Subscribe to our newsletter dedicated to Africa

Blog Meet the AgriTech4Kenya Innovators: Driving Sustainable Agriculture in East Africa

Meet the AgriTech4Kenya Innovators: Driving Sustainable Agriculture in East Africa
by Nekesah T. Wafullah, Taija Khader , Camille Loiseau

Despite Kenya’s fertile land, the country faces significant agricultural challenges, importing over USD 1.1 billion worth of food annually. Water scarcity, soil degradation, rising fertilizer costs, and the growing impacts of climate change create immense pressure on small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of Kenya's agriculture. These challenges threaten not only livelihoods but also food security and biodiversity. 

Amid these pressing issues, innovative solutions have the potential to revolutionize Kenya’s agricultural sector. Recognizing this, the AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge has brought together some of the brightest minds to tackle these challenges head-on. 

The AgriTech4Kenya Accelerator Program

Launched in July 2024, the AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge, powered by the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP), seeks to catalyze science-based early-stage solutions for Kenya's agricultural sector. This initiative focuses on six priority areas, identified in collaboration with local and global partners, ensuring relevance and impact for smallholder farmers and agricultural value chains. 

Following a rigorous selection process, 25 teams consisting of local and international participants were invited to join a 4-day bootcamp in Limuru, Kenya, last November. These innovators engaged with partners, explored Kenya’s agritech ecosystem, and refined their solutions through workshops, expert masterclasses, farm visit, and one-on-one mentoring sessions. 

The Bootcamp culminated in a Pitch Event, held during Kenya Innovation Week, where participants presented their solutions to a panel of industry experts, investors, and strategic partners. 

‘The Bootcamp is an outstanding networking opportunity for all Agri-Tech innovators. Entrepreneurs should always look at what others are doing and the synergies that can be created – at any stage of the business.’  

AgriTech4Kenya Bootcamp Pitch Event

The Selected Innovators

We are thrilled to announce the 15 selected teams, along with two CGIAR-led innovations, advancing to the AgriTech4Kenya Accelerator Program: 

  • Sunrider (Sow Precise) (Kenya) - Offers solar-powered, mobile irrigation systems that eliminate the need for ownership, reducing financial burdens on smallholder farmers and increasing water access for sustainable vegetable oil seed production. 
  • Ecorich Solutions (Kenya) - Transforms organic waste into fertilizer within 24 hours using its innovative ‘Waste Bot’ composting technology, addressing urban waste management and improving crop yields for smallholder farmers. 
  • Enhanced Rock Weathering (Flux) (Kenya) - Applies silicate rock dust on farmlands to improve soil health, boost crop yields, and capture carbon, creating new revenue streams for farmers through global carbon markets. 
  • Zaoshinani (Kenya) - Provides a digital platform for smallholder farmers to access credit, insurance, and financial tracking services, improving financial stability and resource management in rural farming communities. 
  • ApiTrace (The Source Plus) (Kenya) - Digitizes agriculture and agroforestry processes while offering parametric insurance against climate risks, empowering farmers with sustainable and traceable solutions. 
  • Bee Venom Collecting Device – Patvention (Kenya) - Develops an affordable, locally produced device for beekeepers to collect venom more efficiently while minimizing stress on bees, creating a valuable alternative income source. 
  • Bromecure (Kenya) - Introduces a nano-encapsulated herbal drug for livestock, offering a sustainable and organic treatment for Helminthosis and Coccidiosis while promoting livestock productivity. 
  • CluckLens (FeatheryCare Ltd) (Ghana) - Uses AI to monitor poultry health and behavior, improving farm productivity by providing real-time insights for disease prevention and optimized management. 
  • Umuntu Agrobiotics (Uganda) - Distributes eco-friendly soil solutions that enhance nutrient release and plant disease control, improving yields without the use of chemical fertilizers and supporting sustainable farming. 
  • BlinkEarth (Rwanda) - Enables smallholder farmers to monetize sustainability practices through participation in carbon credit markets, enhancing financial inclusion and environmental stewardship. 
  • Ikuza Biogel Fertilizer – Anziboo (Kenya) - Develops bamboo-based hydrogels that reduce water and fertilizer use, improving soil health and supporting climate resilience for smallholder farmers. 
  • Regrowth (Italy) - Provides an advanced system for early detection of livestock diseases, reducing costs and increasing productivity while addressing key challenges in animal health management. 
  • JANI AI (Kenya) - Implements a traceability system for food supply chains, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, improving transparency, and enhancing resource management for high-value crops and dairy. 
  • Everlend (Uganda) - Connects smallholder farmers to climate-resilient seeds and flexible payment plans, increasing access to quality inputs and strengthening their financial stability. 
  • Galinsoga Parviflora (Gallant Soldier) Weed for Poultry Feed – Daystar University (Kenya) - Develops an affordable and sustainable poultry feed from Gallant Soldier weed, reducing production costs for farmers and supporting climate resilience. 

CGIAR-Led Innovations: 

  • AgWise (Kenya) - Delivers data-driven agronomic recommendations to improve productivity and resilience, offering tailored advice on planting times, cultivars, and fertilizers. 
  • On Demand Good Agriculture Practices – Sprout (Nigeria) - Bridges knowledge gaps with on-demand access to good agricultural practices, enhancing farming efficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. 

The Road Ahead

The AgriTech4Kenya Accelerator Program begins in January 2025, providing tailored mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to help these innovators scale their solutions. The program will culminate in a Demo Day in April/May 2025, where teams will present their progress to a broader audience of investors, partners, and stakeholders. During the Demo Day the teams will be joined by five selected growth stage companies who applied for the program. After the accelerator program, CGIAR A4IP will continue to support the cohort to build strategic partnerships, secure funding opportunities, and access ongoing mentorship to further refine and scale their innovations. This sustained engagement ensures that the impact of the accelerator extends beyond the program, empowering these innovators to drive transformative change in Kenya’s agricultural landscape and contribute to global food security and climate resilience efforts. 

'We know that science on this continent needs to get off the shelves and into the hands of farmers and our communities. Collaboration is truly the key to addressing the complexities of food systems and ensuring that solutions are sustainable, scalable, and inclusive.' 

Stay tuned as we follow the journey of these promising innovators shaping the future of sustainable agriculture in Kenya. 

Learn more via our website | Connect with us on LinkedIn | Reach out at [email protected] 

AgriTech4Kenya is an initiative powered by the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform of CGIAR's Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and co-organized with the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative and CGIAR Initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions. The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented in partnership with Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), AGRA, Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), Daystar University, iTATU, Mercy Corps, DOB Equity, Climate Resilient Africa Fund, and SUSAG Foundation Africa (formerly Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture). 

Header Image: Meet the teams joining the AgriTech4Kenya Accelerator Program in 2025 to advance Agri-Tech and Climate-Tech solutions in Kenya. Credits [@itsradh @victor_wahome]

Related Content