On 6 March, the winners of the What Design Can Do Clean Energy Challenge were announced, during a special edition of Stadsleven Amsterdam. After two days of lively discussions, our international jury selected a total of twenty projects representing the five cities addressed in the Challenge. For bustling Nairobi, three teams were awarded the top prize.
The design brief we developed for Kenya’s capital was focused on the local issues of food scarcity and food waste. How can designers help bridge the gap between the two, while at the same time paying attention to energy efficiency? From food production and distribution to refrigeration and preparation, the winning ideas below show that creativity can play a significant role in rethinking the city’s food supply chain. Each address a different aspect of the network of producers and consumers, offering sustainable alternatives on the journey from farm to fork. Congratulations!
THE WINNERS
MFUKO-FRESH
BY LEON MUTUA | WINNER STUDENT TRACK
This product is a lightweight wicker container that can help local vendors transport their produce from the farm to the market. Mfuko-Fresh is designed to protect produce by minimizing physical damage from the journey, while storing it in a cool condition. The container can also be transformed into a makeshift market stall whenever needed.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“I believe that creative ideas are the key to fighting climate change and making the planet a better and happier place. With design and experimentation we learn new ways to do things. In one year I would like to have built prototypes to support the vendors while collecting data on what they think of the product and how to make it better for them.”
COMMENTS FROM THE Jury:
“The Mfuko-Fresh backpack basket combines traditional looks with up to date technology. It uses locally available materials for a sustainable solution that is culturally bound and very much fitting into the lives of the market women. This may seem a small solution, but it is a much needed alternative for crops transportation and benefits the market women who can keep the produce fresh.”
NAIROBI’S ENERGY FOOD NEXUS
BY ELIZABETH ONYANGO & UKULIMA TECH LTD | WINNER STARTUP TRACK
Ukulima Tech seeks to facilitate the production of healthy and nutritious food for urban residents. Transforming backyards, verandahs and balconies through energy and space efficient farming methods. The system entails the collection of organic waste which is composted to form a nutrient rich-growing medium to be used for planting. The systems are easy to use for individuals with little to no farming experience.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“I was extremely excited to be shortlisted among more than 400 projects world wide! Now that we’ve won, I hope to acquire a workshop coupled with the additional modern tools necessary to facilitate the mass fabrication of vertical gardens.”
COMMENTS FROM THE Jury:
“The lovely thing of this proposal is that everyone in the city, even those with small-homes, can have a garden. Even if you don’t have a backyard, you still can grow your own vegetables. Meanwhile, it uses organic waste as fertilizer, thus minimizing the input while maximizing the output.”
SOLAR FREEZE
BY DYSMUS KISILU & SOLAR FREEZE | WINNER STARTUP TRACK
Today, an estimated 470 million small farmers in developing countries lose an average of 15% of their income to food spoilage. SolarFreeze uses solar-powered cold rooms to preserve perishable food in farms across Africa. Farmers can pay for cold-storage via MPESA, with as little as $0.1cents per day for a crate of fruits. Solar Freeze also provides mentorship and training, plus a mobile app that helps farmers reduce post-harvest losses.
COMMENTS FROM THE Jury:
“Solar freeze is a good example of an off-grid solution, that is primarily aimed at small, locally operating farmers, but could be used throughout the whole food chain. It combines solar powered cold storage with training and thus helps to reduce post-harvest food waste. It is ambitious too, considering the aim to reach 30,000 farmers throughout Africa by 2030.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
All twenty winners of the Challenge will now enter a dedicated accelerator to help develop their projects further. The 4-month program includes a production budget and expert mentorship, and is designed to give each finalist the tools they need to make their innovation ready for market and financing.
Visit our platform for more information about the timeline, and to view all the submissions in our project gallery. In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight more winners for each city right here on the blog, as well as on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.