Startup Story
Sabine Lydia Müller is the founder of Tchambalakate Comércio e Serviços Soc.Unip., Lda in Mozambique. She is passionate about regenerative organic agriculture, agroforestry, Mozambique, and the decolonization of Africa. Through her self-employed work as consultant in Germany and Mozambique, her involvement in various publications, and in organic certifications, Sabine aims to share knowledge and best practices on how to improve the resilience and sustainability of food systems and ecosystems. She believes in the peaceful coexistence of nature and human beings, and strives to make a positive impact with her work. As a Communications Manager with over 17 years of experience in PR, social media, and brand marketing, Sabine leverages her skills and network to raise awareness and support for her clients’ projects and initiatives.
LoA spoke to the passion-driven founder, Sabine Lydia Müller, to learn more about her unique business and its aim to make a sustainable difference to regenerative agricultural practices in Mozambique.
What does your company do?
Tchambalakate develops projects in the fields of Culture & Agriculture.
“I just have an entrepreneurial mindset and personality. I always see opportunities and "can't do" doesn't exist for me. I love challenges.”
“I hope that with my work I can help bring culture and agriculture closer together in the minds of the Mozambican population.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Over 70 percent of the Mozambican population works in agriculture - a large part as subsistence farmers. My team and I have been working extensively on regenerative agricultural practices since 2019. We are researching these techniques in order to then spread them further and thus empower the rural population and, in the best case, prevent the neo-colonial exploitation of people by multinational corporations. We are certain that a circular, locally adapted form of agriculture, developed together with the population, can not only increase food security, but can also generate better health, thus more education and thus more income. Agriculture and culture are closely linked. We cooperate with Mozambican cultural workers who, as celebrities and influencers, will help to spread our sustainable messages in the future. Language, singing, dance, painting, sculpture and even the making of musical instruments are often based on agricultural products or have a close connection to the rural population. We want to help put sustainability in a better light and not dismiss it as a luxury for the rich. We are fighting for a future suitable for our grandchildren and to mitigate the effects of climate change on Mozambique.]
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We deliver great work and will support you authentically and passionately in the following areas: Sustainability consulting, feasibility studies, consulting for organic farming and organic certification, agroforestry training, courses, incentives, events with ecological and social focus, cultural events, concerts, festivals.
Tell us a little about your team:
We are a small core team plus freelancers who support us depending on the project. I am the owner and strategist and I have one permanent employee, an agronomist, who bears a lot of responsibility for the farm land, is the assistant to the management and trains seasonal employees in sustainable practices.
“I want to do my part so that Mozambique will have a strong and modern economy, but without catastrophic consequences for nature and humanity. That's why I work exclusively in the area of regenerative projects.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I just have an entrepreneurial mindset and personality. I always see opportunities and "can't do" doesn't exist for me. I love challenges. What certainly helps me is my ability to communicate and network. I enjoy trying new things, researching, and delving into new topics.
I am fascinated by social and ecological trends, research in the area of common good-oriented and nature-based solutions, emerging trends and I have a good feel for new markets. For example, I see many opportunities in Mozambique to avoid having to make the same mistakes as highly industrialized countries. Here you can find off-grid solutions and use renewable energies, use the labor of the young population instead of running everything in a highly mechanized way, avoid pollution instead of producing garbage dumps you can work directly in a circular manner. I want to do my part so that Mozambique will have a strong and modern economy, but without catastrophic consequences for nature and humanity. That's why I work exclusively in the area of regenerative projects.
My extremely diverse global network supports me as a sparring partner and source of ideas. Since the pandemic, I have been even more careful to vary my business areas, so that I usually have several projects running at the same time. This gives my company the stability it needs and me the variety I prefer. My company is called Tchambalakate Culture & Agriculture, because these areas not only complement each other perfectly, but are interwoven. People need both to survive. I would like the global south to treat its farmers better than Germany, for example, does. I hope that with my work I can help bring culture and agriculture closer together in the minds of the Mozambican population.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
In 2024 we will continue to seek funding for our grassroots organization „AMO Agrofloresta“ where we network agroforestry practitioners and fans of regenerative agriculture, reforestation and biodiversity in Mozambique. We have planned three webinars for August 2024 that span from how to make DIY organic fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides to why native trees are important in agroforestry systems and what vital role snakes play in the ecosystem, how we can deal with them and co-exist.
We are also planning to start a bigger regenerative agricultural project in early 2025.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I love the Mozambican people, their culture, and the nature. My job combines all this.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just do it! You are stronger than you think. You will succeed!
Find out more:
Email: sabine@tchambalakte.de
Website: http://www.tchambalakate.de
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tchambalakate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tchambalakate
Why LoA loves it…
As the world wrestles with how to improve the resilience and sustainability of food systems and ecosystems, Sabine Lydia Müller believes in the peaceful coexistence of nature and human beings. Her business is playing its part in helping people to live in greater harmony with nature, making agriculture more sustainable and less impactful. Inspirational impact-making in action! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa