Sustainable agriculture is gaining traction globally. Agripreneurs and researchers are digging deeper to find out the hidden gem. Among these discoveries are superfoods-nutritional powerhouses that defy traditional classifications of proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Unlike conventional foods, superfoods combine an abundance of nutrients in a single source while remaining remarkably low in calories.
One such example is the Moringa tree, often hailed as a ‘miracle tree.’ This highly medicinal plant not only enriches soil fertility and boosts productivity but also offers a high concentration of essential nutrients and minerals, a rare find in one place. Studies conducted on this tree have revealed its impressive nutritional profile and medicinal benefits. Of the wide varieties, the Moringa Oleifera takes center stage. Commonly known by different names, such as moringa, drumstick tree, or the miracle tree, it has become an essential at local stores within Zambia. It might be a capsule in a neat package, a jumbo sachet, or a PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET) container. All these packages are found at the Mother Earth project. The Mother Earth project is an initiative of a dedicated group of Comboni Missionary Sisters, who are championing sustainability through a model that integrates people, processes, and profit.
This group of sisters has embraced agriculture as a strategic tool for sustainability—not by chance, but by design. Led by Mother Guadalupe, Sr. Alice Masika, Sr. Yvette Kitsere, Sr. Basma Moans, and Sr. Estelle Akokoe, the sisters operate a well-organized moringa processing facility in Mongu, a lively town located approximately 600 km from Lusaka, near the Angolan border.
There in Mongu, the sisters oversee every stage of the moringa value chain—from nurturing seedlings and tending the fields to harvesting, processing, and packaging the final product. Each pack of moringa powder is fully traceable back to the farm, clearly demonstrating their commitment to quality, accountability, and transparency.
To ensure a consistent supply and high standards, the congregation collaborates with a network of specially trained farmers, who are engaged through a pay-on-delivery contract farming model. Farmers supply mature moringa crops for processing, while the sisters guarantee fair and timely payment. Beyond production, the sisters actively promote environmental stewardship through annual school outreach programs, where they distribute free seedlings and encourage young learners to plant trees.
The Mother Earth project is far more than a factory. It is a holistic ecosystem that brings together a processing plant, a demonstration farm, and a training center. Within this space, farmers receive hands-on training that bridges the gap between theory and practice. As the saying goes, “seeing is believing”—these sisters embody it by allowing farmers to learn directly from real-world applications.
Their work extends beyond agriculture into the deeper fabric of community life. Aware that sustainable development requires both economic empowerment and spiritual nourishment, the sisters intentionally integrate evangelization with skills development. As they train farmers, they also share the Word of God, creating a dual impact that strengthens livelihoods while nurturing faith. The system is built on trust: farmers deliver their harvests, weights are accurately recorded, and payments are made promptly, reinforcing transparency and mutual accountability.
So how does this partnership function? As Sr. Alice explains, the engagement model is both strict and practical: “The farmers provide the land; we give them the skills. We aggregate, process, and look for the market. Farmers who wish to join our network have their farms vetted, and once the trees meet our standards, they are boarded.” With systems continually evolving, including the move toward digital operations, the Mother Earth initiative stands as a model of faith-driven, professionally managed social enterprise.
Article by Paul Bikundo
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Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation foresees a world in which improving the human condition is a shared and sustainable goal. “Love one another, for that is the whole law,” Conrad Hilton wrote in his will. The peoples of the world “deserve to be loved and encouraged—never to be abandoned to wander alone in poverty and darkness.” That is our resolve.
