What is the name of your solution?
Green Business Eco System
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
Empowering Ugandan farming communities with solar energy and cold rooms to preserve produce and support local businesses sustainably.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Ibanda, UgandaIn what country is your solution team headquartered?
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
What specific problem are you solving?
The problem we're tackling is food waste and its connection to food insecurity, particularly in rural areas like those in Uganda. Globally, a staggering one-third of all food produced ends up wasted, contributing about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This waste worsens the issue of hunger, with over 800 million people worldwide going to bed hungry every night.
In sub-Saharan Africa, where many countries struggle with food insecurity, the situation is dire. Roughly 37% of food is wasted annually per person, yet approximately 146 million people in this region suffer from acute food insecurity. In Uganda specifically, over 40% of fruits and vegetables produced go to waste, despite a significant portion of the population facing food shortages.
The root of this problem is;
Lack of proper food handling and preservation facilities in rural areas where food is predominantly produced.
Widespread lack of access to electricity by around 90% of Uganda's rural population because the national grid is majorly urban. While other alternatives like solar are expensive for low-income rural communities to afford.
This situation not only destabilizes agriculture as the primary income source for many rural families but also hinders their ability to diversify their income through other projects because of limited access to electricity. Nearly 33million out of 38million people in Uganda reside in rural areas and relay heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods. Without addressing these challenges, the cycle of poverty and food insecurity will persist, further marginalizing these communities.
Our solution aims to provide affordable and sustainable energy solutions tailored to rural areas, and sustainable cold storage solutions to enable farmers to better preserve their perishable produce and reduce waste. By addressing the lack of access to electricity and promoting efficient food handling practices, we can stabilize agricultural incomes and empower rural communities to explore additional income-generating opportunities. This holistic approach not only tackles food waste and insecurity but also fosters economic resilience and sustainability in Uganda and beyond.
What is your solution?
At Solafam Uganda Ltd, we provide solar-powered cold rooms for sale and rent to farmer groups and food vendors in rural areas. These cold rooms are designed to store perishable produce like fruits and vegetables, helping farmers reduce waste and extend the shelf life of their goods.
Our solution works by harnessing solar energy to power the cold rooms. Solar panels installed on the roof capture sunlight and convert it into electricity, which is stored in batteries for use when the sun isn't shining. This renewable energy source ensures that farmers in off-grid areas have access to reliable refrigeration without relying on expensive fossil fuels or grid electricity.
The cold rooms are insulated to maintain a consistent temperature, keeping produce fresh for longer periods. Farmers can rent these cold rooms on a pay-per-use basis, making it affordable for those who cannot afford to purchase one outright. Additionally, excess solar energy generated by the system is also sold to community businesses, such as hair salons, providing an additional source of income for rural communities and saving them the upfront cost of purchasing solar infrastructure.
We are currently developing an AI chatbot sales assistant because we understand that some farmers may preserve their perishable food products and still fail to sell. Our chatbot connects these farmers directly to buyers hence securing them better food prices by eliminating middle men
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
The target population we aim to directly and meaningfully improve are rural farmers and food vendors in Uganda, particularly those who face challenges due to the lack of access to electricity and proper food preservation facilities. These individuals are currently underserved as they often lack the resources to afford conventional cold storage solutions, such as refrigerated warehouses or cooling systems powered by electricity.
Our solution, provided by Solafam Uganda Ltd, offers affordable and sustainable energy solutions tailored to rural areas. Specifically, we offer solar-powered cold rooms for sale and rent to farmers and food vendors on a pay-per-use basis. By utilizing solar energy, we overcome the barrier of limited access to electricity, which is a major challenge in rural Uganda.
These solar-powered cold rooms enable farmers and food vendors to better preserve their perishable produce, such as fruits and vegetables, reducing waste and extending the shelf life of their products. By addressing the lack of proper food handling and preservation facilities, our solution directly tackles the root causes of food waste in rural communities.
