Save the Grain

Project Duration:
September 2025 - April 2027

Funding:
EFRE/ JTF - Programm NRW
Start-up Transfer.NRW
European Union
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE NRW)

Website:
www.savethegrain.de

Research Project

In Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a significant need for sustainable development, social justice, and economic self-determination: around 30% of harvests are lost indirectly due to poor seed and cultivation practices, and over 20% due to inefficient drying and storage methods. In addition, many farmers are heavily dependent on intermediaries, which limits their economic independence. Since women produce around 70% of food crops, they play a central role in food security – and it is precisely for this reason that improved conditions for them (e.g., technology, training, land rights) hold considerable potential for a more efficient and equitable agricultural sector overall.

Save the Grain addresses this need directly. Working closely with local communities and engaging in dialogue on equal footing, it develops innovative solutions aimed at actively reducing food losses. Central to this effort is the use of a solar-powered dryer (“Solar Dryer”), which operates without grid electricity and is specifically adapted to the conditions in regions lacking reliable infrastructure. This technology not only improves food availability but also promotes access to education and gender equality, creates jobs, and helps lay the foundation for a self-determined future.

Complementing these efforts, research is being conducted in cooperation with the department on a modular production container that enables decentralized, locally adaptable processing and refinement of agricultural products. This container is intended to allow communities to process, dry, or package goods directly on site – independently of external infrastructure. As a result, additional value-creation steps emerge, new income opportunities are generated, and regional supply chains are strengthened sustainably.