Innovative pest detection tech earns $63K prize for engineering

Esther Kimani, previously honored as a 2022 YouthADAPT winner, was awarded the prestigious 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The ceremony took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 13. This accolade follows her impactful creation of an advanced early detection system that significantly combats crop pests and diseases.

Kimani’s invention offers a crucial advancement in agricultural technology, particularly benefiting smallholder farmers in Kenya who face considerable crop losses annually. Her system utilizes state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms and machine learning to swiftly identify and alert farmers about crop threats. Remarkably, this technology has the potential to reduce crop losses by up to 30% and increase yields by up to 40%.

The solar-powered device provides real-time notifications and customized management advice via SMS, making it an efficient tool for pest and disease control. At a cost of only $3 per month to lease, Kimani’s invention stands as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive methods such as drone surveillance or manual field inspections.

In conjunction with celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Royal Academy of Engineering highlighted the Africa Prize’s role in nurturing engineering talents who have positively impacted over 10 million people across the continent through job creation and innovative solutions.

During her acceptance speech, Kimani shared her personal motivation behind her invention. Having witnessed her own family’s struggles with crop losses, her goal is to empower farmers, particularly women, to improve their livelihoods. She aims to extend this technology to one million farmers over the next five years.

Kimani’s commitment was further rewarded with a £50,000 prize ($63,507) to continue developing her project, representing the largest award in the history of the Africa Prize. The event also recognized other notable innovations, including efforts in sustainable construction materials, health technology, and efficient waste management.