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Part E. Case Studies

First mile resilience of an avocado supply chain from Kenya to Europe​

This case study will be completed mid 2026. Several examples were incorporated in the Life-Links Framework steps as listed below.

In addition, a postharvest assessment of the avocado supply chain in Kenya study carried out by KCC as part of Life=Links with the support from Wageningen University assessed postharvest losses (Life-Links step 1.2), and identified and analysed interventions (Life-Links step 2).148

Step 0. Preparation​

Step 0.2 Map the supply chain and define critical link(s)

  • Figure 5: Mapped supply chain for an avocado supply chain from Kenya to Europe
  • Figure 6a: First Mile critical link for an avocado supply chain from Kenya to Europe

Step 0.3 Identify stakeholders and key actors with shared interest

  • Table 2: Supply chain stakeholder - example for first mile avocados Kenya

Step 1. Supply Chain Assessment​

Step 1.2 Assess logistics vulnerabilities, risks and impacts

  • Table 4: Risk of supply chain disruptions exacerbated by climate change - example first mile for an avocado supply chain from Kenya to Europe
  • Table 5: Logistics challenges and their impact - example first mile for an avocado supply chain from Kenya to Europe

Step 2. Selection of Action Measures​

Step 2.1 Identify and pre-select action measures that build resilience

  • Table 7: Action measures that could improve first mile logistics resilience for an avocado supply chain from Kenya to Europe

Step 2.2 Assess feasibility and effectiveness for resilience

  • Table 9: Effectiveness of resilience of action measures in the first mile of an avocado supply chain from Kenya to Europe

The assessment 148 together with Wageningen University deepends the feasibility analysis and recommends two interventions to strengthen first-mile performance and together can improve farmgate prices for farmers, increase volumes and quality consistency for exporters, and enhance Kenya’s reliability as a supply origin for European importers.

  • Aggregation centers, managed by cooperatives or farmer groups, can improve collection, handling, and short-term storage conditions by providing shaded, ventilated spaces, while also serving as crate banks and training hubs.
  • A crate bank that consists of affordable and reusable plastic crates, replacing the widespread use of sacks that damage fruit and reduce quality.

A third action measure, mobile cold storage units, was considered a high-tech solution that is too expensive and operationally risky for this segment of the avocados supply chain.

Step 3. Implementation Plan with Partners​

During 2026, we will work with partners on how to implement these proposed feasible measures.

One idea is to structure a dedicated loan product for new aggregation centers, developed in partnership with local financial institutions. Cooperatives take out loan for groups of farmers and repay the loan (and interest as applicable) from additional revenue from avocados (resulting from reduced avocado losses and price discounts). The financing could be improved with binding offtake agreements that involve exporters and/or importers = supply chain collaboration in practice. There is also an opportunity to embed a risk-sharing mechanism to crowd in capital from other partners, for example, through targeted technical assistance and operational capacity building or provision of a first-loss guarantee.

Life-Links success is defined by three criteria:

  • Multi-stakeholder collaboration involving at least 1 private sector supply chain actor. We seek to bring in cooperative, exporters/importers, local financial institutions, and international development partners.
  • Shared resilience & safeguard unintended risks. The resilience is manifested through avoided losses of avocado volume and quality.
  • Stakeholder benefits reach supply chain actors and the local community. Farmers as well as transporters/aggregators on the first mile will benefit from higher prices which also benefits their commmunities. Supply chain actors, especially exporters/importers (and ultimately retailers and consumers) will benefit from a supply of avocados that is more reliable both in quantity and quality.