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In The Spotlight

Cow dung has long been used as a fuel booster when mixed with firewood.

Agriculture

In Kenya’s rural heartlands, a group of creative students is transforming everyday farm waste into an affordable and environmentally friendly fuel source

At Kilembwa Secondary School in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County, students have successfully developed briquettes made from cow dung, offering rural farmers and households a sustainable alternative for clean cooking.

Across many farming communities, cow dung has long been used as a fuel booster when mixed with firewood. However, this traditional practice releases heavy smoke and harmful emissions, affecting both human health and the environment. The young innovators decided to explore a smarter use of this common farm by-product. Their method involves mixing cow dung with water to form a paste, adding sawdust or dry grass to improve air circulation, shaping the mixture into briquettes, and leaving them to dry in the sun for two to three days before use.

From an agricultural point of view, this simple yet effective idea gives new value to waste generated on farms. Instead of allowing dung to accumulate and create disposal challenges, it is now being converted into a useful resource. The innovation supports sustainable farming, helps cut down on the demand for firewood, and reduces the carbon footprint of rural households.

The students’ eco-briquettes burn cleaner than traditional charcoal, emitting much less smoke and carbon dioxide. As teacher Truphosa Mutua said, “The process of burning the charcoal also releases a lot of smoke and Carbon IV Oxide that damages the environment, and that is why we have come up with this idea to save our trees because we want to be a part of the solution but not the pollution.”

The project was presented during a science exhibition organised by Kenya Connect, where it gained recognition for combining agriculture, waste utilisation, and climate-smart energy practices. For local farmers, the benefits are practical and immediate - less dung to dispose of, lower household fuel expenses, and even the potential for extra income by producing and selling the briquettes.

Looking ahead, the main challenge is scaling production while maintaining quality and raising awareness about the briquettes’ advantages. If adopted widely, this agricultural waste-to-fuel innovation could reshape rural energy use across Kenya and Africa, promoting cleaner cooking, greener farms, and a more sustainable agricultural future.

The facility aims to transform locally produced red palm oil into refined vegetable oil.

Infrastructure

Kpalema Inc., a growing agribusiness specialising in palm oil production, has commenced the construction of a modern vegetable oil factory in Nimba County

The facility aims to transform locally produced red palm oil into refined vegetable oil, commonly referred to as “argo oil,” marking a significant step forward for Liberia’s agricultural sector.

According to Newton Guanue, Administrator,the Kpalema Agrobusiness Enterprise currently manages over 300 acres of oil palm farmland and collaborates with more than 280 smallholder farmers across Nimba and Bong counties. “We have the capacity to produce more palm oil around the clock. The farms are there, and we are open to doing business with other palm oil farmers,” said Guanue.

During peak harvest seasons, Kpalema can process approximately two tons of palm oil per hour, equivalent to about 48 tins of red oil. Most of this oil is sold locally, while a portion is exported to regional markets. The enterprise operates a distilling plant and weighing bridge, ensuring farmers are fairly compensated based on the weight of their palm fruit before offloading.

Guanue added, “We are constructing a plan to transform the red palm oil to vegetable oil, and, by May 2026, the first sample of our production will be out. We are adding value as well as branding it.”

During a visit to the project site, situated about 10 kilometres from Ganta, construction was well underway, with stainless-steel storage tanks already being installed. Guanue noted that additional materials are expected soon, with production scheduled to begin early next year.

Kpalema Agrobusiness, led by Sylvester Kpai, also the CEO of Agriculture and You, currently employs over 75 workers. “Upon the opening of the factory, the employment number will increase at least by 50% because we will be working 24hrs daily,”  said Kpai.

As vegetable oil remains a staple in Liberian households, Kpalema’s initiative aims to reduce dependence on imports and stabilise local prices. The management has appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture for financial and logistical support, particularly for branding materials and transport vehicles.

“We also need more logistical assistance from the government. We need trucks for transporting the palm to the factory from the smallholder farmers across Liberia,” Guanue added.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault received over 21,000 new seed accessions.

