Food is literally the blood of life, and undoubtedly, it is one essential commodity that world governments and economies, in fact, most FMCG giants hinge upon. Now, food comprises various entities like fresh produce, dairy, and meat. However, food processing companies transform these raw food materials into consumable commodities that play a significant role in propelling the economy of a nation. One such food processing firm owned by a black entrepreneur is Farafena, a word translated as ‘Africa’ in the local, native language of Mali called ‘Bambara”.
Based in Vancouver, Farafena is committed to bringing nutrient-rich African superfoods to North American tables but also fostering the growth of strong and healthy communities in Mali and Malawi. Founded by Oumar Barou Togola and Dylan Beechey, Farafena is more than just an organic food purveyor; it’s a social enterprise with a mission to nourish both bodies and communities. Africa is known to be a land where the soil tells stories of centuries and the people embrace the bounty it provides. This is why Oumar Barou Togola, a son of Mali, envisioned connecting communities across the globe with the pure and healthy treasures of his homeland.
Read on to learn how Farafena is shifting the paradigm of supplying organically sourced fresh fruits and food to Canadian kitchens.
One Critical Objective: Empowering African Women Farmers
Through social entrepreneurship and direct commerce, Farafena aims to support African women farmers in addition to providing families with nutritional superfoods. The business creates a virtuous loop that benefits both people and nutritious food by teaming up with neighbourhood farmers to raise and harvest only the finest grains and fruits. With a strong business mentality and deep family roots in Mali, Oumar has built Farafena into a symbol of good change and a link between two continents.
By working together at Farafena, Oumar and Dylan want to do more than just make a profit; they want to spread hope for a better world via the power of good cuisine and positive encouragement. Oumar has done a lot of work as the founding chairman, including building solid contacts with Canadian investors and partners and instituting systematic collaborations with grassroots farmers. As an entrepreneur and problem solver, Dylan stresses the importance of a single brilliant idea in setting in motion a chain reaction of beneficial transformation. Their faith in people’s capacity to effect positive change is in harmony with Farafena’s mission to feed the world healthily.

Healthy Food as a Bridge Across Continents: Dylan Beechey
The pragmatic approach to Farafena’s objective is brought to the table by Dylan Beechey, who serves as the co-founder and director of operations. Dylan has faith in the life-changing potential of social businesses, drawing on his experience in operational positions within the technology and telecommunications industries. His very basic idea is to bridge two continents via the common ground of good nutrition, ultimately resulting in the improvement of local communities. Dylan’s commitment to having a beneficial impact on society mirrors Farafena’s values, demonstrating that even a little well-intentioned concept can have a worldwide impact.
Farafena tells a tale of cross-continental connections, community empowerment, and future nutrition. This social enterprise is helping to sow the seeds of health, sustainability, and positive impact all across the world by growing real superfoods from Africa. Learn more about their mission, their processing, and their impact by clicking here.
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