Second phase of the Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund

The investment represents the second phase of the Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund, a joint IDRC-ACIAR partnership aimed at transforming African agriculture and improving the lives of millions of smallholder producers and consumers across the continent.

The phase two investment was announced by IDRC President Jean Lebel and ACIAR CEO Andrew Campbell. The fund leverages Australian and Canadian science and technology expertise with African leadership and innovation to benefit smallholder farmers who grow most of Africa’s food.

The Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund first launched in 2013. During its first phase, CAD$15 million was invested to support eight innovative and results-driven research projects in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda. Projects addressed issues surrounding post-harvest losses, lack of / access to adequate nutrition, and empowering women and youth through participation in agribusiness.

 To date, the Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund has developed 24 innovations, currently used by over 25,000 smallholder producers in five countries. Among these innovations: insectbased livestock feed that has reduced the cost of poultry and fish production; precooked beans that reduce cooking time from three hours to 15 minutes; and solar tent fish driers that have reduced post-harvest loss of fish by over 60%.

Reducing maize-based aflatoxin contamination and exposure in Zimbabwe
This project seeks to investigate innovative post-harvest solutions to reduce aflatoxin contamination in grain.
Topic(s): MAIZE, FOOD TECHNOLOGY, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, Health, AFRICA, PRIVATE SECTOR, FOOD STORAGE
Region(s): Zimbabwe
Total Funding: CA$ 2,055,600.00

Expanding Business Opportunities for African Youth in Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Africa (CultiAF)
This project will develop and test novel, creative, and bold business models that increase the participation of youth in fish and maize post-harvest value chains in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Topic(s): YOUTH, FISH, MAIZE, EMPLOYMENT CREATION, WOMEN, POSTHARVEST SYSTEMS, AFRICA, MODELS
Region(s): Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Total Funding: CA$ 464,200.00

Communicating Science for Impact: Radio for Reaching Farmers with Research Results (CultiAF)
Radio is an effective medium to deliver information that will influence small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to adopt agricultural technologies.
Topic(s): SMALL FARMS, AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA, Food security, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AGRICULTURE, RADIO
Region(s): Kenya, Uganda
Total Funding: CA$ 543,005.00

Expanding Business Opportunities for Youth in the Fish and Poultry Sectors in Kenya (CultiAF)
This project will build skills and knowledge among young people in Kenya to develop innovative business models that increase their participation in the fisheries and poultry sub-sectors.
Topic(s): YOUTH, MODELS, BUSINESS, AFRICA, TRAINING, FISHERY INDUSTRY, POULTRY, EMPLOYMENT CREATION
Region(s): Kenya
Total Funding: CA$ 427,200.00