Startup Wakonda grows water-efficient cactus pears in drought-hit Italy for various products.

Wakonda, a startup founded by former telecom manager Andrea Ortenzi, is cultivating cactus pear (Opuntia Ficus) in Italy's drought-stricken south. The plant, known for its resilience in arid conditions, can be used to produce energy drinks, flour, animal feed, and biofuel. Wakonda aims to plant 300 hectares by 2025, utilizing waste for methane gas production. The crop requires much less water than maize and offers a solution to climate change and plant diseases affecting traditional crops.

November 30, 2024
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