Benson Ibe

Nigerian agri-tech innovator who revolutionized food security through affordable farming solutions

Benson Ibe (born 1985) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and technologist whose startup Bloomsters has transformed agricultural practices across West Africa. After studying computer science at the University of Lagos, he observed the challenges smallholder farmers faced with soil degradation and seed quality. In 2015, he launched Bloomsters, a company providing low-cost seedlings and mobile soil testing kits through an innovative SMS-based platform. By 2019, the venture had distributed over 50 million improved cassava cuttings to farmers in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana, increasing crop yields by an average of 300%. His profile in TechCrunch highlighted how his cloud-based system connects farmers directly with extension services using basic feature phones.

Ibe's approach combines traditional agronomy with machine learning algorithms that predict pest outbreaks and optimal planting times. His 2016 TEDxLagos talk "How I Helped 50,000 Farmers Double Their Income" has been viewed over 2 million times. The World Bank recognized his work in their 2018 report on digital agriculture solutions, noting Bloomsters' impact on reducing post-harvest losses through blockchain-enabled supply chain tracking. His partnership with the African Development Bank in 2019 expanded services to 150,000+ farmers, creating a replicable model for climate-resilient agriculture.