Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is arguably the hub of innovation in Kenya. For instance, the university has won multiple awards for innovation, launched the Digital Innovation Hub (2024), and the Enage Develop Grow Entrepreneurship (EDGE) program that enhances its students innovative and entrepreneurial skills.
At the university, Dr. Paul Kinoti, in collaboration with his team at the Department of Horticulture and Food Security, has specialized at snail farming. The lecturer makes soap among other skin products using snail slime. In this segment, Times Digital Kenya will look into the interesting innovation by the JKUAT Don.
The Science Behind the Innovation
Snail slime is considered to have molecules of elastin and collagen. As such, the snail mucus has skin healing and anti-aging properties. It has several substances such as peptides, proteins, and allantoin. Some of the properties that make it suitable for soap production include collagen production, antibacterial properties, anti-aging, and skin protection, just to name a few.
The process…
The JKUAT lecturer is rearing the giant African land snails. According to Dr. Kinoti, these land snails are classified as wild. Additionally, they are approved by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
As the snails enter their reproductive season, most are transferred to a larger site. The other portion is kept in an enclosure to harvest the slime. A single snail produces around 2 grams of slime. Therefore, Dr. Paul Kinoti needs at least 40 snails to yield 80 grams. This is enough to make 15 bar soaps, each 100 grams.
Some of the slime products that Dr. Kinoti’s team produces are body skin products and cosmetics such as shower gels, creams, and soaps.
Dr. Kinoti’s vision
The JKUAT Don is seeking to generate products that are very beneficial to Kenyans. This is as snails have been despised by the larger society. Moving forward, Dr. Paul Kinoti’s aim will be to urge more Kenyans to consume snail products and even venture into snail farming.
