NAIROBI, Kenya- British beverage giant Diageo is taking bold steps to help smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa become more resilient against the effects of climate change.
Through its innovation accelerator, Diageo Sustainable Solutions (DSS), the company has launched three new partnerships with AquaSpy, Clean Crop Technologies, and SmartCloud Farming.
These collaborations aim to tackle the challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns and limited agricultural monitoring capabilities.
The effects of climate change—droughts, floods, and inconsistent weather—are putting immense pressure on African farmers.
According to Diageo, smallholder farmers are especially vulnerable, and access to critical data on soil and crop health is increasingly vital.
By providing insights into soil conditions and crop behavior, farmers can make informed decisions to improve yield and better manage resources.
Diageo, through its DSS program, created a competition to find innovators whose technologies could address these very issues.
After a rigorous selection process, Diageo pledged £450,000 (approximately Ksh 76.3 million) to support the development of three game-changing technologies designed to empower farmers.
These innovations are not just aimed at addressing the company’s sustainability goals but also have the potential to strengthen its supply chain while helping farmers increase their income.
The three startups chosen by Diageo each offer unique solutions that align with the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture. AquaSpy, Clean Crop Technologies, and SmartCloud Farming provide advanced tools to help farmers in East Africa.
To kick off, these pilots will be implemented in Kenya and Uganda, two countries at the forefront of agriculture in East Africa. If successful, Diageo plans to scale these innovations across its supply chain, potentially transforming the way smallholder farmers across Africa manage their farms.
John Cant, Head of Diageo Sustainable Solutions, emphasized that the initiative is designed not only to benefit farmers but also to ensure Diageo receives the high-quality ingredients it needs for its products.
By helping farmers increase yield and reduce uncertainty, both parties stand to gain from the partnership.
Diageo has previously run 14 pilots through DSS, including collaborations with EXXERGY and the Ardagh Group to develop sustainable glass coating technologies.
