AfriGIS’ Team AgriEco emerged victorious at the SustainableFinance.Live 2024 hackathon, showcasing their innovative AgriEco Hub platform for sustainable agriculture. The global event, which took place from September 27 to October 10, 2024, was organized by Finextra Research and ResponsibleRisk, bringing together experts from various fields to address sustainability challenges in finance, agriculture, technology, and environmental science.
The AgriEco Hub platform presented by Team AgriEco aims to channel green finance into agriculture, providing accessible and measurable finance solutions to promote sustainability, biodiversity, and reduce financial risks. By connecting smallholder and commercial farmers with financial institutions, the platform focuses on driving profitability and resource efficiency in the agriculture sector.
Rochelle Mountany, CEO of AfriGIS, expressed the team’s excitement and highlighted the importance of their solution in filling the gap in green finance tools. The platform not only supports sustainable agriculture but also contributes to biodiversity conservation and risk reduction in financial investments.
Team AgriEco, consisting of talented individuals, pitched a platform that addresses specific challenges faced by farmers and financial institutions, such as water scarcity, climate change, and risk evaluation. The solution offers tools for farm management, collaboration, and access to funding, aiming to optimize resource use and promote sustainability-linked funding in agriculture.
AgriEco Hub’s key features include real-time farm management tools for monitoring water availability, weather patterns, and crop health, collaboration opportunities between farmers for shared resource use and market access, and access to sustainability-linked finance for both commercial and smallholder farmers. The platform’s integration of geospatial mapping, real-time environmental data, and weather forecasting enhances sustainable farming practices by providing precise insights and critical information for vegetation management.
By offering real-time tracking of water availability and usage, AgriEco Hub enables farmers to manage resources effectively and plan better for unpredictable climate conditions. For smallholder farmers, the platform facilitates market access and scalability, overcoming infrastructure limitations and enhancing operational efficiency.
AfriGIS, the leading Geospatial Information Science company in Southern Africa, specializes in location-sensitive data and solutions. With over 25 years in business, the organization offers web-based tools and APIs to enhance data with location intelligence and trusted information. AfriGIS aims to empower customers with geospatial insights and data to make informed decisions and drive sustainable practices in various industries.
The team’s win at the hackathon was commended by Richard Peers, founder of ResponsibleRisk, who praised the comprehensive content, use cases, user journeys, business canvas, and technology architecture developed within 10 days. The capabilities of the AgriEco Hub platform and its effective communication were highlighted as key factors in the team’s success.
Overall, AfriGIS’ Team AgriEco’s victory at the SustainableFinance.Live 2024 hackathon underscores the significance of innovative solutions in promoting sustainability, green finance, and resource efficiency in agriculture. The AgriEco Hub platform represents a step towards driving positive change in the agriculture sector and fostering collaboration between farmers and financial institutions for a more sustainable future.