New technologies will be added regularly to this e-catalog.
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Low-cost hygienic drying technology for high-quality products The Solar Bubble Dryer (ISD) is a mobile, solar-powered drying system designed to efficiently dry freshly harvested cassava roots, reducing post-harvest losses and improving product quality. It utilizes solar energy for both thermal collection to speed up drying and electricity to power a blower for air circulation, making it independent from the power grid. The system is mobile, allowing farmers to dry produce near the harvest site, minimizing transportation costs and spoilage risks. With a drying capacity of 90-145 kg per cycle, the technology boosts food security, supports women’s empowerment, reduces carbon footprints, and promotes sustainable practices. It has a 10-year lifespan, an initial cost of $1,800, and offers a return on investment ranging from 7% to 180%. The technology contributes to multiple SDGs, including those related to hunger, gender equality, clean energy, economic growth, and climate action.
Local African aromatic rice The African Aromatic Rice technology helps African farmers grow special and tasty rice that people really like. This rice is in high demand, but not enough of it is grown in Africa right now. This means farmers can make more money, and Africa won't have to rely on importing this rice from other places. It's like a special secret that helps African farmers grow better rice and have a better income.
NERICA: Higher Yields, Resilience, and Profitability for African Farmers. NERICA varieties mark a pivotal shift in African agriculture. Bred by crossing native landraces with Asian rice, they deliver higher yields and robust resistance to pests and diseases compared to conventional varieties. Their innate resilience to nutrient and water limitations makes them a strategic asset for enhancing farmers' productivity and profitability while reducing reliance on staple food imports. With lowland NERICA tailored for valleys and floodplains with sporadic water stress, and upland NERICA ideal for hilltops and elevated plateaus facing more frequent challenges, this technology is reshaping farming landscapes across Sub-Saharan Africa. It empowers farmers with a reliable, high-yielding resource that not only boosts food security but also drives economic stability in the region.
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.
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.
Arica rice, the high yield, disease and stress tolerant rice A new generation of high-performing and locally adapted hybrid rice cultivars has been launched since 2013 through breeding programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, which are known as ARICA varieties. This brand of improved germplasm is the successor to NERICA varieties and provides opportunities to rice farmers and traders on the continent because these new varieties are well adapted to the growing environments and have better grain quality preferred by the local market. ARICA varieties are developed and certified through processes establish by a joint breeding task force which ensures strict quality assurance. Genetically, ARICA varieties are not restricted to interspecific crosses, so any line that shows promise regardless of its origin can be picked up line as long as its performance is convincing. Breeders’ assessments of new lines are backed by field data collected over a number of years. The hybrid rice varieties that were released across Sub-Saharan Africa have proven to be an avenue for boosting the levels of rice productivity and profitability at the base of this major food staple value chain.