26 results
Easy-to-use solution for food traceability Fairfood offers advanced tracking solutions through Trace technology, enabling agricultural and food-related companies to transparently showcase the exact origins of their products. This technology empowers companies to openly provide evidence supporting claims of product sustainability, facilitating transparency and accountability. Whether through public disclosure or inclusion on product packaging, Trace technology enhances trust by giving consumers verifiable insights into the journey and sustainability practices associated with the products they choose.
Control the moisture content of grains and reduce post-harvest losses. The lack of precise moisture content measurement increases the risk of mold growth, insect infestation, and aflatoxin contamination during storage, resulting in significant losses for farmers and aggregators, up to 30% of the produced grains. In sub-Saharan Africa, farmers face challenges due to the unavailability and high cost of moisture meters. Consequently, they rely on traditional, subjective methods like biting and tossing kernels, which can lead to inaccurate measurements. Poultry farmers using high-moisture grains experience reduced egg productivity and increased bird mortality. The introduction of affordable and accessible grain moisture meter technology is crucial to address these issues and improve overall grain quality management.
Efficient Threshing for Productive Farms Mechanized Threshing Operations is a technology that efficiently separates seeds or grain from harvested plants. It addresses the labor-intensive process of manual threshing, particularly performed by women. Mechanized threshers use small petrol engines to process seeds and grain rapidly, offering a significant improvement in efficiency.
Your Digital Guide to Better Harvests The "RiceAdvice" digital support tool addresses the challenge of limited access to tailored agronomic information for rice farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. It provides field-specific guidelines for paddy production, offering recommendations on fertilizer use and weed management. This leads to higher rice grain yields and better returns on investments. The technology improves extension services, overcoming practical and financial barriers to sustainable farming practices.
Affordable animal feed for breeders The technology of "Cassava Peels for Animal Feed Production" holds significant importance in Sub-Saharan Africa, where large quantities of cassava peels are generated as byproducts of cassava processing. These peels, if not properly managed, create environmental hazards through uncontrolled dumping and burning. However, their potential as a valuable resource for rearing livestock and fish remains largely untapped. Cassava peels have the potential to serve as an excellent source of feed and fiber for animals, but their utilization has been hindered by drying constraints, the risk of aflatoxin contamination, and poor storability when traditional methods are employed. The introduction of simple equipment to mechanize the conversion of cassava peels into animal feeds offers solutions to these challenges. This technology reduces labor costs, shortens drying times, and improves the shelf life of feed products. By effectively utilizing cassava peels as animal feed, smallholder farmers and agri-food manufacturers can enhance the value derived from their cassava crops and address the scarcity of nutritious animal feeds. Additionally, the mechanized processing of cassava peels into wet cakes and dry mashes presents opportunities for job creation and business development in rural areas of Africa. Overall, this technology not only mitigates environmental issues but also contributes to improving food security, livestock production, and economic prospects in the region.
Extend Freshness, Expand Opportunities with Cassava Flour! The technology of producing High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) and industrial starches is of paramount importance. It addresses the critical issue of rapid spoilage and mold in fresh cassava roots due to their high water content, a significant challenge for farmers in storing or selling their produce. African communities have long relied on various processing methods to extend shelf life and eliminate toxic cyanide compounds. Traditional cassava flour production techniques do not offer substantial market opportunities for smallholder cassava farmers.
Fodder Enrichment for Thriving Livestock The technology of silage production from sweet potato vines and tubers plays a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture by converting leftover plant material into high-quality animal fodder. It addresses the challenges of resource wastage under unfavorable environmental conditions and contributes to bridging gaps in animal feed availability for farmers. Silage enhances feed digestibility, preserves essential nutrients, and significantly benefits the growth and well-being of ruminants and pigs, making it a valuable asset in modern agriculture.
Low-cost mechanized drying of cassava using Flash Dryers The technology of "Mechanized Drying of Cassava using Flash Dryers (Pneumatic Dryers)" holds paramount importance in the cassava processing chain. Specifically designed for transforming cassava mash into floury or powdery products, flash dryers stand out for their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and wide application for solids with low moisture content. Their suitability for producing starch, high-quality cassava flour (HQCF), and powdered fufu has been notably recognized. Flash dryers have been instrumental in revolutionizing cassava processing. They were first successfully tested in the year 2000 by IITA in collaboration with Femtex Starch factory in Lagos, demonstrating promising results. Subsequently, technical support was extended to equipment fabricators in Nigeria, leading to widespread fabrication and utilization of flash dryers for producing HQCF from cassava. Since 2004, the commercial fabrication and installation of flash dryers have expanded not only in Nigeria but also in several other African countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Madagascar, Malawi, and Zambia. These dryers have been widely adopted and implemented by various projects, government institutions, and private sectors, signifying their pivotal role in enhancing cassava processing for higher value-added products.
