AI pest detection tool wins Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

31 July 2024 News

Esther Kimani was named winner of Africa’s biggest engineering prize, the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, in Nairobi on 13 June 2024. Her early crop pest and disease detection device was selected as the winning innovation for its ability to swiftly detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases, reducing crop losses for smallholder farmers by up to 30%, while increasing yields by as much as 40%.

The solar-powered tool uses computer vision algorithms and advanced machine learning to detect and identify crop pests, pathogens or diseases, and 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 Africa Prize has supported almost 150 entrepreneurs across 23 African countries, generating over 28 000 jobs and benefitting more than 10 million people through the innovative products and services developed.

For more information visit https://raeng.org.uk/africaprize

Further reading:

From the editor's desk: Are we really being ripped off?
Technews Publishing News
To the surprise of many customers, installing solar panels does not always eliminate their utility bill – and in some cases, the power utility may impose additional charges on solar-powered homes.

Read more...

---

Winner of the Advanced Electronics Challenge
Avnet Silica News
Avnet Silica has named Hydronauten winner of the Advanced Electronics Challenge for breakthrough AI-driven vibration damping technology.

Read more...

---

Mouser now shipping SiLabs wireless modules
TRX Electronics News
Mouser Electronics is now shipping the new SiWx917Y wireless modules from Silicon Labs which provide ultra-low-power Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth Low Energy 5.4, and Matter connectivity.

Read more...

---

Innovative NOS software
News
NEC Corporation has made history as the first company to earn the Telecom Infra Project Phoenix Gold Badge for its innovative Network Operating System software, designed to run on whitebox optical transponders.

Read more...

---

Big welcome to new team member
Seven Labs Technology News
Seven Labs, a specialist electronics distributor and systems integrator for the South African and sub-Saharan markets, has extended a huge welcome to its newest member of the team.

Read more...

---

Hisense SA showcases local manufacturing power
News
The proudly SA summit provided an opportunity for Hisense SA to showcase its next generation products manufactured at their state-of-the-art factory in Atlantis, Western Cape.

Read more...

---

Winner of the Global Energy Efficiency award
News
Pulsiv Limited, the Cambridge (UK) manufacturer of power electronics technology, have won the PSMA’s (Power Sources Manufacturers Association) first Global Energy Efficiency Award.

Read more...

---

Direct-to-satellite phone call in SA
News
MTN SA and low-earth orbit satellite company Lynk Global have completed a successful technical trial of one of the first mobile-to-satellite phone calls in South Africa.

Read more...

---

Memory solutions for AI Edge applications
News
Mouser Electronics has announced a new eBook in collaboration with Micron exploring the importance of memory in AI edge applications.

Read more...

---

Jemstech to produce PCB assemblies for Kamstrup
Jemstech News
Jemstech is pleased to announce that they have successfully concluded a supplier agreement with Kamstrup A/S in Denmark, a leading supplier of intelligent metering solutions in the global market.

Read more...

---