Strathmore University students Ian Job Onyango and Ronit Mepani have claimed top honors at the Tri-Continental Sustainability Competition, held by the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. Their winning innovation, a solar-powered smart cereal dryer, was selected as the most impactful solution in a challenge that united teams from Kenya, the United States, and Ireland under the theme “Farm to Fork: Innovating for a Sustainable Food Cycle.”
The competition, which ran from February 5 to March 22, 2025, was part of the Tri-Continental Sustainability Innovation Initiative — a collaboration between Strathmore University (Kenya), the University of Notre Dame (USA), and University College Dublin (Ireland). The initiative brought together student innovators to tackle pressing issues in agriculture and sustainability, blending online mentorship with an in-person finale at Notre Dame.
Strathmore was represented by two teams selected from the 2024 Strathmore Ideas Festival. One team developed an affordable IoT-enabled irrigation system for small-scale farmers. The other, led by Onyango and Mepani under the banner ITEDA Solutions, built a solar dryer that addresses post-harvest cereal losses. Their system is designed to be off-grid, easily integrated with existing storage facilities, and gender-inclusive in its application.
Speaking after their win, Onyango said, “This victory is a testament to our relentless pursuit of innovation for food security. Our dryer is not just a concept—it is a real solution. We are currently raising capital for our first rollout, which will serve 2,000 farmers.”
The dryer’s development was supported by organizations such as Efficiency for Access, which promotes clean energy solutions for agriculture. With backing from such stakeholders, ITEDA Solutions is looking to scale the project across Kenya.
Meanwhile, Vallary Shinaywa, a member of the second Strathmore team, reflected on the insights gained at Notre Dame’s IDEA Center, where she was inspired by its open innovation spaces and green infrastructure. “The level of access to tools and facilities made me realize what’s possible. I hope we can adopt some of these approaches at Strathmore,” she noted.
Prof. Izael Da Silva, Strathmore’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, who accompanied the students, reiterated the importance of such international collaborations. “Competitions like these go beyond winning. They are about learning, connecting, and applying knowledge in meaningful ways,” he said.
The students’ journey was supported by Strathmore’s Research Office, which provided mentorship, pitch refinement, and logistical support.
Source : Strathmore University News