Extend shelf-life of fresh cassava The technology of waxing fresh cassava roots is a solution designed to address the challenges of rapid deterioration and limited shelf-life of cassava post-harvest. By applying a protective wax layer, it preserves the freshness of the roots and extends their shelf-life from two days to about 14 days or more. This not only enhances the marketability of the roots by protecting them from physical damages but also contributes to food security by ensuring their availability for a longer period. The wax used is safe and approved, ensuring the eating quality and safety of the cassava roots are not compromised.
Transforming Cassava, Mobile Processing for Sustainable Agriculture The Mobile Cassava Processing Plant (MCPP) addresses challenges in cassava commercialization by providing an alternative to immobile processing factories. The MCPP, developed by the TAAT Cassava Compact, is a six-wheel truck with modern processing machinery, an electricity generator, and a loader crane. It facilitates on-site processing of cassava into shelf-stable products, reducing postharvest losses and transportation costs.
Turning hides into leather to enrich communities The technology "Hide Curing and Secondary Leatherworks" emphasizes the importance of properly treating animal hides for maximum value. Hides, after meat, are the next most valuable product from livestock. They can be processed into various products like shoes, handbags, and clothing, provided skilled artisans and appropriate materials are available.
Enhance meat quality while prioritizing animal welfare. Humane Slaughtering and Meat Inspection ensures animals are slaughtered without pain or distress, improving meat quality and consumer health. It addresses the ethical treatment of animals in the meat processing industry.
Preserving Quality, Expanding Opportunity: Value Addition for Poultry The “Processing chicken meat for cold storage” technology is a transformative approach to poultry processing in Africa. It addresses the current practice of selling live poultry at markets, which often leads to lower returns for farmers and public health concerns. The technology enables the secondary processing of raw chicken into value-added products and facilitates cold storage, expanding the consumer base and increasing revenue for producers. It caters to the growing demand for ready-to-cook or precooked chicken meat, driven by urbanization, income growth, and heightened awareness of diet and food quality. The technology, accessible to small and medium enterprises, involves mechanized equipment for high-volume processing and refrigeration facilities for long-term storage and transport.
Efficiency Unleashed: Poultry Processing, Simplified Mechanized Defeathering and Egg Sorting technology addresses the labor-intensive and time-consuming processes of defeathering chickens and manually sorting eggs. It offers efficient, quick, and precise solutions for poultry farmers, enhancing productivity and product quality. The technology is crucial for small to medium-scale poultry producers, providing benefits such as increased throughput, reduced handling costs, and premium prices for high-grade eggs.
From Catch to Cuisine: Enhancing Fish Quality and Sustainability Fish processing is a vital component of the agricultural sector, ensuring the preservation and value addition of fish products. It plays a crucial role in extending the shelf life, improving taste, and enhancing the nutritional value of fish. Common methods like solar tent dryers and smoking kilns offer cost-effective ways to preserve fish, reducing the need for refrigeration, and enabling the creation of various value-added fish products, ranging from fillets to fish powder, which contribute to food quality and market appeal.
Bean Flour Made Easy The technology of producing bean flour and flour products is of paramount significance, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It addresses the challenges posed by the time and energy required for traditional bean preparation, making it more appealing to urban consumers. This innovation not only facilitates the creation of a wide range of processed and ready-to-eat products but also serves as a crucial first step in their production. By using bean flour, homemakers can save substantial time and reduce fuel costs when compared to the traditional method of lengthy boiling. Additionally, it enhances the bioavailability of essential vitamins and micronutrients in food products derived from beans.
Advanced approach for quick, convenient, and delicious bean "Pre-Cooked Beans for Consumer Convenience" is a food processing technology designed to address the long cooking time, high energy, and water requirements associated with whole dried common beans, which are a major staple food in eastern and southern Africa. This technology involves pre-cooking the beans and then preserving them through methods like canning or freezing. This significantly reduces preparation time and fuel use, making it more appealing to urban and middle-class consumers. It also opens up new commercial opportunities, benefiting both consumers and farmers. The technology is particularly advantageous for women homemakers and canteen caterers, as it frees up time for other activities. The process involves sorting, washing, blanching, soaking, sterilization, and drying of the beans before packaging. The technology can be applied in various agroecologies and is available in several countries in Africa.
Banana and Plantain Processing for a Healthier Diet Value-added processing of bananas and plantains creates valuable products by using both ripe and unripe fruit. This technology produces items like flour, purees, and chips, all with higher market value than raw fruit. Unripe banana or plantain flour finds uses in baking, gluten-free products, and even infant food. Ripe bananas are transformed into purees suitable for beverages, ice cream, and yogurt. Similar to potato chips, banana chips can be produced fried or dried, offering consumers a tasty and convenient snack. This approach not only reduces fruit waste by utilizing both ripe and unripe stages but also creates new markets and higher potential income for farmers. An additional benefit is the improved nutritional profile, with banana flours boasting a richness in fiber, potassium, and resistant starch. The technology is adaptable to both small-scale and industrial production facilities, making it a valuable tool for a variety of stakeholders in the banana and plantain value chain.
