Welcome to EcoFem
Empowering Women. Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
Turning waste into value using Black Soldier Fly Larvae to reduce Co2 emissions, input costs, and water-intensive agriculture
About ECOFEM
Our Mission
The world requires a new and innovative agriculture system to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We reframe the concept of waste into a value-additive. BSFL farming eliminates waste through organic decomposition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% - amounting to 4.4 gigatonnes of greenhouse gasses annually. In Africa, 60 million tons of animal feed can be replaced through BSFL farming - leading to a 200 million ton reduction in organic waste and 60 million tons of fertilizer production. At ECOFEM, we are spreading the knowledge of BSFL farming to rural female farming communities through partnerships with NGOs and local governments. Empowering women is essential to global development which is why ECOFEM prioritizes local female voices in order to foster self-sufficient agriculture and waste management systems to women in developing nations. Our frontier technology and training curriculum is working to accelerate global progress to SDG 5 and SDG 12.
Our Programs
ECOFEM has numerous prospective regional proposals for implementation - our emphasis on customization for each farming community is paramount. By recognizing the individualized needs and challenges of diverse farming communities through feedback surveys and local partnerships, we can ensure our initiative's success, sustainability, and widespread acceptance. We aim to create a positive and lasting impact on agricultural practices - fostering a more resilient and sustainable future for farming communities worldwide
Our Plan
ECOFEM provides vocational training and microcertification in BSFL farming to uplift female rural subsistence farmers - comprising 43% of agricultural employment in developing countries. Our closed-loop model minimizes inputs and maximizes outputs by using BSFL to break down organic waste generating animal feed and fertilizer replacements, ultimately reducing reliance on outside markets. ECOFEM's design reduces CO2 emissions from waste by 70% and saves 1.5 million gallons of water per inch of rainfall through a 7.1% increase in soil water retention. We empower women economically by reducing their farming input costs and professionally by providing them professional certifications and a platform to upscale our model to their community.
our Team
By Women, For Women
Founded by George Washington Unversity's Elliot School of International Affairs student Hannah Ettlestein (center), Vice President and Co-Founder Katerina Henjes (right) and Co-Founder and Head of Strategic Partnerships Zoé Leclézio (left). Together, our collective passions in development, sustainability, and gender equity provided us with the inspiration for ECOFEM.
Our Partners
ECOFEM has benefited from a deep, continued partnership with McMinnville, Oregon-based, USDA grantee Chapul Farms - a leading BSFL farm and research center. Chapul Farms has provided ECOFEM with their groundbreaking research on BSFL farming and business model consultancy - ensuring proven results. Their mission to "change the direction of biodiversity loss on planet earth by weaving insects into the current agricultural and energy infrastructure" aligns with the ECOFEM ethos and we hope to expand on this core relationship as we grow. Learn more about Chapul Farms here,
AWards and accolades
Clinton Foundation
Hult Prize Semi-Finals
Hult Prize Semi-Finals
Founder Hannah Ettelstein and Co-Founder Katerina Henjes have been accepted into the Clinton Global Initiative University 2024 Cohort. This competitive program will help shape ECOFEM into a thriving social venture by connecting ECOFEM to NGOs, Governments, Corporations, and Investors to expand ECOFEM's mission.
Hult Prize Semi-Finals
Hult Prize Semi-Finals
Hult Prize Semi-Finals
ECOFEM was named the winner of GW’s On-Campus Hult Prize Competition, one of 360 teams out of over 10,000 applicants to advance past this stage. Our team will compete this June at the Boston Summit for one of the eight semifinalist spots. We will be updating as the competition continues!