Kenyan entrepreneur and innovator, Alex Odundo, will share his plant fiber research in collaboration with the Prakash Lab (Stanford University, BioEngineering). Together, they have developed a sustainable solution to period poverty by harnessing the untapped potential of Agave Sisalana (sisal), a drought-resistant plant native to Kenya. Their partnership focuses on developing innovative tools and methods to transform sisal fibers into absorbent, biodegradable fluff for use in sanitary pads. This work will culminate in a small, self-sustaining manufacturing facility in Kenya that can be replicated in other parts of the world to increase access to affordable and quality menstrual products. 

The event will explore how local innovation, global collaboration, and sustainable practices can disrupt the traditional hygiene product market, reduce waste, and provide a long-term solution to period poverty that is rooted in the communities they serve.  

This Food for Thought event is co-hosted by the Stanford King Center on Global Development and the Stanford Humanities Center research workshop, Fiber Optics, in partnership with the Prakash Lab, Center for African Studies, and the Department of African and African American Studies.

A light dinner will be served.

About the Speaker

Alex Odundo is a Kenyan engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur specializing in sustainable materials and agricultural technology. With a focus on frugal science and sustainability, he has developed innovative machinery for processing agave fiber – a renewable, biodegradable resource – into eco-friendly products. Odundo’s work addresses critical issues in the Global South, including period poverty and sustainable agriculture, by creating affordable, scalable technologies that empower local communities. His collaborations, such as with Stanford's Prakash Lab, bridge global development and materials science to drive sustainable solutions in underserved regions.