Dr. Luc Maes is a naturopathic doctor with a knowledge and passion for health, and a grand vision to make the world a better place. Dr. Luc and partner Barbara Maes started Kaibae because they wanted to inspire a new way to think about the connection between people, the planet and consumer products that support good health.
Baobab has been harvested for centuries for its medicinal qualities and has been used to treat fevers, malaria, gastric problems, and vitamin C deficiency, among other conditions. According to the National Geographic blog, Baobab rests squarely in the superfood category. The fruit “contains six times as much vitamin C as oranges, twice as much calcium as milk, and plenty of B vitamins, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and antioxidants.”
The Kaibae vision is inspired by the Baobab Tree and it is their mission is to reinvigorate interest and demand for Baobab as a remarkable source of nutrition, and economic opportunity.
Until recently, my own experience of Baobab was limited to Antoine De Saint-Exupery’s unflattering portrait of the stubborn and persistent tree in the classic children’s tale, The Little Prince. Since much of the Baobab’s potential has been undiscovered or under-utilized, Baobab is considered a lost crop.
Thanks to visionary leaders like Dr. Luc and others, the resurgence of Baobab as a nutrient dense crop with significant economic opportunity is changing this perception and dramatically improving conditions in impoverished African communities. The Baobab fruit harvest initiated by Kaibae specifically has improved access to education and healthcare for Kaibae’s partners in Northern Ghana.
