Strathmore University’s innovative spirit is set to take center stage on the global platform as four students prepare to compete in the prestigious Tri-Continental Sustainability Competition. Hosted by the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, this event runs from February 5 to March 22, 2025, uniting visionary thinkers from three continents in a hybrid format that blends virtual sessions with an in-person finale.

Under the compelling theme “Farm to Fork: Innovating for a Sustainable Food Cycle,” the competition aims to address critical challenges across the food value chain, from production and processing to distribution and recycling.

As part of the Tri-Continental Sustainability Innovation Initiative, this hackathon is a collaborative effort between Strathmore University (Kenya), the University of Notre Dame (USA), and University College Dublin (Ireland), underscoring the power of international partnerships in solving global sustainability challenges.

Selected from the finalists of the 2024 Strathmore Ideas Festival, two teams will represent Strathmore University with solutions aimed at revitalising agriculture and food security.

Joy Muntet (left) and Vallary Shinaywa (center) during the 2024 Ideas Festival.

Team 1: Low-Cost IoT Solar-Powered Irrigation System

Vallary Shinaywa and Joy Muntet (both final year students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering) are addressing the challenges of small-scale, rain-fed farming in drought-prone areas. Their innovative solution promises to revolutionize agriculture by providing affordable, IoT-enabled irrigation systems, enabling year-round crop production, reducing water costs, and cutting emissions.

Team 2: Solar-Powered Smart Cereal Dryer

Job Ian Onyango and Ronit Mepani (both  Final year students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Informatics and Computer Science) are tackling post-harvest grain losses through an environmentally sustainable off-grid cereal drying solution. Their innovation integrates seamlessly with existing storage systems and fosters gender equality by empowering women and girls in agriculture, enhancing food security and community resilience.

Job Ian Onyango (center) and Ruman Hassan (left) during the 2024 Ideas Festival.

The competition provides immeasurable experience, beginning with virtual sessions that include orientation, problem exploration, and pitch workshops. These sessions will equip participants with critical skills in design thinking, market validation, and pitching. The journey culminates in a thrilling grand finale at the University of Notre Dame from March 19 to 22, 2025, where the teams will present their refined solutions to a global audience of industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers.

Throughout the competition, students will benefit from virtual mentorship sessions led by faculty and industry experts. These sessions are designed to sharpen their ideas, enhance feasibility, and transform concepts into tangible, impactful solutions.

Strathmore University’s participation in this event underscores its unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and addressing global challenges. By empowering students to develop scalable solutions for sustainable agriculture, Strathmore continues to cement its place as a leader in transformative education and sustainability. We eagerly await the quadruple’s success and the impact of their innovations on the global stage.

Article written by Stephen Wakhu