Irene Khan

Pioneered agricultural technology to empower smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa

Dr. Irene Khan - Revolutionizing African Agriculture

Dr. Irene Khan (b. 1972) is a Kenyan agricultural scientist and entrepreneur whose innovations in crop preservation technology have transformed farming practices across East Africa. Growing up in a rural farming community, she witnessed first-hand the challenges smallholder farmers face with post-harvest losses exceeding 30% due to poor storage solutions. In 1998, she founded Kivuli Technologies, a social enterprise that developed low-cost, solar-powered grain storage systems. These innovations reduced post-harvest losses to 8% and have been adopted by over 500,000 farmers in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Her breakthrough came with the invention of the AfriStore system, a modular storage unit using locally sourced materials and solar energy. This system not only preserves crops but also doubles as a data collection point for agricultural analytics. Khan's work has been featured in Nature Sustainability and inspired similar initiatives in West Africa. She currently serves as UN Food Systems Champion and advises the African Union's agricultural policy framework.