AgriTech4Kenya Sparks Solutions for Sustainable Farming Across East Africa

In a region where agriculture drives economies and sustains livelihoods—contributing 33% to Kenya’s GDP—smallholder farmers face mounting challenges.

Water scarcity, soil degradation, rising fertilizer costs, and the growing impacts of climate change continue to hinder agricultural productivity.

The AgriTech4Kenya Bootcamp, held from November 26–29 in Limuru, Kenya, emerged as a transformative initiative addressing these issues.

Organized by the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP), the event convened 25 cutting-edge startups, including two CGIAR innovation teams, to pioneer solutions for sustainable farming across East Africa.

Participants hailed from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Italy, underscoring the global scope of the challenge and commitment to solutions.

A Week of Innovation and Collaboration

The Bootcamp commenced with a welcome dinner, setting the tone for four days of immersive learning and networking. Day one featured an educational farm visit where participants explored innovative practices like Syntropic Agroforestry.

Key industry players, such as Briter Bridges, shared market insights, while a panel of agribusiness entrepreneurs inspired attendees with success stories.

Day two shifted focus to refining business strategies. Participants engaged in Lean Canvas workshops and pitch presentation sessions guided by expert mentors.

By day three, personalized mentorship equipped teams to prepare for the ultimate challenge: presenting their solutions during Kenya Innovation Week.

The final day saw participants pitch their innovations to a panel of esteemed judges, receiving critical feedback and forming valuable industry connections.

One participant, representing BlinkEarth, captured the sentiment: “This bootcamp has been transformational. The insights and mentorship we’ve gained here will guide us in shaping the future of agriculture.”

Addressing Kenya’s Agricultural Challenges

The AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge, launched in July 2024, seeks to catalyze early-stage, science-based solutions in six priority areas: sustainable farming, climate-smart practices, market access, knowledge sharing, livestock health, and efficient water use.

The initiative garnered significant interest, with 1,123 applications from 31 countries. Of these, 303 entries met eligibility criteria, and 25 innovative projects were selected for the bootcamp.

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Managing Director for Africa at CGIAR, highlighted the importance of collaboration:
“Collaboration is truly the key to addressing the complexities of food systems and ensuring that solutions are sustainable, scalable, and inclusive.”

Accelerating Agricultural Solutions

Startups showcased diverse solutions, from digital livestock registration to sustainable farming techniques and equitable finance platforms.

During the rigorous selection process, 15 teams were chosen based on their relevance, innovation, scalability, and impact. The selected projects will join the AgriTech4Kenya Accelerator Program starting in January 2025.

This phase offers tailored technical and business mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to scale their solutions.

A Catalyst for Change

AgriTech4Kenya is a flagship initiative of the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform and is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The program partners with leading organizations such as AGRA, Mercy Corps AgriFin, and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.

Gianpiero Menza, Senior Manager of Partnerships and Innovative Finance at the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, emphasized the importance of collaboration:
“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.”

With the accelerator program on the horizon, AgriTech4Kenya continues to drive innovation, fostering sustainable and resilient farming practices that will shape the future of agriculture in East Africa and beyond.