Internet of Things Climate-smart AI Powered Farmshield Farmshield Agtech solar dryers

Synnefa among organisations to receive $1.7m Funding Boost for Innovators

Taita Ngetich
Taita Ngetich

Efficiency for Access Reveals 11 Organisations developing Clean Energy Agricultural Technologies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAIROBI, KENYA - 24th July 2024 - The Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund has awarded a total of $1.7 million to eleven pioneering organisations, including Nairobi-based Synnefa. This funding aims to advance clean energy agricultural technologies to enhance post-harvest resilience and productivity in dairy, fish, and horticulture value chains across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

This initiative comes at a critical juncture for smallholder farmers in these regions, who produce around 30% of most food commodities yet face significant challenges due to limited access to energy. This energy gap contributes to substantial food loss, with post-harvest waste estimated at 37% in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.

Synnefa’s Vision for Sustainable Agriculture

Synnefa, is set to leverage this funding to develop smart solar dryers equipped with our proprietary FarmShield IoT devices. This innovative technology will benefit farmer cooperatives involved in high value horticultural crops like coffee, tomatoes, mango, and pyrethrum value chains in Kenya. The project will be implemented in collaboration with Kiambu, Kitui and Makueni County Governments.

Taita Ngetich, Founder and CEO of Synnefa, emphasized the impact of this support: “We believe that technology can significantly reduce farming risks and boost incomes for smallholder farmers in Africa. This funding enables us to enhance our FarmShield and FarmCloud technologies, providing community-owned smart drying solutions. By reducing drying times and connecting farmers to markets, we aim to improve incomes and minimize post-harvest losses.”

Innovative Technology for Post-Harvest Management

Synnefa’s Smart Drying solution integrates advanced hardware and software to extend the shelf life of food and reduce post-harvest losses. The centerpiece of this system is the Greenhouse solar dryer, which ensures efficient and controlled drying, making large-scale drying safe, nutritious, and hygienic.

Key components of the solution include:

  • FarmShield IoT Devices: These solar-powered sensors monitor humidity and temperature, automatically controlling the HVAC system to maintain optimal drying conditions.
  • FarmCloud Software Platform: This platform provides real-time data on solar dryer conditions, tracks inputs and harvest quantities, generates drying reports, and connects farmers to markets. It is accessible via a web app or USSD platform, making it user-friendly even in remote areas with limited internet access.

The Smart Drying solution aims to:

  • Increase the volume of dried products for smallholder farmers.
  • Reduce production losses by shortening drying times from 5-7 days to 3-4 days.
  • Enhance market accessibility for farmers, thereby improving their incomes.

To join our initiative as part of the pilot farmer cooperatives testing our innovative smart solar dryer, kindly contact us at projects@synnefa.io Share with us the specifics of your cooperative, including the number of farmers involved and the particular value chain you are currently supporting. We are particularly interested in collaborating with farmer cooperatives or agribusinesses that work with outgrower farmers in the Mango, Coffee, and Pyrethrum value chains.

Support from Key Stakeholders

Jolanda van Ginkel, Programme Manager for Renewable Energy at the IKEA Foundation, highlighted the significance of this initiative: “Early-stage support from the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund has the potential to transform the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. By providing access to renewable energy solutions, we empower farmers to reduce food loss, increase productivity, and access new markets, creating a more resilient agricultural sector.”

Emilie Carmichael, Head of International at Energy Saving Trust, added, “These innovative technologies are crucial for improving the livelihoods of rural communities in the Global South. Harnessing clean energy, these solutions boost productivity and incomes while enhancing resilience to climate-related challenges.”

About the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund:

The Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund supports the development of affordable, high-performing, and inclusive appliances. The fund is backed by the IKEA Foundation and UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform.

For more information on the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund and other grantees, visit Efficiency for Access Update.