Coconuts fixing the world

Published: Oct. 3, 2023, 2:06 a.m.

We eat millions of tonnes of coconuts every year - with the dense white flesh of the fruit making a tasty snack and the juice a refreshing drink.

But the inedible husk and shell go to waste \u2013 and it\u2019s this part that innovators and entrepreneurs around the world are now putting to work to solve a whole host of problems.

In Sierra Leone, a personal tragedy was the catalyst for young entrepreneur Alhaji Siraj Bah to start a business which takes the coconut husk and turns it into an alternative to charcoal - which is good for the forests and could potentially save lives too.

And we\u2019ll hear about the start-up using coconut to keep fish, fruit and vegetables cool for longer, without using any plastic.

Presenter: Myra Anubi\nReporter: Eric Mugaju\nProducer: Craig Langran\nSeries producer: Tom Colls\nSound mix: Gareth Jones\nEditor: Penny Murphy

Email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk

Image: A coconut (Getty Images)