Skip to main content

Research projects

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.