Agri-TechE members with African partners in £9.3 million investment in agri-tech

Winners in the Agri-tech Catalyst Round 8: agriculture and food systems innovation  have just been announced by DFID and Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).  The funding is for projects with partners in eligible African countries, the total fund was £9.3 million. UK organisations could access up to £3m of funding for early stage feasibility studies, mid stage industrial research and late stage experimental development.
Members who have received funding for their projects include:
University of Greenwich 

• Design and development of direct-coupled photovoltaic powered agri-processing machinery

Rothamsted Research

• Development of Aerial Risk Inspection Evaluation and Surveying (ARIES) platform for Cocoa Plantations

Cranfield University

• Novel polymer-based technologies to reduce waste and enhance incomes for smallholders and commercial fine bean growers in Kenya
• NutriNuts: Mitigation of aflatoxins occurrence in Ethiopian peanuts used in therapeutic food products to reduce malnutrition in Africa

Niab

• Developing microbial-based products and strategies for improving rice production in Tanzania

ADAS

• Pick, Store, Buy: Shelf life extension and reduced waste for tomato production in Nigeria
• Development of improved tests for detection of Rift Valley fever virus antibodies

CHAP

• Diagnostic Tool for the Identification Quantification of Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN)

Read more about the funding round on the KTN website here.