Agriculture

Africa’s Vegetable Genebank, based at the World Vegetable Center in Arusha, Tanzania, has achieved a historic milestone by sending its largest-ever collection of traditional African vegetable seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway’s Arctic region

This marks a major breakthrough in agricultural preservation and food security for the continent.

The recent shipment contained over 3,000 seed samples from 109 different vegetable and legume species, gathered from more than 30 African nations stretching from Senegal to Kenya, and from Mali to Madagascar. Among the seeds secured are nutrient-rich crops such as amaranth, jute mallow, Bambara groundnut, African eggplant and okra - varieties that play a vital role in boosting nutrition, improving livelihoods, and helping smallholder farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions.

With this latest deposit, the genebank has now protected over half of its 10,500 seed accessions in the Svalbard facility. This global backup ensures that Africa’s valuable vegetable diversity is shielded from risks like extreme weather, natural disasters or regional conflicts that could threaten seed collections.

The initiative has been made possible through strong partnerships with key organisations, including the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Sognigbe N’Danikou, head of the genebank and a senior scientist at WorldVeg, said the initiative represents more than just seed preservation. He emphasised that this deposit is “a demonstration of our commitment to preserving Africa’s vegetable heritage.” He added that each seed holds “farmer wisdom, local adaptation and cultural value,” and that securing them in Svalbard “lays a strong foundation for Africa’s food security and resilience.”

Beyond conservation, the genebank continues to share seeds with farmers, schools and researchers across Africa. Recent outreach has supported displaced farmers in Sudan and local agricultural projects in Uganda, Kenya, Benin and Somalia ensuring that the continent’s rich crop genetics remain part of daily farming life.

During the same period, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault received over 21,000 new seed accessions from around 20 genebanks globally, bringing its total collection to more than 1.37mn samples.

This record contribution highlights Africa’s growing leadership in biodiversity conservation and strengthens the continent’s path toward a more secure, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural future.

African Farming

Biome Makers announces commitment to soil health with Mission Soil Manifesto endorsement

Biome Makers, a leading agtech company in soil health analysis and microbiome technology, announced its commitment to safeguarding and revitalising soil health through concrete actions

On 20 April 2023, the company became a signatory of the Mission Soil Manifesto, underscoring its dedication to promoting sustainable soil management practices. 

The Mission Soil Deal for Europe, spearheaded by an alliance of regional and local policy-makers, stakeholders, and citizens, aims to establish a thriving community that prioritises the preservation of soil health. By endorsing the Mission Soil Manifesto, Biome Makers aligns with organisations recognising the urgent need for soil protection. Through this commitment, Biome Makers engages in knowledge-sharing activities and events, facilitating the exchange of best practices with like-minded organisations dedicated to preserving soil health.

Biome Makers actively supports soil health restoration through its ongoing global initiative, Fields4Ever. Dedicated to conserving and monitoring soil health, Fields4Ever currently backs 218 soil health restoration projects in 45 countries. With its BeCrop technology, utilised by more than 2,000 customers worldwide, Biome Makers empowers stakeholders with functional soil assessment tools, education, and training. 

"We are thrilled to be part of the Mission Soil community and to endorse the principles outlined in the Manifesto," stated Alberto Acedo, cofounder and chief scientific officer at Biome Makers. "Soil health is fundamental to the sustainability of our planet, and as leaders in soil analysis and microbiome technology, we are committed to driving positive change. By joining forces with other signatories, we can collectively foster innovative solutions and ensure a prosperous future for our soils." 

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Grid List

Event News

HortiFlora is transitioning from a biennial to an annual event. (Image credit: HotiFlora)

Event News

Following the success of its 2025 edition, HortiFlora is transitioning from a biennial to an annual event

The decision reflects the growing international interest and expanding role of Ethiopia in the global horticultural industry. According to Dick Van Raamsdonk of HPP Worldwide, “Given the increasing international interest and significance of the event, HortiFlora will now have a transition from a biennial trade show to an annual one.”

This year’s trade show, held in Addis Ababa from April 1st to 3rd, saw a record turnout and a noticeable international presence, especially from the Middle East. Van Raamsdonk expressed his satisfaction, saying, “It was a highly successful event, featuring a record-breaking 140 exhibitors, stunning stands, and a consistent flow of visitors, including a strong international presence, particularly from the Middle East.”

