affirm the impact moringa can have on the lives of women worldwide.
Watch VideoKuli Kuli is a member of OSC2, a network of businesses regularly working together to address sustainability issues in the natural products industry.
Kuli Kuli was awarded the prestigious Women-Led Entrepreneurship Supplier of the Year Award in 2018.
Each Earth Month Kuli Kuli partners with Whole Planet Foundation to donate a percentage of sales to fund micro-loans across the world. To date, Kuli Kuli has donated $6000, financing over 30 micro-loans.
In 2017, Kuli Kuli was selected as a B Corp Best for the World Honoree, chosen out of more than 2,000 companies.
In 2018, Kuli Kuli was awarded the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Dedication.Â
Kuli Kuli’s Founder & CEO, Lisa Curtis, was awarded Elle Magazine’s World Changing Woman Award in 2018.
The SFA award for Business Leadership was given to Kuli Kuli in 2019 for advancing best practices across the spectrum of workforce issues to benefit food industry personnel.Â
The Leadership Africa Summit Award recognizes change-makers who inspire and contribute to improving the personal and professional lives of African and African – descents and was awarded to Kuli Kuli Founder & CEO, Lisa Curtis, in 2019.Â
In 2017, Kuli Kuli Founder & CEO Lisa Curtis was awarded Forbes 30 under 30 award for social entrepreneurship.