Last week, we bid a warm farewell to our wonderful intern, Lilian Macharia, as she wrapped up her placement here at FoodHQ.
It has been an absolute pleasure having Lilian as part of our team—her energy, curiosity, and dedication brought so much value to our work and culture. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside her and witness her growth over the course of her internship.
While we’re sad to see her go, we’re also excited to see what the future holds for Lilian as she embarks on her next adventure. We have no doubt she’ll continue to make a positive impact wherever she goes.
Hear about Lilian’s journey:
My Food HQ Adventure: Where my academic journey meets the real world- impact
As I walked through the doors of Food HQ for my internship, I felt that thrilling mix of excitement and nervousness familiar to anyone stepping into a new learning experience. Little did I know this would become a journey of discovery, growth, and a few “aha!” moments of those formative chapters that reshape how you see your field – and your role in it. A perfect intersection of my academic journey and real-world impact.
The Wow Moment- Groundbreaking Exposure -Food Innovation and the Future of Food
Some of my most vivid memories involve moments that perfectly blended science with real-world impact: The visit to NZ’s Ruminant Methane Measurement Center was eye-opening. Watching scientists quantify livestock emissions with laser technology, I realized: ”This is where climate action meets agriculture.” Back home, we know livestock contributes to emissions, but seeing precise measurement techniques made me wonder – could adapted versions help Kenyan pastoralists reduce their climate footprint while maintaining livelihoods? Further into my thoughts was the carbon credit system for ruminants, incentivization of practices that reduce or sequester carbon from livestock operations, then sell them on voluntary carbon markets or offsetting other emissions.
My research into food innovations revealed two game-changers:
Alternative Proteins - From pea-based meats to cricket flour. I thought to myself, ”If the innovation can make Kenyans love ugali from algae, It is a win!” This made me consider: could drought-resilient, protein-rich crops like amaranth or lab-grown nyama-choma address both food security and emissions in Africa?
Precision Fermentation - The dairy proteins brewed without cows fascinated me. In a reading I did, a scientist explained, ”We’re not replacing farms – we’re making them more sustainable.” Hmmmh,this technology could complement (not threaten) smallholder dairy systems like Kenya’s.
The Real Gold? The Human Ingredients of Innovation
What made Food HQ truly special were the people who transformed my internship into a masterclass in collaborative innovation. I’ll never forget my mentor’s reassurance that “every expert was once a beginner,” which gave me the confidence to ask questions freely. The energy of our brainstorming sessions – watching ideas bounce – showed me the magic of interdisciplinary thinking. When a small suggestion of mine was implemented, I learned innovation thrives on incremental improvements as much as big breakthroughs. A colleague’s remark that “sustainability is about continuous improvement, not perfection” fundamentally shifted my perspective. These human connections – the shared laughs, the thoughtful mentorship – revealed that real progress happens through relationships as much as research. The technologies/innovations were impressive, but the people taught me that sustainable innovation is ultimately a team sport.
Bringing Lessons Home
This experience has strengthened my commitment to working at the intersection of food systems and sustainability. The insights gained at Food HQ will undoubtedly inform both my academic work and future career path. I’m particularly interested in exploring how these innovations can be adapted to different contexts while maintaining their sustainability benefits.
As a phase of my journey ends and another one starts, I’m filled with knowledge about how these experiences translate globally. The internship taught me that:
True sustainability balances environmental needs with economic and cultural/social realities
Data and technology are powerful tools, but only when applied thoughtfully. They are crucial for climate-smart agriculture
The most exciting solutions often emerge at the intersection of different perspectives. One size doesn’t fit all.
The Power of Hubs: Food HQ’s model – researchers, startups, and government under one roof – is transformative
A Sweet Ending
My time at Food HQ has come to an end. I carry with me new knowledge, valuable professional connections, and a renewed appreciation for the complexity of creating truly sustainable food systems. The internship has left me both inspired and better equipped to contribute meaningfully to this important field.
“You never really leave a place you love. You take a part of it with you.” And Food HQ? It’s definitely coming with me.
Here’s to keeping that growth going!