For the first time, the event showcased not just flowers but also fruits and vegetables, which marked a significant development for the show. “The inclusion of fruit and vegetable growers alongside the traditional floral exhibitors significantly expanded the event’s scope.” This broader focus reflects the growing importance of Ethiopia’s horticultural sector, which now includes a wide variety of fresh produce.

The move to an annual schedule is expected to benefit the industry in several ways. As Van Raamsdonk said, “With Ethiopia’s rising production of fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables, an annual event will further strengthen the country’s export potential, stimulate its economy, and foster continued growth in the horticultural sector’s employment.”

Organised in close cooperation with the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers Exporters Association (EHPEA), HortiFlora has seen steady growth over the past 20 years. The next edition is already set for March 24-26, 2026, again in Addis Ababa, and is expected to attract even more participants as the show continues to gain traction globally.

By becoming an annual event, HortiFlora is positioning itself as a key platform for international trade, innovation, and collaboration in one of Africa’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors.

The New Africa: Education, Training, and Education for Agricultural and Agro-Mechanical Technicians. (Image credit: Agrilevante)

9th edition of the GGAA is co-hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Livestock

Aquatic foods play a vital role in providing high-quality protein and essential nutrients needed to combat malnutrition.

Aquaculture

A new partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU) has been launched to improve access to safe, affordable, and nutritious aquatic foods for vulnerable communities across Africa and Latin America

The initiative, titled New Aquatic Food Value Chains for Sustainable Healthy Diets in Fragile Contexts (NAVAC), aims to enhance food security, support local economies, and drive innovation within aquatic food systems.

Backed by a €20mn contribution from the EU and an additional US$500,000 from FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme, NAVAC will run from 2025 to 2030 in Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, South Sudan, and Colombia.

“The main aim of NAVAC is to expand the supply of sustainable, affordable, safe and nutritious aquatic foods and ensure that it reaches nutritionally vulnerable populations while at the same time providing economic benefits to local communities through Blue Transformation innovations in aquatic food value chains,” said Godfrey Magwenzi, Deputy Director-General of FAO.

Aquatic foods play a vital role in providing high-quality protein and essential nutrients needed to combat malnutrition, particularly among children, pregnant women, and other at-risk groups. Despite their benefits, these resources often remain underutilised in national food and nutrition strategies.

NAVAC is closely aligned with FAO’s Four Betters – Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life – ensuring that no one is left behind. It also contributes to FAO’s Blue Transformation agenda, which seeks to build more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient aquatic food systems.

“NAVAC promotes innovative and integrated approaches to value chain development, from ‘net to plate’, ensuring that interventions advance food security and nutrition outcomes, strengthen livelihoods and enhance environmental sustainability,” said Annette Schneegans, Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union to FAO. “It reflects the European Union’s commitment to the Global Gateway strategy,” she added.

FAO will lead the project in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark. Initial efforts will focus on assessing aquatic food value chains in each target country to identify opportunities and challenges. Based on these insights, the project will design tailored strategies to improve production, processing, and distribution, ensuring that nutritious aquatic foods reach those who need them most.

Drawing on lessons from the FISH4ACP initiative, NAVAC aims to strengthen fisheries and aquaculture sectors, helping rural communities achieve better nutrition, income stability, and sustainable livelihoods.

Its goal is to create bacteriocin-rich extracts from specially engineered lactic acid bacteria.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a serious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals.

Crops

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault received over 21,000 new seed accessions.

Agriculture

Africa’s Vegetable Genebank, based at the World Vegetable Center in Arusha, Tanzania, has achieved a historic milestone by sending its largest-ever collection of traditional African vegetable seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway’s Arctic region

This marks a major breakthrough in agricultural preservation and food security for the continent.

The recent shipment contained over 3,000 seed samples from 109 different vegetable and legume species, gathered from more than 30 African nations stretching from Senegal to Kenya, and from Mali to Madagascar. Among the seeds secured are nutrient-rich crops such as amaranth, jute mallow, Bambara groundnut, African eggplant and okra - varieties that play a vital role in boosting nutrition, improving livelihoods, and helping smallholder farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions.