Moreover, our pay-per-use model ensures that even farmers who cannot afford to purchase a cold room outright can still benefit from this technology. By sharing the cold room among farmer groups or food markets, they can collectively reduce costs and only pay for the storage space they use, making the solution accessible to a wider population.
Additionally, Uganda lies along the equator receiving sunshine all year round and our excess solar energy generated by these cold rooms is sold to community businesses, such as hair salons, providing an additional income stream for the rural communities. This holistic approach not only addresses the immediate need for food preservation but also promotes economic activity and transforms communities from subsistence to commercial economy.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
Our team at Solafam Uganda Ltd is uniquely positioned to design and deliver our solution to the target population because we have deep roots in rural communities like those we aim to serve. Our CEO and Co-Founder, Eng. Shifra Ainomugisha, grew up in a rural district, Ibanda, where her family was involved in tomato farming. She experienced firsthand the challenges of food waste due to lack of proper storage facilities. This personal experience drives her passion for finding sustainable solutions to address food insecurity in rural areas.
Additionally, our Co-Founder and COO, Eng. Moreen Nabahiirwa, is again another team member from a forgotten village called Nyamilima in Isingiro district that had 0% access to any form of electricity growing up and the only economic activity we had was avocado growing. The situation has since improved because of our intervention. She also brings her expertise in electrical engineering and experience working with M-Kopa Solar, a company known for providing Pico solar energy solutions to off-grid communities. Her technical knowledge and understanding of rural electrification challenges are invaluable in designing effective solutions tailored to the needs of our target population.
Our Marketing Manager, Mr. Nasiimwa Rogers, adds significant value to our team with his extensive experience in solar sales and distribution, particularly in rural areas. His insights into the local market dynamics and customer needs inform our strategies for reaching and serving rural communities effectively.
The design and implementation of our solution are meaningfully guided by our life experiences because we are targeting the same communities that we grew in and solving the problems that we faced growing up.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Enable a low-carbon and nutritious global food system, across large and small-scale producers plus supply chains that reduce food loss.Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
What is your solution’s stage of development?
GrowthWhy are you applying to Solve?
- Mentorship, being a Ugandan based startup, our access to world-class mentorship is limited. The capacity workshops, tailored coaching and access to peers from different backgrounds gives us a unique opportunity to discover and learn from.
- Gain exposure. We are a rural based startup with no international exposure at the moment yet out future (scaling) requires us to be publicized and known to be able to attract substantial investment. We therefore target to achieve this with Solve at conferences and media.
- Legal and Regulatory Guidance, Navigating legal and regulatory frameworks can pose barriers to our operations and expansion plans especially now that we are planning to scale our solution. Solve can facilitate connections with legal experts who can provide guidance on compliance, licensing, and other regulatory requirements, ensuring that we operate within the boundaries of the law and overcome any legal hurdles. This is a unique opportunity for us and we hope to benefit a lot from it.
- Key Partnerships, While we have made significant strides in providing solar-powered cold rooms to farmers and food vendors, We still look out for key partners that would join us and contribute to the scale of our solar & cold storage infrastructure and possible technology advances especially AI.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
CEO & Co-Founder AINOMUGISHA SHIFRA
What makes your solution innovative?
1. Affordable and Sustainable Cold Storage: By providing solar-powered cold rooms for sale and rent to farmers and food vendors on a pay-per-use basis, you're offering an accessible solution to preserve perishable produce. This approach ensures that even low-income farmers can benefit from cold storage facilities, which were previously financially out of reach for many.
2. Community-Based Energy Sharing Model: Leveraging excess solar energy generated by the cold rooms to power community businesses, such as hair salons, Phone charging businesses, shoe making demonstrates a creative use of resources. This not only maximizes the utility of the solar infrastructure but also fosters economic development within rural communities beyond agriculture.
3. Innovative Sales Approach: Developing an AI chatbot sales assistant to connect farmers directly to buyers adds another layer of efficiency to your solution. By cutting out middlemen, farmers can secure better prices for their produce, improving their economic stability and food security.
4. Expertise and Experience: Our team's backgrounds in renewable energy, electrical engineering, and solar sales bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Drawing from personal experiences of food waste in rural farming communities, your team understands the challenges intimately and is well-positioned to develop effective solutions.
