SPS: Soil polymer solutions for maximal yields and better returns for bean farmers in Kenya

About the project

UK-registered Partner: Cranfield University – Dr Robert Simmons
Africa-registered Partner: AGS Ekology Holdings Ltd – Edward Morrison

Fine bean production in Kenya is under threat due to contamination of beans by ‘soil splash’. Soil splash causes soiling of otherwise harvestable products and has direct and indirect impacts on marketable yields through transfer of plant pathogens as well as bean quality defects. These result in significant post-harvest losses throughout the supply chain. The aims of this project are to:

• Establish replicated fine bean field trials on splash-prone soils at Delamere in Naivasha, Kenya, in both the short and long rainy seasons to quantify the efficacy of our polymer-based solutions to mitigate soiling of beans and reduce crop wastage and post-harvest losses.
• Undertake a series of smallholder ‘farmer field days’ (FFDs) with a specific focus on female ‘super farmers’ to demonstrate polymer-based solutions to mitigate soil splash losses, from application through to post-harvest processing.
• Combine the results from the proposed field trials with the research findings from a previous project (IUK 105658) in order to comprehensively exploit the benefits of innovative polymer-based solutions.

Learn more about the project in this recording from our recent GCRF AgriFood Africa Project Showcase event.