Esther Kimani was announced the winner this year of Africa’s biggest engineering prize, the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, in Nairobi on 13 June 2024.
Kimani won the prize for her early detection device for crop pests and disease. Her winning innovation – a solar-powered tool using AI and machine-learning enabled cameras – provides for swift detection and identification of agricultural pests and diseases, reducing crop losses for smallholder farmers by up to 30% and increasing yields by as much as 40%.
Five million smallholder farmers in Kenya lose on average 33% of their crops to pests and diseases. Kimani's innovation provides real-time alerts within five seconds of an infestation, offering tailored intervention suggestions, and alerts government agricultural officers to the presence of diseases or pests, contributing to broader agricultural management efforts.
The solar-powered tool uses computer vision algorithms and advanced machine learning to detect and identify crop pests, pathogens or diseases, as well as the nature of the infection or infestation. The device then notifies the farmer via SMS. This affordable alternative to traditional detection methods leases for just $3 per month, significantly cheaper than hiring drones or agricultural inspectors.
The annual Africa Prize was founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2014 to support innovators developing sustainable and scalable engineering solutions to local challenges in Africa. This year has seen the Africa Prize alumni community grow to almost 150 entrepreneurs from 23 countries, who together have generated more than 28 000 jobs and benefitted more than 10 million people through their innovative products and services.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Prize, the Royal Academy of Engineering hosted the Africa Prize Alumni Reunion, bringing together 100 innovators from the past decade for a three-day programme ahead of the final ceremony. This gathering celebrated the strength of the community united by the prize.
Kimani said: “My parents would lose up to 40% of their crops each farming season, which affected our standard of living. With this new device we are empowering smallholder farmers, many of whom are women, to increase their income. We aim to scale to one million farmers in the next five years.”
Malcolm Brinded (Chair of the judges), Past President of the Energy Institute, and former Chair of Engineering UK, noted: “These awards form part of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s investment of over £1 million in African innovators through grants, prizes and accelerator programmes during the tenth anniversary year of the Africa Prize.”
Esther received KSh 8.3 million to further develop the device. This is the largest amount awarded to a winner, marking the 10th anniversary of the prize. The four finalists delivered their final business pitch to the academy judges and an in-person audience of about 700 people.
The three runners up were each awarded KSh 2.5 million to develop their innovations. The runners up were: Kevin Maina of Kenya for his Eco Tiles, Rory Assandey of Côte d'Ivoire for La Ruche Health, and Martin Tumusiime of Uganda for Yo-Waste.
A separate ‘One to Watch’ award was presented to Dr Abubakari Zarouk Imoro for his innovation, Myco-Substitutes, for their impact on local communities. Voted for by live and online audiences on the night of the awards, Dr Imoro receives £5 000, conferred in 2024 in honour of Martin Bruce, a late Ghanaian alumnus of the Africa Prize.
The 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, launched at the 2024 final, is now open for entries. The Academy is looking for scalable engineering solutions designed to solve local challenges, and individuals and small teams living and working in sub-Saharan Africa are invited to enter. The deadline for entries is 15 October.
Visit the ‘How to Apply’ guide on the Africa Prize website.
The Africa Prize presents a unique opportunity to support the brightest minds in tackling the greatest global challenges, contributing to improving economic prosperity and sustainable development for Africa through engineering.
For more information about becoming an Africa Prize partner, visit: www.raeng.org.uk