Powering Agriculture Gender Guides: Integrating Gender into Innovation
Powering Agriculture has published a series of how-to guides on integrating gender into the development and deployment of clean energy solutions (CES). While the guides focus on the agricultural sector, they include information that is useful for innovators and others working in related fields.
Each guide highlights a specific topic and includes checklists or questionnaires to assist the reader in evaluating and improving the role of gender in their product design and deployment processes. The guides cover the following areas:
More information and the guides can be found on the Powering Agriculture website.
Updated Sustainable Energy Reader Available!
In Spring 2016, Powering Agriculture conducted an 8-week massive open online course, or MOOC, titled "Sustainable Energy for Food". Nearly 1,400 people worldwide participated in the course. The course materials have been updated and compiled into a useful reader. A range of topics are covered, including the energy-agriculture challenge, bioenergy, and business models for projects in the energy-agriculture nexus.
For more information and the full content of the MOOC, visit MOOC: Powering Agriculture—Sustainable Energy for Food.
PAX Workshop Planned for October
Planning is underway for the second Powering Agriculture Xceleration (PAX) Workshop, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, October 23-26. The workshop will bring our Innovator community together to continue to work on successful development and deployment of their clean energy solutions. Topics covered will include regulatory issues, capital raising, and end-user and customer finance.
While the Workshop is a closed event, a public Innovator Showcase will take place in conjunction with the week's activities. Details will be shared through the Powering Agriculture mailing list and posted on the Power Agriculture website as they become available.
Scenes from PAX 2015 Workshop and Innovator Showcase.
Innovators in the News
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Futurepump - Winner of the 2017 International Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy and Water! Futurepump was recognized for their portable solar irrigation pump. The judging panel noted that "Futurepump's solar-powered irrigation technology is helping farmers irrigate more land and leapfrog to year-round sustainable crop growing...simultaneously increasing their productivity and income..."
Winners receive up to £20,000, tailored support, and media coverage and materials. Ashden showcases sustainable energy pioneers through their annual awards program, information sharing, and policy consultation.
SunCulture - Winner of one of this year's Microsoft Affordable Access Initiative grants! The grant program is in its second year and seeks to expand internet access to communities that lack access. This can include last-mile internet access technologies, energy access for off-grid communities, and Internet of Things for agriculture. Winners receive seed funding, mentorship, and access to a peer network, as well as Microsoft BizSpark, a development and test software.
In other news:
Husk Power Systems was recognized for their sustainable power solution at the Transform India Conclave and Awards.
Claro Energy, Futurepump, and Husk Power Systems were featured in a Thomson-Reuters story focused on Africa-India partnerships working to wipe out energy poverty.
The University of Toronto will present a paper based on their research in solar aeration and aquaculture at the ASME International Design and Engineering Technical Conference, taking place in Cleveland, Ohio, August 6-9.
Ariya Capital will be showcasing four of their decentralized solar energy systems at the Naivasha Horticultural Fair, being held in Kenya, September 15-16.
Powering Agriculture was highlighted in a recent Tetra Tech blog post about the use of off-grid energy in agriculture.
