The Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) has named AgriProtein as its 2013 winner.
Founder Jason Drew and the company’s team of researchers and entrepreneurs will receive $100 000 for its innovative approach to nutrient recycling – a method that uses waste and fly larvae to produce natural animal feed.
IPA is a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Innovation Foundation.
The prize honours and encourages innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or saving costs in Africa. Specifically, the award targets technological breakthroughs in areas such as manufacturing, services, health and wellbeing, agriculture and agribusiness, environment, energy, water and information communication technology.
With the global population expected to grow to nine-billion by 2050 and with more than 900-million people living in hunger, the demand for nutritious food is rapidly increasing, the IPA said in a statement making the announcement.
Agriprotein was selected as the IPA winner from more than 900 applications from 45 countries.
The AgriProtein solution collects biodegradable waste and feeds it to flies that, in turn, produce larvae that are ground into protein to provide a more ecologically friendly, naturally occurring type of animal feed. This approach improves the nutritional value of meat and lowers the cost of animal feed for African processors and farmers.
The IPA also recognised two runners-up for their contributions to African innovation.
In the business potential category Hassine Labaied and Anis Aouini from Saphon Energy received $25 000 for creating a bladeless wind convertor.
In the social-impact category, Sanoussi Diakite received $25 000 for developing a thermal-powered machine that husks 5 kg of fonia – a West African cereal – in just eight minutes.
Winners were selected by a panel of jurors based on the marketability, originality, scalability, social impact and business potential of their respective innovations.
They are free to use the prize in the manner they deem most appropriate.
“We are honoured by this remarkable recognition,” comments AgriProtein’s Drew. “We are passionate about expanding our business to recycle more waste nutrients and supply a natural protein to feed farm animals, helping sustainably feed our continent. This is an African contribution to sustainable agriculture for our planet.”
The call for applications for IPA 2014 will be announced in July 2013.