In a festive awards ceremony in Berlin, LIMBUA was honored with the CSR Award of the German Federal Government 2025 by State Secretary Lilian Tschan, in the category “Digital Tools for Transparent Supply Chains.” The award recognizes companies that successfully combine corporate social responsibility with innovative business practices.
The CSR Award of the Federal Government: Making Responsibility Visible
The CSR Award (Corporate Social Responsibility) of the German Federal Government is presented by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). Since its launch in 2013, the award has recognized companies that stand out through sustainable, socially responsible, and future-oriented business conduct.
LIMBUA stood out among nearly 150 applicants. The ceremony made one thing clear: responsible entrepreneurship in Germany is not only possible – it’s happening. The awarded companies across five categories demonstrated how powerful and diverse corporate social responsibility initiatives can be across ecological, social, and economic dimensions along supply and value chains.
The winners were selected by a high-profile, independent jury through a multi-stage, science-based evaluation process.
(L–R): Lissa Bettzieche – German Institute for Human Rights, Dr. Nicola Brandt – Head of the OECD Berlin Centre, Matti Spiecker – Founder of LIMBUA, Lilian Tschan – State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). Photo: J. Konrad Schmidt
Around 200 invited guests took part – including jury members, nominees, and representatives from politics, business, and civil society. Lilian Tschan, Chair of the Jury and State Secretary at BMAS, presented the award to Matti Spiecker in a ceremonial setting.
His message during the ceremony: “We believe in a future where smallholder farmers are not just raw material suppliers but equal partners in the global value chain. This award empowers us to stay on this path with even greater commitment.”
CSR Award Video featuring LIMBUA
From Fingerprint to Fair Macadamia Nuts – 100% Digital Traceability
LIMBUA’s supply chain begins with organic mixed farms run by smallholder contract farmers in Kenya. Right from the moment of purchase of macadamia nuts, mangoes, and avocados, LIMBUA uses biometric fingerprint identification. This ensures each harvest is clearly linked to the individual farmer. Payment is made digitally and directly via mobile phone – without intermediaries, fair and transparent.
All interfaces along the supply chain are digitally connected, enabling 100% traceability worldwide – from farms to international customers. This is a practical example of corporate social responsibility through technology.
At LIMBUA, macadamia purchasing in rural Kenya is completely digitalised
Custom Software for Digital Processes and Certifications
The entire value chain – from sorting and cracking macadamia nuts to processing mangos and avocados, packaging, and export – is digitally recorded. LIMBUA uses proprietary software to manage procurement, processing, quality assurance, and certification. We have also digitized the certification processes for numerous organic and social standards, ensuring compliance with legislation like the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.
Thanks to this digital system, over 9,000 smallholder farmers have direct access to international markets. They receive fair prices, are actively involved in value creation, and improve their livelihoods. More than 5,000 hectares of farmland have already been converted to organic agriculture. LIMBUA’s approach is sustainable, scalable, and centered on people – a model of modern corporate social responsibility.
Each harvest is clearly assigned to a farmer using biometric identification
About the CSR Award of the German Federal Government
The CSR Award of the Federal Government is a key part of Germany’s national corporate social responsibility strategy. It aims to make responsible business conduct visible and to encourage companies to align their economic goals with social and environmental accountability. Corporate social responsibility is understood as a voluntary contribution by companies to sustainable development – one that goes beyond legal compliance.
In its fifth edition in 2025, the CSR Award was presented in the following five categories:
- Good Business Practices
- Constructive Stakeholder Engagement
- Digital Tools for Transparent Supply Chains
- Effective Training and Education
- Climate & Biodiversity
The award-winning initiatives show how companies can uphold human rights, environmental protection, and good governance throughout their supply and value chains – all as part of their corporate social responsibility commitments.
The choice was made by an independent panel of experts, including:
Lilian Tschan, State Secretary (BMAS)
Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary (BMZ)
Udo Philipp, State Secretary (BMWK)
Juliane Seifert, State Secretary (BMI)
Dr. Nicola Brandt, Director, OECD Berlin Centre
Dr. Achim Dercks, Deputy Managing Director, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Dr. Christiane Hellar, Hamburg Foundation for Business Ethics
Maren Leifker, Business & Human Rights Expert, Bread for the World
Prof. Dr. Martin Müller, Institute for Sustainable Corporate Management, University of Ulm
Birgit Riess, Director, Sustainable Social Market Economy, Bertelsmann Foundation
Dr. Peter Schaumberger, CEO, GEPA – The Fair Trade Company
Michael Windfuhr, Deputy Director, German Institute for Human Rights
Annika Wünsche, German Trade Union Confederation (DGB)
Christopher Haas, CEO, Haas & Co. Magnettechnik GmbH
State Secretary Lilian Tschan and Chairwoman of the CSR Prize 2025 jury, photo: J. Konrad Schmidt
Conclusion on the CSR Award 2025
For us, the CSR Award is more than just recognition – it’s a tribute to the entire network behind it: our committed teams in Kenya and Germany, our over 9,000 contract smallholder farmers, and all those worldwide who are championing fair, digital, and sustainable supply chains.
Through a combination of innovation, transparency, and values-driven leadership, LIMBUA shows how corporate social responsibility can be practical, scalable, and transformative.
We say thank you – and we’re building on what we've achieved!
Ready for export: all interfaces in the LIMBUA supply chain are digitally connected