5. Scalability and Impact: With 13,000 paying customers already benefiting from your solution and generating $136,000 in annual revenue in 2023, our model has demonstrated its scalability and potential for broader impact. By expanding our reach and collaborating with other stakeholders in the agricultural and renewable energy sectors, we can catalyze positive change on a larger scale.
Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.
Activities, Solafam Uganda Ltd, provides solar-powered cold rooms for sale and rent to farmer groups and food vendors in rural areas. We sell excess solar energy to small businesses in the rural communities. We also plan to implement an AI chatbot sales assistant to connect farmers directly to buyers.
Outputs, The outputs of our activities include the provision of affordable and sustainable energy solutions through solar-powered cold rooms. Additionally, the AI chatbot will facilitate direct sales between farmers and buyers, eliminating middlemen and potentially securing better prices for farmers.
Outcomes: These outputs are expected to lead to several outcomes:
- Reduced food waste, By offering cold storage solutions, farmers can better preserve their perishable produce, reducing post-harvest losses from current 40% to below 5%.
- Increased income for farmers, With improved access to cold storage and direct AI sales channels, farmers secure better prices for their produce, leading to increased income.
- Empowerment of rural communities, Access to affordable energy solutions and direct sales channels empowers rural communities by providing them with opportunities to stabilize their incomes and explore additional income-generating activities.
- Environmental benefits, Solar-powered solutions reduce reliance on fossil fuels, LIKE diesel generators and further reduces emissions from dumped food contributing to environmental sustainability.
What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?
- Reduce food waste in rural Uganda by 50% within 5 years.
- Increase income for rural farmers by 30% within 5 years.
- Improve food security for rural communities, ensuring access to nutritious food year-round.
- Improve access to clean energy in rural areas by 50%
Progress measurement indicators:
- Percentage reduction in food waste, Track the amount of food waste reduced annually through the use of solar-powered cold rooms. We monitor the volume of perishable food preserved compared to previous years.
- Increase in farmers' income: Measure the average income of participating farmer groups before and after utilizing the solar-powered cold rooms. We conduct surveys to assess changes in income levels and livelihood opportunities.
- Food security improvement, We monitor changes in food availability and access among participating communities. We collect data on the diversity and quality of food consumed, as well as changes in dietary patterns.
- Access to clean energy, We track the penetration of clean energy in communities before and after our solution is launched.
Describe the core technology that powers your solution.
Our core technology is solar power and AI chatbot that aligns well with MIT Solve's criteria for innovative solutions that address global challenges. Leveraging modern technology like AI and solar energy alongside traditional knowledge systems demonstrates a holistic approach to solving complex problems.
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new application of an existing technology
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:
https://solafamug.com/
In which countries do you currently operate?
Which, if any, additional countries will you be operating in within the next year?
How many people work on your solution team?
Fulltime - 11
Part-time - 6
Contractors - 0
How long have you been working on your solution?
3 Years
Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.
At Solafam Uganda Ltd, we are deeply committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team. We recognize the value of different perspectives and experiences in driving innovation and better serving our customers and communities. Here's how we ensure that our team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment:
- Diverse Leadership Team: Our leadership team reflects a range of backgrounds, gender, experiences, and expertise. With Shifra Ainomugisha, who grew up in a rural district and has firsthand experience with agricultural challenges, co-leading the company alongside Moreen Nabahiirwa and Nasiimwa Rogers, we bring a diverse set of skills and perspectives to the table.
- Goals for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We have set clear goals for increasing diversity within our team across all levels of the organization. We aim to recruit and retain individuals from diverse backgrounds, including gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. Additionally, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported in their roles.
- Actions Taken: To achieve our diversity goals, we have implemented several initiatives:
Recruiting Practices: We actively seek out candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and ensure that our hiring processes are fair and inclusive.
Training and Development: We provide training and development opportunities for all employees to foster a culture of continuous learning and growth. This includes workshops on diversity awareness, unconscious bias, and inclusive leadership.
