Three Kenyan agri-tech startups, Juhudi Kilimo, WeFarm, and Illuminum Greenhouses, have received a total of KSh85.6 million ($856,000) in funding.
The startups received the funding from UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, which therefore tasks them with developing Africa’s first solar powered smart sensors, with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology.
The innovation, dubbed SmartGFA, seeks to build a low-cost greenhouse micro-climate monitoring and management system. The system will then make use of soil sensors, climate and weather information to optimize irrigation and environmental conditions for specific crops.
It has a long-term goal of enabling smallholder farmers to attain high-yields at low costs.
Innovate UK is the United Kingdom’s innovation agency which supports businesses to develop and realize the potential of new ideas, thus encouraging productivity and economic growth.
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