People Fixing the World - Coconuts fixing the world

We eat millions of tonnes of coconuts every year - with the dense white flesh of the fruit making a tasty snack and the juice a refreshing drink.

But the inedible husk and shell go to waste – and it’s this part that innovators and entrepreneurs around the world are now putting to work to solve a whole host of problems.

In Sierra Leone, a personal tragedy was the catalyst for young entrepreneur Alhaji Siraj Bah to start a business which takes the coconut husk and turns it into an alternative to charcoal - which is good for the forests and could potentially save lives too.

And we’ll hear about the start-up using coconut to keep fish, fruit and vegetables cool for longer, without using any plastic.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: Eric Mugaju
Producer: Craig Langran
Series producer: Tom Colls
Sound mix: Gareth Jones
Editor: Penny Murphy

Email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk

Image: A coconut (Getty Images)

Published on Tuesday, 3rd October 2023.

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