SOiLXPLORE AgriHackathon

Background

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Kenya's economy, providing livelihoods for millions. However, a significant threat to its sustainability is declining soil health, manifested through nutrient depletion, erosion, increased acidity, and contamination (Adolwa et al., 2023). This degradation disproportionately affects smallholder farmers (FAO, 2022). Mulinge et al. (2016) reported that Kenya has been facing land degradation with the major issues being the loss of soil fertility through soil nutrients mining, wind and water erosion of the soils, rangeland degradation, deforestation, desertification and limited soil regeneration initiatives such as soil testing to mitigate the degradation. Addressing this critical challenge requires innovative, data-driven, and inclusive solutions that are both accessible and adaptable to Kenya's varied agroecological zones.

The SOilXPLORE AgriHackathon seeks to engage young women and men in co-creating innovative solutions, both digital and non-digital that promote improved soil health. Participants will leverage artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data analytics to develop tools and strategies that support sustainable soil health management, guide farmer decision-making and contribute to soil regeneration. The designed inclusive solutions, both high-tech and low-tech, will be deployed to facilitate sustainable monitoring and regeneration of soil health for resilient agrifood systems.

The SOilXPLORE AgriHackathon aligns with Kenya's national agricultural development priorities, including the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) 2019 – 2029 that prioritizes soil testing, soil rehabilitation, use of appropriate soil inputs and digital and data use cases for better decision making and performance management The hackathon promotes youth empowerment by fostering job creation, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation within the agrifood systems.

Theme

 Innovating for Healthy Soils through Digital or Non-digital Solutions Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) or Data Analytics.

Objectives

The primary objective of the SOilXPLORE AgriHackathon is to contribute to improved agricultural productivity in Kenya through the identification, development, and adoption of climate smart technology and improved management practices (TIMPs) that improve soil health, optimize crop performance, and enhance the resilience of agrifood systems. The SOilXPLORE AgriHackathon aims to achieve the following specific objectives:

1. Develop innovative solutions for soil health monitoring and management: Participants will create novel digital and non-digital tools that can accurately assess soil health parameters, recommend appropriate interventions, and monitor the effectiveness of these interventions over time that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) or Data Analytics.
2. Promote data-driven decision-making among smallholder farmers: The hackathon will encourage the development of user-friendly platforms and accessible technologies that translate complex soil data into actionable insights for farmers, empowering them to make informed decisions.
3. Foster collaboration and knowledge exchange: By bringing together diverse talents from various disciplines to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and the sharing of innovative ideas to address soil health challenges.
4. Identify and nurture young talent in agricultural innovation: The AgriHackathon will serve as a platform to discover, mentor, and support young innovators with the potential to develop scalable and impactful solutions for the agricultural sector in Kenya and beyond.

Target Participants

The SOilXPLORE AgriHackathon seeks a diverse group of talented and passionate young individuals, aged 18 to 35 years, committed to addressing Kenya's agricultural challenges. Participants can be drawn from various backgrounds, including: TVET/University Students and Graduates, Farmers and Agricultural Extension Workers and, Entrepreneurs and Innovators. To foster a rich, inclusive, and effective problem-solving environment, teams must adhere to the following composition requirements:

• Minimum Team Size: Each team must comprise at least 4 members each with complimentary and unique skills.
•  Gender: A minimum of 70% female members is required per team.
•  Inclusivity: Each team should strive to include at least 1 member who is either a refugee/displaced person (RDP) or a person living with a disability (PWD).
• Soil Science Expertise: At least one team member must have studied or be currently studying a soil science-related program at TVET or university level.
  These requirements are designed to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and ensure that the developed solutions are well-rounded and user-centric, to the Kenyan agricultural community.

Required Application Information:

•   Personal Details: Full Names, Email addresses, Phone Number, Date of Birth, Current residence.
•  Academic Details: Certified academic certificates (in case of a graduates) or certified admission letter (in case of continuing students).
• Professional Background: CV.
• Team statement of interest (200-300 words): Why are you interested in the Soilexplore Hackathon? What do you hope to achieve? How do you envision addressing soil challenges?

How to Apply

Click Here to Apply

Note: Only one application per team should be submitted.

Final deadline is August 8th, 2025, at 23:59 HRS East African Time (EAT).

Implementation Timetable

The SOilXPLORE AgriHackathon timetable is strategically designed to offer a time-bound, supportive environment that fosters innovation, guiding participants through a structured process from ideation to the development of viable prototypes.

 References

Adolwa, I., Mutegi, J., Muthamia, J., Gitonga, A., Njoroge, S., Kiwia, A., Manoti, D., Mairura, F., & Nchanji, E. B. (2023). Enhancing sustainable agri-food systems using multi-nutrient fertilizers in Kenyan smallholder farming systems. Heliyon, 9, e15320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15320
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2022). The state of the world’s land and water resources for food and agriculture – Systems at breaking point: Main report. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9910en
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives. (2019). Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) 2019–2029. Government of Kenya.
Mulinge, W., Gicheru, P., Murithi, F., Maingi, P., Kihiu, E., Kirui, O. K., & Mirzabaev, A. (2016). Economics of land degradation and improvement in Kenya. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19168-3_16