In an effort to drive new and innovative ways to diversify the wildlife economy and contribute to reducing conflict between people and elephants, we buy millet from small-scale farmers around the Okavango at a premium price to reward them for their efforts to coexist with elephants. Protecting ancient elephant movement corridors, erecting passive elephant deterrents to protect crops and conducting more sustainable agricultural practices takes considerable effort, but more and more farmers around the Okavango are practicing these methods in order to better coexist with elephants. We wanted to reward them for doing so by paying them a premium for their surplus staple crop, millet, and turn it into craft beer.

Through the partnership between the Okavango Craft Brewery and local NGO Ecoexist, local farmers residing in the area now have the opportunity to be linked to and benefit from a new market, offering reward for their efforts to coexist with elephants, and creating sustainable, inclusive growth for our local economy. By turning their millet into craft beer, we offer consumers the opportunity to support both people and wildlife around the Okavango, while enjoying quality beer.