Exploring opportunities for the exploitation of polymer-based technologies to reduce food waste and enhance incomes for fine bean farmers in Kenya

这项可行性评估的关键目标是建立必要的手段，以便在肯尼亚成功部署一种创新的农业改良产品（PAM），该产品基于一组研究人员和合作者利用公共资金开发的技术。AGS生态技术有限公司（“AGS”）是“创新英国”项目联盟的成员之一，该项目名为“新型聚合物技术，为肯尼亚小农和商业优质豆类种植者减少浪费和提高收入”。该团队已经开发了使用阴离子聚丙烯酰胺（PAM）的技术喷雾创新，以最大限度地减少精细豆类的污染。由于“土壤飞溅”污染，肯尼亚25%的农场大门被拒绝。这是由于植物病原体的飞溅转移和真菌和细菌病原体造成的豆类品质缺陷造成的直接产量损失。试验结果表明，我们的新型PAM应用技术可以减少高达67%的污染。因此，喷洒PAM可以提高适销产量，减少废品率，减少用水量并增加农场收入。现在需要进行可行性研究，以评估在整个肯尼亚更广泛地采用PAM技术以减少食物浪费的能力。PAM的施用方法和浓度因土壤类型而异。在我们的研究中，我们测试了从肯尼亚进口的4种广泛的土壤类型，这些土壤类型在英国进行分析。然而，该地区种植的优质豆类的土壤类型要广泛得多，应该在当地进行试验，以降低与开发相关的成本。作为这项可行性研究的一部分，我们将评估肯尼亚需要测试的土壤类型，以及肯尼亚土壤实验室进行校准我们的PAM技术所需的分析的能力。我们亦会探讨建立分销网络的适当方法，向农民提供PAM，并提供外展/教育能力，培训农民正确使用PAM。最后，我们将与肯尼亚植物卫生检验局（KEPHIS）等监管机构会面，以确定获得PAM商业使用许可所需的步骤。从这项可行性评估中，我们将能够开发一个PAM分销企业，以减少从肯尼亚到英国的新鲜农产品供应链中食物和水资源的浪费。这将提高小农的收入，并在支持气候适应技术至关重要的环境变化时代增强农业的可持续性。

The key objective of this feasibility assessment is to establish the necessary means for successful deployment of an innovative agricultural amendment product ('PAM') in Kenya based on technology that has been developed a team of researchers and collaborators using public funds.AGS Ekology Ltd. ('AGS') is part of the consortium delivering an Innovate UK project titled: _Novel polymer-based technologies to reduce waste and enhance incomes for smallholder and commercial fine bean growers in Kenya_. The team have developed technological spray innovations using anionic polyacrylamides (PAM) to minimise soiling of fine beans, which accounts for \>25% of farm gate rejects in Kenya due to 'soil splash' contamination. This is due to direct yield losses associated with splash transfer of plant pathogens and bean quality defects due to fungal and bacterial pathogens. Results from our trials indicate that our novel PAM application technologies can reduce soiling by up 67%. Spraying PAM can thus increase marketable yields, curtail rejects, reduce water consumption and increase farm revenue.A feasibility study is now needed to assess the capacity for wider uptake of PAM technology to reduce food waste throughout Kenya. The application method and concentration of PAM used varies according to soil type. During our research, we have tested 4 broad soil types from Kenya which were imported for analysis in the UK. However, fine beans are grown on a much wider variety of soil types across the region, which should be tested locally to reduce costs associated with exploitation. As part of this feasibility study, we will assess the soil types in Kenya that need to be tested, as well as the capacity of Kenyan soil labs to perform the analyses required to calibrate our PAM technology. We will also explore appropriate means of establishing a distribution network to deliver PAM to farmers, coupled with outreach/education capabilities to train farmers on its correct application. Finally, we will meet with regulatory agencies, such as KEPHIS (Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service), to determine the steps required to get PAM licensed for commercial use.From this feasibility assessment we will be able to develop a PAM distribution venture to reduce the wastage of food and water resources in the fresh produce supply chain from Kenya to the UK. This will improve revenues for smallholder farmers as well as enhance the sustainability of agriculture in an era of environmental change where support for climate adaptation technologies is critical.