When 23-year-old Maxwell Tom Oyoo, a Bachelor of Economics student at the University of Kabianga, first came across a YouTube video showing how agricultural waste could be turned into useful products, he did not know that the discovery would become a life-changing calling.
What began as a simple class project has now evolved into an inspiring environmental innovation—biodegradable seedling pots made from pineapple peels.
Maxwell Oyoo, a student and an innovator, poses with some innovations at the Kabianga University exhibition booth during the 5th National Agribusiness Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi, on October 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
“I have always cared about the environment,” he says, showcasing his neatly arranged table filled with pineapple-based products.
As pineapple lovers and traders throw away the fruit’s peels, to him, they are a treasure—“they are gold”.
“Most people discard them after eating the fruit, but I saw an opportunity to turn that waste into something valuable and eco-friendly,” he explains.
“We don’t discriminate by size or ripeness. We just gather whatever is discarded. I even tell traders not to throw them away—we will come and collect,” he says.
Once collected, the peels are dried, cut into small pieces, and ground at a posho mill. The fine powder obtained is sieved to achieve uniform particles. Tom then mixes these with corn starch, which acts as a natural binder.
“We buy corn starch at about Sh95 per packet. It is white and powdery. When boiled in water, it becomes sticky, like porridge. That is what helps the pineapple peel particles stick together when we mould the pots,” explains the innovative student.
Maxwell Oyoo, a student and an innovator, poses with some innovations at the Kabianga University exhibition booth during the 5th National Agribusiness Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi, on October 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
The mixture, which he describes as having the texture of clay soil, is then hand-moulded into different pot shapes and sizes using simple containers. The containers act as the pots model to design.
In an interview with Seeds of Gold , he revealed that small pots fetch about Sh50 and larger ones Sh100.
“The small one is about six centimetres in diameter, and the larger one about nine centimetres,” he stated.
The biodegradable pots are designed for seedlings such as tomatoes, vegetables, and cabbages.
“You just plant the whole pot into the soil,” he explains. “After about 21 days, it decomposes, turning into manure and enriching the soil.”
Unlike plastic seedling trays and polythene bags that pollute the environment, Tom’s innovative pots are 100 percent organic and compostable.
“This is my way of fighting pollution and promoting organic farming. Plastic waste has become a huge problem, and this innovation provides an alternative that is both practical and sustainable,” he notes.
The technological innovation, which leverages readily available waste raw materials, however, is not without challenges.
Maxwell Oyoo, a student and an innovator, poses with some innovations at the Kabianga University exhibition booth during the 5th National Agribusiness Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi, on October 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
Tom admits that getting the formula right was not easy. “The first few attempts failed. The pots would crack when drying in the sun or break when removed from the moulds. It took us about three weeks of trying and failing and adjusting the starch-to-peel ratio, before we got the perfect mix,” he recalls.
His perseverance paid off. Today, the pots are strong enough to hold seedlings until they are ready for transplanting, and they disintegrate and decompose naturally in the soil afterward.
Tom tells Seeds of Gold that his idea is part of his final-year research project, inspired by both social media and his agricultural interests.
“I saw similar innovations online and thought, why not make it better? My lecturer encouraged me to explore it further, and it became my project,” he says.
Eco-friendly seedling pots made from dried pineapple peels, pictured at Kabianga University's exhibition booth during the 5th National Agribusiness Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi, on October 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
Although he is pursuing economics, Tom says agriculture has always been close to his heart. “Back home, my father gave me a small piece of land where I do small-scale farming,” he adds.
The farm is where he demonstrates his innovative ideas. “That is where I test most of my ideas—from growing horticultural crops to experimenting with new planting methods.”
The determination to fend for himself has inspired him to urge fellow young people to view agriculture as a business venture.
Tom’s project does not end with seedling pots. He reveals that he and his colleagues have developed other pineapple-based products such as marmalade, juice and jam, all made from different parts of the fruit to ensure nothing goes to waste.
“For instance, the hard middle part of the pineapple is used to make marmalade, while the soft parts make juice and jam,” he explains.
The University of Kabianga, based in Kericho County, was among the exhibitors at the fifth National Agribusiness Summit, organised by the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Themed “From Promise to Action: Advancing Agribusiness through Dialogue and Innovation”, the annual conference was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, between October 22 and 23.
Agricultural stakeholders and strategic partners reiterated the need to adopt technological innovations to spur growth in the sector.
At the university’s exhibition booth, Tom showcased the innovative seedling pots alongside a range of pineapple-based drinks.
The marmalade, he said, sells at Sh200 per jar, while the juice goes for Sh100 per 300ml bottle.
“The response has been encouraging,” he told Seeds of Gold . “People love that everything here is natural and made from what others throw away.”
Dried pineapple peels used to make eco-friendly seedling pots at Kabianga University's exhibition booth during the 5th National Agribusiness Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi, on October 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
Though still in its early stages, Tom hopes to commercialise his biodegradable seedling pots soon.
“This exhibition is our first, but it has given us confidence,” he said, adding, “We have seen that people are interested, especially farmers and environmentalists.”
Asked about his future plans, Tom said that he envisions scaling up production, possibly collaborating with agricultural institutions and eco-conscious organisations.
“I believe the future is bright,” he said. “Having laid this foundation, I want to keep innovating and promoting sustainable farming practices.”
For now, the young innovator continues to balance his coursework with his passion project, determined to turn his pineapple waste idea into a business that benefits both farmers and the planet.