Mentorship and Support: We offer mentorship programs and support networks to help employees from diverse backgrounds thrive in their roles and advance within the company.
Inclusive Policies: We have established policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion, such as flexible working arrangements, transparent communication channels, and zero-tolerance for discrimination or harassment.
What is your business model?
Our model revolves around providing affordable and sustainable energy solutions, specifically solar-powered cold rooms, tailored to rural areas in Uganda. Here's a breakdown of their business model:
Key Customers and Beneficiaries:
- Farmers: Smallholder farmers and farmer groups who produce perishable food products such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
- Food vendors: Individuals or businesses involved in selling perishable food items in local markets or to larger buyers.
- Community businesses: Hair salons and other small businesses in rural areas that can benefit from access to excess solar energy.
Products and Services:
- Solar-powered cold rooms: Solafam offers solar-powered cold rooms for sale and rent to farmers and food vendors. These cold rooms are designed to preserve perishable produce and reduce food waste.
- Pay-per-use basis: The company operates on a pay-per-use basis, allowing customers to access cold room facilities without the need for upfront investment in purchasing the equipment. This model makes cold room technology accessible to farmers who may not be able to afford the initial cost.
- Excess solar energy sales: Solafam utilizes the excess solar energy generated by their cold rooms to supply power to nearby community businesses, generating additional revenue streams.
Value Proposition:
- Affordable and sustainable energy solutions: Solafam provides solar-powered cold rooms that address the lack of access to electricity in rural areas, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative.
- Reduced food waste: By enabling farmers and food vendors to preserve their perishable produce, Solafam helps reduce food waste and improve food security in rural communities.
- Income generation opportunities: Access to cold room facilities empowers farmers to store and sell their produce at optimal prices, while the sale of excess solar energy provides additional income opportunities for the community.
Why Customers Want or Need Them:
- Farmers and food vendors need reliable cold storage facilities to preserve their perishable products and extend their shelf life, enabling them to access better markets and prices.
- Rural communities require access to affordable energy solutions to support economic activities and improve livelihoods.
- Community businesses benefit from access to reliable and affordable energy sources, allowing them to operate more efficiently and sustainably.
Overall, Solafam's business model aims to create social impact by addressing energy poverty, reducing food waste, and fostering economic resilience in rural communities, while also generating revenue through the provision of innovative energy solutions and value-added services.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?
To become financially sustainable, Solafam Uganda Ltd employs a multi-pronged revenue model centered around selling solar-powered cold rooms and providing pay-per-use services to farmers and food vendors. Additionally, they generate revenue by selling excess solar energy to community businesses. Here's how they plan to bring in money to fund our work:
- Sales and Rentals of Solar-Powered Cold Rooms: Solafam sells and rents out solar-powered cold rooms to farmer groups and food markets at a pay-per-use basis. By offering this service, we provide farmers with access to affordable cold storage solutions, reducing food waste and increasing the shelf life of perishable produce. The revenue generated from the sale and rental of these cold rooms forms a significant portion of our income.
- Selling Excess Solar Energy: Solafam utilizes the excess solar energy generated by their cold rooms to power small businesses in the community, such as hair salons. We sell this energy to these businesses, generating additional revenue streams while also providing valuable energy services to the community.
- AI Chatbot Sales Assistant: We are currently developing an AI chatbot sales assistant to connect farmers directly with buyers, eliminating middlemen and securing better prices for their produce. While this service may not directly generate revenue, it enhances the value proposition of our cold room services, potentially increasing customer retention and satisfaction.
- Investment and Grants: We also seek investment capital and grants to support their expansion efforts and further develop our technology and infrastructure. These funds are used to scale our operations, improve our product offerings, and reach more rural communities in need of their services.
To date, we have demonstrated promising growth and revenue generation:
- We have acquired 13,000 paying customers, indicating strong market demand for their services.
- In 2023, We generated an annual revenue of 136,000, demonstrating the financial viability of their business model.
Solution Team
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Our Organization
SOLAFAM UGANDA