DHAKA, January 24, 2017 – Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) together with Kasetsart University and Winrock International announced the winners of the Tech4Farmers Challenge that sought ways to improve the agricultural productivity and income of smallholder farmers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma) and Nepal.

Announced at the Asia Agricultural Innovation Summit Series in Dhaka, the first winners of the regional challenge are:

• e-Fishery’s Smart Fish Feeder: a technology that combines automatic feeding with sensors and algorithms that senses fish appetite and adjusts the amount of feed to improve efficiency. It can reduce up to 21 percent of the feeding cost, boost profit and can be managed remotely through a mobile app. Based in Bandung, Indonesia, e-Fishery’s award will support expansion into Bangladesh through distribution agreements with Bangladeshi companies. E-Fishery is developing affordable, cutting edge technology to support small-scale fish and shrimp farmers modernize and integrate into competitive markets.

• EnerGaia’s Innovative Spirulina Production System: EnerGaia has created a system that maximizes algae production with minimal resources, reducing potential for contamination in its bioreactor design and allows spirulina (a blue-green algae) production virtually anywhere. While already found on many rooftops in Bangkok, Thailand, EnerGaia’s innovative system will use its award to develop smallholder production models that will generate income for women in coastal communities in Bangladesh.

Unlike many challenges, the Tech4Farmers Innovation Challenge does not offer a cash prize, but provides winners the information, business services and access to networks to help expand innovative solutions into new markets in low-income countries.

"There are lots of investors out there now and money really isn’t our problem," said Gibran Huzaifah, the Chief Operating Officer of e-Fishery. "Investors are able to help us in many ways but what they don’t know much about is the smallholder market. That’s why your challenge is interesting for us."

"Population growth and increasing income levels will place tremendous strains on Bangladeshi food supplies," added EnerGaia’s President, Saumil Shah. "Working with local non-governmental organizations under this challenge, EnerGaia is excited to bring its innovative spirulina production system to sustainably combat malnutrition and improve food security."

As a second installment, the Tech4Farmers challenge will continue to accept applications from entrepreneurs and companies in 2017 on a rolling basis. Technology producers looking to expand commercially sustainable technologies in horticulture and aquaculture into Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Nepal are eligible to apply for the Tech4Farmers challenge, which is managed by a committee of representatives from USAID, Winrock and Kasetsart University. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit entries that fall into the following four themes: Smart Services and Information, Innovative Financial Services, Storage and Post-Harvest Technology and Appropriate Low-Cost Technology.

For more information about the challenge and application instructions, please visit http://tech4farmerschallenge.ku.ac.th/.

Based in Bangkok, Thailand, the five-year USAID Feed the Future Asia Innovative Farmers Project increases food security, reduces poverty and improves environmental sustainability by promoting agricultural innovation and technological solutions. Implemented by Winrock International, the project collaborates with a range of public and private sector partners to foster innovation and transfer technologies from within the region to supply chains in horticulture and aquaculture in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma) and Nepal.