Research projects
The goal of this project is to improve the nutrition and livelihoods of Kenyans by developing seaweed-amaranth-finger millet-fortified, nutrient-enriched, wheat-reduced and ready-to-eat bakery products acceptable to millions of consumers irrespective of their socio-economic status. The project’s specific objectives are: (1) characterize post-harvest handling and processing of seaweed, amaranth and finger millet; (2) profile the nutraceutical value of seaweed, amaranth and finger millet, (3) produce seaweed, amaranth and finger millet-fortified bakery products; (5) promote consumers’ awareness and networking of stakeholders for products commercialization
The project designed to introduce a technology package for 100 % off-grid solar powered cooling and drying to improve quantity, quality and value of Milkfish and Kimarawali. This is to be achieved by developing a model solar powered hybrid cooling-drying system, establishing fish handling and processing centres at the coast, developing a quality system and recommended good production practises for fish handling and to produce longer shelf-life milkfish in Coast and Inland Market
The objectives of the project are to (1.) To mobilise and build the capacity of fishers and Beach Management Units to adopt cage and pond culture of fish for increased production and productivity: (2) To link fishers to markets for reliable access and economic benefits from fisheries. (3) Develop a system to enable fishers and BMUs of Mwazaro, Kibokoni and Kijiweni to have increased access to and use of fish production inputs; (4) Organise fishermen and entrepreneurs in Kwale and Kilifi to have access to and derive services from financial institutions for business development. (5) Build the capacity and support fishers and BMUs to adopt and demonstrate skills on new cage and pond mariculture technologies for business development along the fish value chain.
The Project aims to promote the utilization of microbial genetic resources within the protected Kenyan soda lakes for research, development and commercialization of industrial enzymes and bio‐pesticides for improved resource management and livelihoods in compliance with the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.
The refractance window drying (RWD) technology is a patented dehydration method for development of high value products. This technology has not been adopted in developing economies yet, therefore through this project, KIRDI with other partners will spearhead production and optimization of RWD in East Africa.
The collaborative project is designed to commercialize ecofriendly products from banana stem wastes. Pulp from banana pseudo stem wastes is utilized to make ecofriendly products such as sanitary pads and packaging materials. Design, procurement, fabrication and testing of banana stem decorticator, pulper, defibrator, bio digester and sanitary pad making unit activities were assigned to KIRDI.
The project was undertaken through a partnership of 5 Institutions namely, The Technical University of Denmark (DTU), KIRDI, KU, UON, Ruaraka Business Community (RUBICOM). The project aims to assess the Industrial symbiosis (IS) potential of the Ruaraka Industrial Cluster (34 companies).
The project aims at seeking solutions on how to increase the use of climate-smart food crops (CSFC) in baked products to provide nutritionally-rich food that meets consumer needs while favouring local economies.
The Vil2Bio project aims at integrating pyrolysis, biochar, biogas, technologies into a village-scale off-grid hybrid energy system providing energy for cooking and cold production, while preserving water, soil and biomass resources
The project involved conducting extensive Uncontrolled cooking tests and Water Boiling Tests based efficiency measurements of both traditional wood and charcoal stoves, mapping these to user practices and comparing them to the UNFCCC’s current default values. The field measurements are expected to provide more realistic thermal efficiency values which are important in carbon credit calculations.
Fabricate and supply food processing equipment: chicken defeathering machines, grain mills, horizontal mixers, pelletizers, milk pasteurizers, solar driers, briquetting machines, and pulverizers.
Train 70 women from Tana River, Kitui and Laikipia counties in honey value addition, testing, packaging and labeling; good manufacturing practices; quality control; business development services; intellectual property; by-products utilization; environmental mitigation and setting up of bee hives.
Train 40 women MSMEs from western Kenya on soybean value addition and renewable energy.
Undertake feasibility studies and establish industrial technology transfer offices in Turkana and Garissa to support sustainable exploitation of local agro-produce
Promote sustainable development of MSMEs sector in Kenya through enhanced productivity and efficiency within the leather and textile value chains.
Fabricate food processing equipment
Train 500 metal fabricators in design for manufacture using CAD/CAM software in collaboration with Proteq Automation Ltd.
Train 50 vulnerable girls on value addition to indigenous crops such as cassava, millets, sorghum and sweet potatoes.
Conduct efficiency measurements of both traditional wood and charcoal stoves, map them to user practices and compare them with current default values.
Undertake stoves quality surveillance for cookstoves market in Kenya through an elaborate stoves sampling, testing and results analysis framework. The project aims to accelerate the growth of improved cookstoves (ICS) sector with an irreversible market transformation that will significantly increase the level of ICS production and sales to enable Kenya to significantly advance achievement of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) goals.