Our team
Behind the TAAT Technology e-catalogs, two dedicated teams play a pivotal role: the Technology Profiling team and the AKM Services team. These teams work hand-in-hand to deliver an exceptional experience, whether you're a Decision-maker seeking innovations to transform agriculture in Africa or a Technology Provider offering cutting-edge solutions. Together, we developed the e-catalogs and built the systems that ensure everything runs smoothly.
We also often collaborate with expert consultants to keep the technology profiles in the e-catalogs up-to-date with the latest insights on topics like economic analysis and Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion.
The ongoing work of the Technology Profiling team populates the e-catalogs with detailed but relevant and clearly expressed information about the technologies we showcase. We strive to explain technologies to those who can decide to adopt them, by presenting them in the best way possible for our audiences.
Technology Profiling – TAAT Clearinghouse (IITA)
Marie Michèle Codja
I am Marie Michèle Codja, holding an MSc in Crop Science, and I serve as a Technology Profiling Consultant at TAAT Clearinghouse. Within TAAT, my role entails sourcing technologies for our database, creating user-friendly profiles, and evaluating them using the Scaling Readiness tool. With my expertise in Crop Science, I am dedicated to utilizing technology to foster agricultural innovation and sustainability throughout Africa. Let's work together to make a difference in African agriculture!
Beata Adonon
I am Beata Adonon, a Technology Dissemination consultant at the TAAT program (Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation), holding a Master’s degree in Agronomy. As a Technology Profiler, my role includes collecting, simplifying complex information, and organizing data on agricultural technologies to power the TAAT database and e-catalogs. Drawing upon my expertise in Agronomy, I am committed to leveraging technology to drive agricultural innovation and advance sustainability across Africa.
Hardi Hinvi
I am Hardi Hinvi, a Technology Profiling Consultant at TAAT Clearinghouse, holding a Master's degree in Crop Science. My responsibility is to gather, translate, and organize data on agricultural technologies to fuel the TAAT's database and e-catalogs. With a strong background in agriculture and expertise in planning and communication, I strive to create effective and accurate digital catalogs for the private, governmental, and institutional sectors. My goal is to promote the adoption of proven and validated technologies to transform agriculture in Africa.
Deborah Ndekatubane
I am Deborah Ndekatubane, a technology profiler in the dynamic TAAT e-catalog team. My role is to unravel the complexities of agricultural technologies and present them in a clear and accessible manner. With a fresh perspective and boundless enthusiasm, I'm passionate about simplifying intricate concepts, empowering my audience to make informed decisions. Beyond work, I delve into the captivating world where technology intersects with agriculture. Join me on this exciting journey as we revolutionize the agriculture landscape together!
Bruno Tran
I am Bruno Tran, Scaling Expert at the TAAT Clearinghouse. With my young colleagues from the Technology Profiling team, we designed the concept of the technology database and its e-catalogs and worked closely with the AKM Services team who transferred our ideas into a powerful and user-friendly system that you can access online.
Advisors
Professor Adebayo Akinola
Agro Economist Expert
I am Prof. Adebayo Akinola, Agricultural Economist and Head of Department at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, where I teach and conduct research. For over 20 years, I have applied economic analysis to value chains, seed systems, farm-level efficiency, and technology evaluation across sub-Saharan Africa. For the TAAT e-catalogs, I have conducted return-on-investment analyses of technologies to inform scaling and adoption strategies.
Dr. Béla Teeken
GenderUp Expert
I am Béla Teeken, Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion Program Leader at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Cotonou, Benin. My research advances inclusive agricultural innovation through participatory and citizen-science approaches that integrate gender dynamics, market insights, and user perspectives to guide breeding for social impact. For the TAAT e-catalogs, I help strengthen the profiling of social and gender inclusion potentials of technologies and align country engagement with social impact priorities.
AKM Services
Frank Sonntag
I am Frank Sonntag, an atmospheric scientist by training, with nearly 30 years of software development experience, mostly writing custom websites with complex databases and scientific business logic at the core. In the last 20 years I have built a real-time synchronised weather database for the BBC, built numerous databases and content management systems for the digital media sector and in 2012 formed AKM Services to develop systems that help to improve the lives of smallholder farmers. At AKM Services, I have planned, implemented and run a range of specialised content management systems. I am also responsible for hosting and maintaining these systems.
Lisette Slegers
I am Lisette, user experience and interface designer at AKM Services with over 20 years' experience. After having worked for many of the big names in London, I joined forces with Frank in 2017. Although I am traditionally schooled in visual and graphic design, I started working on design and user experience of digital products and services early on in my career. Being curious about the nuts and bolts of websites I have also branched out to front-end development.
Karin Kilian
I am Karin - having my academic background in geography and biology and a genuine interest in languages, sustainability and information management, I have been supporting software development in various international development projects for many years. Within AKM Services, I am a vigilant bug tracker and a conscientious software tester, as well as AKM's dedicated translator, localizer and documentation writer. I am responsible for data scraping and online research, as well as for the technical user support.
Latest technologies
Spot the Pest, Stop the Damage Fall Armyworm identification technologies help farmers and extension workers recognize FAW at all life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. These resources include simple visual aids like illustrated field guides, photo sheets, and posters that highlight FAW’s distinctive features, such as the inverted “Y” mark on the caterpillar’s head. Hands-on training ensures users can distinguish FAW from other look-alike caterpillars. By correctly identifying infestations early, farmers can take prompt action before damage escalates. This toolkit provides the foundational knowledge needed for early and accurate identification, which is the crucial first line of defense in managing the pest and strengthening food security.
Learn, Advise, Transform Agriculture! CABI Academy is a digital learning platform that consolidates CABI’s global expertise in plant health, crop pest management, soil, water, and bioprotection practices into self-paced, interactive courses aligned with the global Skills Framework for Agriculture. Backed by accredited certifications and partnerships with universities, it supports national agricultural training systems, helping extension services and agri‑dealer personnel develop targeted skills to improve farmer productivity, national food security, and sustainable development outcomes
Rust-Resistant Wheat for a Flourishing Future The development of "Yellow Rust and Stem Rust Resistant wheat" technology is a critical response to the devastating impact of these fungal diseases on wheat production in Sub-Saharan Africa. These diseases have historically caused severe yield losses and the rapid spread of virulent strains, such as the Ug99 stem rust, has further exacerbated the problem. The introduction of rust-resistant wheat varieties, through collaborative efforts like those of ICARDA and national partners, plays a vital role in preventing disease outbreaks, safeguarding wheat crops, and ultimately enhancing food security in key wheat-producing regions.