With this latest deposit, the genebank has now protected over half of its 10,500 seed accessions in the Svalbard facility. This global backup ensures that Africa’s valuable vegetable diversity is shielded from risks like extreme weather, natural disasters or regional conflicts that could threaten seed collections.

The initiative has been made possible through strong partnerships with key organisations, including the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Sognigbe N’Danikou, head of the genebank and a senior scientist at WorldVeg, said the initiative represents more than just seed preservation. He emphasised that this deposit is “a demonstration of our commitment to preserving Africa’s vegetable heritage.” He added that each seed holds “farmer wisdom, local adaptation and cultural value,” and that securing them in Svalbard “lays a strong foundation for Africa’s food security and resilience.”

Beyond conservation, the genebank continues to share seeds with farmers, schools and researchers across Africa. Recent outreach has supported displaced farmers in Sudan and local agricultural projects in Uganda, Kenya, Benin and Somalia ensuring that the continent’s rich crop genetics remain part of daily farming life.

During the same period, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault received over 21,000 new seed accessions from around 20 genebanks globally, bringing its total collection to more than 1.37mn samples.

This record contribution highlights Africa’s growing leadership in biodiversity conservation and strengthens the continent’s path toward a more secure, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural future.

Agrofi is redefining agribusiness in South Africa proving that modern & sustainable farming.(Image credit: Agrofi Egg)

Cow dung has long been used as a fuel booster when mixed with firewood.

Technology

Ascenso’s VF technology has been designed precisely with many challenges in mind.(Image credit: Ascenso Tyres)

Machinery & Equipment

Ascenso Tyres is stepping up its presence in the agricultural and off-highway tyre market by introducing a new generation of high-performance tyres designed for modern farming demands

The company’s latest range demonstrates its commitment to innovation, durability, and soil-friendly farming practices.

A recent feature highlighted Ascenso’s investment in “VF technology” (Very High Flexion) tyres, which can either carry ~40% more load than standard radials or handle the same load at ~40% lower pressure. This innovation allows farmers to reduce soil compaction while improving traction and extending tyre lifespan key benefits for anyone managing heavy-duty agricultural operations.

The new V-range includes models such as the VDR2000 tractor tyre, VDR900/901 sprayer tyres, and VIR2500 implement tyres. Each tyre features an extra-strong casing, steel belts for enhanced strength, and an advanced tread pattern aimed at delivering better grip, reduced fuel consumption, lower ground pressure, and superior durability.

Although the full Farmers Review Africa article wasn’t accessible, it’s likely that Ascenso will showcase this advanced tyre portfolio at Agritechnica 2025, one of the world’s leading agricultural machinery trade fairs. This move highlights the brand’s ambition to enter the premium and technical segments of the agricultural tyre industry.

As agriculture becomes increasingly technology-driven, tyres are now expected to do far more than simply carry loads. They must protect soil structure, minimise compaction, offer excellent traction on and off the road, and support fuel efficiency. Ascenso’s VF technology has been designed precisely with these challenges in mind.

With 63 sizes already planned for the new V-range, Ascenso is expanding its footprint globally, aligning itself with established players and moving beyond standard, commodity-style tyres into high-performance solutions. Its presence at Agritechnica 2025 is expected to feature detailed demonstrations, load-versus-pressure charts, and application examples across tractors, sprayers, and implements.

For farmers in India and Africa, VF tyres may represent a higher initial investment, but the long-term advantages including lower inflation pressure, extended service life, and improved soil protection make them a valuable choice for sustainable farming.

Farmers and agrimech buyers are encouraged to review local dealer availability, warranty terms, and machine compatibility before purchasing, while comparing total cost of ownership with leading competitors such as Michelin and Trelleborg.

TThe liquid fertiliser system integrates seamlessly with most modern drills.(Image credit: Grange Machinery)

The new CCT is ideal for those looking to improve efficiency in the field.(Image credit: Grange Machinery)

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