Rabat – Phospholutions, a start-up that seeks to develop technologies to increase fertilizer efficiency and affordability, has won the Africa AgTech Startup Showcase at the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) Annual Conference in Prague.
The company beat out seven other finalists in the competition to earn 20,000 euros in funding after a live final round judged by an expert jury.
Farmer Lifeline Technologies, which develops solar-powered devices to scan crops and alert farmers to pests or diseases, came in second and was awarded the runner-up prize of 10,000 euros.
The showcase was launched by the IFA and Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) to give entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to connect with experts, investors, and other professionals from all over the world.
“The competition is aimed at AgTech startups working on innovative solutions that can be adapted to the African context to ensure the sustainability and inclusivity of its agriculture,” the IFA and UM6P said in a joint statement.
Other finalists provided technologically-minded solutions to problems such as soil health, environmental protection, and agriculture education.
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Phospholutions CEO Hunter Swisher expressed satisfaction at the recognition, calling it “a testament to the hard work of our team,” adding that it will help them further the mission of creating sustainable agriculture solutions for “Africa and beyond.”
Meanwhile, Founder and Managing Director at Farmer Lifeline Technologies, Esther Kimanik, said they were “humbled” to be selected as runner-ups.
“Our solution is designed to address critical challenges facing African agriculture, and this recognition shows that we are on the right track,” Kimanik said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with other leaders in the industry and look forward to continuing our mission to create positive change in African agriculture.”
