Report on AYuTe NextGen 2025: Empowering Young Agricultural Innovators for Sustainable Development

Introduction

The AYuTe NextGen 2025 conference, held in Uganda, showcased young agricultural technology innovators from across Africa who are driving sustainable development in smallholder farming. The event emphasized the alignment of innovations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those targeting zero hunger, climate action, and economic growth.

Winners and Their Contributions to SDGs

After a rigorous three-day competition, several young entrepreneurs were awarded grants and mentorship by Heifer International to enhance resilience in smallholder farming. These innovators contribute directly to multiple SDGs, including:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger – by improving food security and sustainable agriculture.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – through fostering entrepreneurship and inclusive economic opportunities.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action – by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – via technological advancements in agriculture.

Innovators and Their Impact

• Carolyn Mwangi, Founder/CEO of Kimplanter Seedlings and Nurseries (Kenya) – Winner in Climate-Smart Agriculture category. Her data-driven enterprise supplies climate-resilient vegetable, fruit, and tree seedlings tailored for smallholder farmers, supporting sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.
• Maryanne Gichanga, CEO of Agritechs Analytics (Kenya) – First runner-up in Climate-Smart Agriculture. She developed solar-powered farm sensors for pest alerts, soil health monitoring, and remote farm management, enhancing sustainable farming practices.
• Nana Opoku, CEO of Grow For Me (Ghana) – Winner in Access to Finance and Markets category. Her digital platform enables individuals to invest in crops managed by experienced farmers, promoting financial inclusion and shared prosperity.
• Richies Attai, Co-Founder/CEO of Winich Farms (Nigeria) – First runner-up in Access to Finance and Markets. His end-to-end tech platform connects farmers directly to factories and offers bundled credit and insurance solutions, facilitating market access and financial security.

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

The selection involved over 100 applications from 10 African countries. Eleven finalists presented their innovations to a panel of judges representing finance, agriculture, climate innovation, and telecommunications sectors. Evaluation criteria included:

• Value to smallholder farmers
• Technological soundness and data security
• Social impact and scalability
• Team capacity
• Financial viability

Heifer International’s Role and Alignment with SDGs

Since 1944, Heifer International has worked with over 52 million people worldwide to end hunger and poverty sustainably, while caring for the Earth. Operating in 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, the organization supports farmers and food producers to strengthen local economies, directly contributing to SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land).

AYuTe NextGen as a Movement for Youth-Led Agricultural Innovation

Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President of Africa Programmes at Heifer International, described AYuTe NextGen as a movement rather than just a competition. With over 2,000 agritech startups across Africa led by young entrepreneurs, this movement fosters innovation throughout the agricultural value chain, advancing SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Youth Engagement and Future Outlook

Beyond the competition, AYuTe NextGen featured discussions led by young people addressing challenges and opportunities in food systems. These dialogues highlight the urgent need for sustainable transformation aligned with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Conclusion

The AYuTe NextGen 2025 conference successfully spotlighted and supported young African innovators whose work advances multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Through grants, mentorship, and ecosystem building, these entrepreneurs are poised to transform smallholder farming, promote climate resilience, and foster inclusive economic growth across the continent.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article focuses on supporting smallholder farmers and agricultural innovation, which directly contributes to ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Empowering young agripreneurs and creating economic opportunities through agricultural technology and access to finance supports sustained economic growth and decent work.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The promotion of agricultural technology innovations and digital platforms for farming demonstrates a focus on fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Climate-smart agriculture and resilience-building for smallholder farmers address climate change mitigation and adaptation.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The collaboration among innovators, investors, policymakers, and development partners highlights the importance of partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, particularly women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, and fishers.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade technological capabilities, and encourage innovation in all countries.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Number of smallholder farmers impacted
   • The article mentions an impact on over 1.2 million smallholder farmers across Africa, which can be used as an indicator of outreach and effectiveness (related to Target 2.3).
2. Number of agritech startups and innovations
   • The presence of more than 2,000 agritech startups led by young Africans indicates innovation growth and entrepreneurship (related to Target 8.3 and 9.5).
3. Adoption of climate-smart agriculture technologies
   • Use of climate-resilient seedlings, solar-powered sensors, and digital platforms for farm management imply measurement of technology adoption rates (related to Target 2.4 and 13.1).
4. Access to finance and markets for smallholder farmers
   • Digital platforms enabling investment and credit solutions imply indicators on financial inclusion and market access (related to Target 8.3 and 17.17).
5. Number of partnerships and collaborations
   • The collaboration among various stakeholders and mentorship programs can be tracked as an indicator of effective partnerships (related to Target 17.17).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: businessday.ng