Context
The numbers show that one third of the world's fruit and vegetable crops will be lost due to climate change. So, how can we meet our growing food demand? For one, we need new, more innovative production models.
Smallholder farmers in emerging countries are the main lever to solve this environmental and social challenge, as—according to FAO—they produce more than 70% of the food consumed across the world. However, agricultural populations in remote and rural areas of emerging countries don't often take advantage of global value chains.
Challenge
Ksapa, a consulting firm and mission-driven company, sought to leverage low tech digitalisation to support these small agribusiness players in their professional and economic transformation, thereby tremendously reducing environmental impact.
As part of Ksapa's dedicated business unit on impact investing and resilience, the SUTTI (The Scale-Up Training, Traceability and Impact Initiative) team reached out to PALO IT to co-design a solution.
Results
In line with our shared principles surrounding innovation and ESG, PALO IT and Ksapa developed a training and impact measurement application, and ensured the project's long-term sustainability by also upskilling SUTTI Product Owners.
The tool is currently attracting new industrial buyers, and is fully equipped for large-scale projects. The engagement resulted in:
- A mobile application dedicated to farmers which: promotes training, gears daily work towards more sustainable methods, verifies adoption of new practices, and measures the effective impact of the program through online surveys.
- A digital transaction tool that improves the traceability of raw materials.
- A back-office application that allows trainers to monitor and manage the operational aspects of programs (e.g. enrollment of farmers, management of cohorts, etc.). The solution is supplemented by a steering tool to assess the impact of programs through various economic, social and environmental performance indicators.
Interested in learning more about PALO IT's successful work digitising public services? Get in touch with us anytime.
Raphaël Hara
Managing Director, Ksapa