Effortless sweet potato puree, every time! Puree production and products for orange fresh sweet potato (OFSP) technology involves processing sweet potato tubers into a versatile puree that offers numerous benefits. By converting fresh tubers into puree, the shelf life is extended, enabling year-round availability. This process can be carried out using common small-scale food processing equipment and vacuum-packed storage technology with preservatives, ensuring the puree remains stable for up to four months. The resulting puree can be used as a nutritious ingredient in a variety of baked and fried products, as well as concentrated foods like baby food and smoothies. Additionally, OFSP puree is rich in pro-vitamin A, enhancing the nutritional value of the end-products. The process itself is relatively simple, involving steps such as cleaning, steaming, peeling, and mashing the sweet potato flesh. Overall, OFSP puree technology presents an accessible and beneficial solution for adding nutritional value and commercial viability to food products.
Efficient Harvesting, Smarter Fleet Management Combine harvesters are versatile agricultural machines capable of performing multiple harvest operations in a single process. They come in various sizes to cater to different farming needs, handling crops like wheat, maize, rice, soybean, and more. Efficient management and fleet selection are crucial for optimizing performance and minimizing costs. These machines significantly reduce grain losses and labor expenses, making them essential for wheat farming and increasing production in labor-scarce areas.
Efficient rice threshing and polishing for premium quality grains, boosting income and market access in african communities. This technology greatly improves rice processing in Sub-Saharan Africa. It uses advanced machines like motorized threshers and polishers to replace manual methods. These machines can be easily moved near the fields, reducing transportation costs and increasing processing capacity. They work precisely, getting more rice without damage. This raises the quality and value of the rice, benefiting both small and large-scale farmers. Additionally, using these machines creates job opportunities. This represents a significant step towards modernizing rice processing and improving livelihoods for farmers in the region.
Ripening Solutions for Quality and Efficiency The technology of "Induced Ripening of Banana for Increased Marketability and Storage" is of paramount importance in the banana industry. Typically, dessert bananas are harvested prematurely to prevent damage during transportation. This technology allows for the artificial ripening of bananas using various chemical agents, with ethylene gas being the most commonly employed. Commercial ripening chambers are utilized to precisely control temperature, humidity, and ethylene gas concentration, ensuring that bananas reach optimal ripeness. Catalytic generators are used to produce ethylene, and a concentration of 100 ppm for 12 hours can have an immediate ripening effect. Ethephon, another widely used compound, releases ethylene, which aids in the ripening process. This technology not only enhances the marketability of bananas by delivering consistently ripe and attractive fruit but also extends their shelf life. It allows for better inventory management, reduces post-harvest losses, and ultimately benefits the banana industry by meeting consumer demand for high-quality, ready-to-eat bananas. In summary, the induced ripening of bananas is crucial for ensuring marketability and optimizing storage, ultimately driving the success of the banana supply chain.
Low cost storage technologies for grain Large post-harvest losses of bean occurs across Sub-Sahara Africa because of improper storage techniques resulting in pest infestation that threatens the food security and livelihoods of farmers. As a result, farmers may opt to sell their produce immediately after harvest when market prices are at their lowest as a risk avoidance strategy. Grain storage pests such as weevils (bruchids) can be controlled by physical, chemical and biological methods. Some of the physical methods include use of hermitic storage bags and containers. The hermetic storage technology for grains avoids grain damage using sealed bags that prevents movement of air and moisture. The bags preserve the quality of grains and obstruct the entry of insects and microbial organisms through depletion of oxygen levels and accumulation of carbon dioxide. These conditions prevent damage by insects like weevils, moths and mites, curb development of fungi like aflatoxin that contaminate the grain, and maintain the taste and color characteristics of food. Hermitic bags allow for storage of grain without the need to apply chemicals.
Aflatoxin-safe fields and crops for safer food in Africa Aflasafe® technology plays a pivotal role in addressing the critical issue of aflatoxin contamination in Africa. Aflatoxins, produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, are highly toxic and cancer-causing poisons that infest staple crops, animal feeds, and processed foods, posing a severe health threat. Aflasafe®, a biocontrol solution developed in Africa, offers a cost-effective and natural alternative to chemical interventions. By reducing aflatoxin levels in food, Aflasafe® not only safeguards human and livestock health but also mitigates economic impacts, making food safer for consumption and trade, improving overall health, and preserving farm animal well-being. This innovative technology stands as a key strategy to combat the silent aflatoxin pandemic, which is responsible for 30% of liver cancer cases in Africa and weakens individuals against other diseases while also stunting children's growth.
Reduce milling losses, enhance nutritional and organoleptic quality Parboiling is a process whereby rough rice is steeped in cold or warm water, heated with steam under pressure or in boiling water to gelatinize starch with minimum grain swelling, followed by slow drying. The nutritional, flavor and textural characteristics of parboiled rice are better than non-parboiled counterparts and can match the quality of imported rice making it more appealing to consumers. Traditionally, parboiling is carried out in a cast iron drum with a false bottom for soaking and steaming that is placed on a three-stone fire, which is severely expose processors to air pollution from emissions of carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). These easy-to-build systems are highly suitable for small to medium scale processors in rice growing areas of Sub-Saharan Africa that have poor energy and market infrastructures.
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