Meet the researcher bringing sustainable solutions to sub-Saharan farmers | Top Universities
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Meet the researcher bringing sustainable solutions to sub-Saharan farmers

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Craig OCallaghan

Updated Jan 24, 2025
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A female farmer using Aftrak machinery in Africa

Sponsored by Loughborough University 

Building a more sustainable future is a truly global effort, requiring the participation of all countries around the world. 

Researchers from Loughborough University have been helping find solutions to assist farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, improving crop yields for local communities and ensuring the land is farmed in a more sustainable fashion. 

The Afrak project is a groundbreaking initiative that combines solar microgrids and tailored tractors to empower smallholder farmers across Africa.  

To learn more about this project, which has received the top $1million Milken Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, we spoke to Dr Jonathan Wilson, a Lecturer in Sustainable Energy Systems.

Tell us about how the Aftrak project came into being. 

Aftrak was conceived during an Innovate brokerage trip to Malawi, where the team noticed a lack of mechanical agriculture and the challenges posed by fuel costs, accessibility, and low wages.  

Over time, discussions focused on how to bring electric tractors to Malawi. The project was solidified through collaboration with Tiyeni, whose Deep Bed Farming technique made the system economically viable.  

Why is deep bed farming important for African farming communities?  

Deep Bed Farming is essential because it addresses the issue of compacted, rock-hard earth beneath the topsoil in Malawi. This compact layer prevents water retention and root growth, leading to poor agricultural output.  

By breaking up the hard layer, Deep Bed Farming allows water to penetrate and be stored in the soil, improving fertility and increasing yields. 

Farmers using Aftrak

How is technology enabling this new farming technique?  

Technology, particularly micro electric tractors, allows for the practical implementation of Deep Bed Farming by breaking up the compact soil.  

Solar energy is vital for this as it powers the tractors through a modular microgrid system, making the solution both sustainable and affordable and not reliant on the purchase of fuel.  

This combination of state-of-the-art renewable energy technology and modern farming techniques creates a closed-loop system that makes the use of solar energy economically viable.  

The solar array provides power to the micro electric tractors which enable farmers to access Deep Bed Farming, which increases crop yield and profit, which in turn allows the purchase of energy from the microgrid. We are a long-term, sustainable solution. 

What have been some of the greatest challenges or obstacles to overcome?  

Some of the greatest challenges include overcoming the high cost and scarcity of fuel in rural Malawi, as well as building the necessary infrastructure for solar energy and electric tractors.  

We have been designing the system to be as manufacturable as possible using tooling available in Africa, building not only a supply chain but also a repairable and maintainable system. 

What are the wider ramifications of empowering African farmers?  

Empowering farmers through Aftrak enables them to increase their yields, improve food security, and become economically self-sustaining.  

The success of these models can uplift entire communities by providing reliable energy access, reducing dependency on costly fuel imports, and promoting sustainable farming practices, potentially serving as a blueprint for other regions in Africa. 

How did it feel for the project to be a recipient of the $1 million Milken-Motsepe prize? 

Receiving the $1 million Milken-Motsepe prize was a remarkable achievement, validating the innovative approach and hard work of everyone involved in the Aftrak project.  

It brought global recognition to the importance of sustainable agriculture and renewable energy in transforming rural communities and provided significant financial support to launch the Aftrak initiative.