Davis Fundi Ireri

Experience

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  Agrosolutions Kenya Ltd

  Jan 2015 - Aug 2015

  Product Development & Agronomy

  Drove sales growth by providing expert agronomic solutions, exceeding sales targets, and enhancing farm productivity and profitability. Key Responsibilities & Achievements:✔ Sales & Business Development – Consistently exceeded sales targets, expanding the customer base and increasing product adoption among farmers.✔ Customer Relationship Management – Built and maintained strong client relationships, delivering tailored agronomic solutions to optimize farm productivity.✔ Technical Advisory & Training – Conducted product demonstrations, field visits, and training sessions, educating farmers on crop nutrition, pest management, and sustainable farming practices.✔ Solution-Based Selling – Assessed farmer needs and recommended customized agricultural inputs, driving product value and customer loyalty. Show less

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  Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

  Sept 2015 - Oct 2017

  Research Assistant (ECOVEG Project- RUFORUM)

  Teaching assistanceGeneral donor Project management and coordinationProject design and ImplementationProject monitoringData collection and analysisProject reporting

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  ICIPE - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

  Oct 2016 - Oct 2017

  Dissertation Research Fellow - Behavioral & Chemical ecology of plants & Insects

  Scientific research projects designs & implementation.Manuscript writing and scientific reporting.Data analysis and reporting

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  Sanergy

  Nov 2017 - Apr 2021

  Led market development and commercialization strategies for organic fertilizers and insect-based animal feed across Kenya and East AfricaResponsibilities: ✔ Market Penetration & Sales Growth – Designed and executed a market strategy for Evergrow organic fertilizer, driving a 5X increase in sales across East Africa.✔ Launched & scaled KuzaPro, an insect-based animal feed – Developed a go-to-market strategy for KuzaPro, securing multiple trials with feed millers, agro-dealers, and home users to drive adoption.✔ Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships –Built strategic partnerships with government and private sector entities to drive regulatory compliance and product adoption✔ Strategic Positioning & Branding – Led branding & product positioning initiatives, increasing customer retention by 35% for Evergrow organic fertilizer. ✔ Data-Driven Market Insights – Led customer data collection and market analysis, optimizing supply chain sustainability, targeted marketing, and product distribution.✔ Sales & Business Development – Led the corporate sales strategy for fertilizers, ensuring revenue growth and long-term B2B customer retention.✔ Sales Team Coaching & Capacity Building – Trained and mentored sales managers and representatives, standardizing best practices for marketing events and leads conversion Show less Drove R&D innovations in waste-to-nutrient conversion, optimizing Black Soldier Fly (BSF) bioconversion processes, and related product development. Responsibilities: ✔ Bioconversion Process Optimization – Developed and tested waste-to-nutrient conversion methodologies, enhancing efficiency in sustainable feed and fertilizer production.✔ BSF Feed Formulation & Yield Optimization – Designed a feedstock formulation tool, improving BSF diet recipes and achieving target yields per square meter.✔ Experimental Design & Process Trials – Led scientific trials to establish optimal feeding regimes, driving scalable BSF production efficiencies.✔ Product Innovation & Market Alignment – Spearheaded the development of new products, including a European Union-certified organic fertilizer, while enhancing existing product formulations to meet client demands.✔ Team Leadership & Scientific Oversight – Managed a multidisciplinary R&D team, overseeing scientific experiments and data analysis to improve waste valorization processes.✔ Conducted extensive data analysis to anticipate operational challenges, refine production protocols, and inform evidence-based recommendations for the production team.✔ Technical Reporting & Knowledge Transfer – Developed clear, data-backed reports to communicate research outcomes to management and leadership teams.✔ Quality & Compliance Collaboration – Worked closely with Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) teams to establish and maintain high-quality product standards. Show less

  • Market Development Manager

    Dec 2019 - Apr 2021

  • Research And Development Specialist

    Feb 2018 - Dec 2019

  • Research and development Fellow

    Nov 2017 - Feb 2018
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  Nutrition Technologies

  May 2021 - now

  Applying technical knowledge to lead R&D teams in bioconversion, insect nutrition, and biofertilizers, driving innovation & process optimization. regenerative agriculture and food security.Responsibilities:✔Designed and optimized bioconversion processes by proprietary feed formulations for BSF larvae, optimizing rearing conditions, leading to improved overall waste-to-protein bioconversion.✔Biofertilizer Research & Product Development, Led formulation, testing, and market validation of biofertilizers and biostimulants for soil health, fungal suppression, and crop productivity.✔ Managed multi-location trials, validating the effectiveness of BSF-derived biofertilizers in improving soil health and suppressing tropical fungal pathogens.✔Regulatory Compliance & Market Entry – engaged with regulatory bodies to ensure product approvals across global markets. ✔ Partners Collaboration with research institutions, industry partners, and policymakers to drive adoption of sustainable agricultural innovations✔ Managed a multidisciplinary R&D team, overseeing scientific experiments and product development. Show less Took on an acting Nutritionist role, leading key initiatives in feed formulation, cost optimization, and sourcing strategy to enhance cost efficiencyResponsibilities:✔Led the formulation and optimization of feed blends for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, improving nutritional quality and conversion efficiency✔ Implemented cost-control strategies, sourcing alternative ingredients to reduce feed costs while maintaining performance.✔ Provided strategic sourcing support, evaluating suppliers to enhance raw material consistency, reduce procurement risks, and improve supply chain efficiency. Show less Led applied research and process optimization initiatives to enhance bioconversion efficiency, insect nutrition, and product innovation for industrial-scale Black Soldier Fly (BSF) rearing.Key Responsibilities:✔ Bioconversion Process Innovation – Developed and improved mass-rearing protocols, optimizing larvae growth rates, feed conversion, and waste valorization.✔ Applied Research & Product Development – Designed and executed R&D programs, delivering evidence-based solutions to enhance process efficiencies and product quality.✔ BSF Nutrition & Feed Formulation – Engineered highly efficient feed formulations, integrating raw material availability, nutrient composition, and processing compatibility.✔ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – Developed SOPs for the full bioconversion cycle, from feedstock preparation to larvae harvesting and post-processing.✔ Data-Driven Decision Making – Investigated key environmental and dietary factors influencing BSF life-history traits, optimizing productivity under industrial conditions.✔ Quality Assurance & Testing – Established and maintained testing procedures for raw material assessment, process control, and finished product quality assurance.✔ Industry Trends & Research Integration – Monitored global BSF R&D advancements, ensuring alignment with cutting-edge innovations and best practices. Show less

  • Research & Development Manager - Bioconversion, Nutrition, Sourcing & Biofertilizers

    Mar 2023 - now

  • R&D Manager and Acting Nutritionist

    Oct 2022 - Mar 2023

  • Research & Development Manager - Bioconversion

    May 2021 - Feb 2023