Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nairobi, Kenya – November 17, 2025 – Synnefa, a leading agritech company building climate-smart solutions for African farmers, is proud to announce that it has secured grant funding and technical assistance from Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) and P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030. Building on a successful pilot funded by the Efficiency for Access Fund to develop its IoT-enabled Smart Solar Dryers, this follow-on support will accelerate its rollout across East Africa, reducing post-harvest losses and boosting incomes for smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Tackling Post-Harvest Losses with Smart Solar Dryers
Post-harvest losses are a major barrier to agricultural productivity in Africa, with farmers losing 30-50% of their produce due to inadequate drying and storage. Following a successful pilot supported by the Efficiency for Access Fund, Synnefa's Smart Solar Dryers, powered by renewable energy and equipped with IoT sensors, enable efficient drying of crops like coffee, fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices in just 2-3 days—compared to weeks with traditional methods. This results in higher-quality produce that meets export standards, up to 45% reduced losses, and improved livelihoods.
With PREO's grant (part of €4.26 million awarded to 22 enterprises in July 2025) and P4G's ~US$300,000 partnership with Solidaridad, Synnefa will initially scale to over 15,000 farmers in Kenya and beyond. This unlocks new markets, builds climate resilience, and supports youth-led enterprises in value chains like mango, peanut, and coffee.
Making High-Quality Drying Affordable Through Rent-to-Own
Synnefa's innovative Rent-to-Own (RTO) model eliminates upfront costs for farmer groups and SMEs. Cooperatives and businesses lease dryers with flexible terms, gaining ownership over time, while a complementary Dry-as-a-Service option targets youth entrepreneurs.
This delivers three key benefits:
Accessibility – Rural organisation's access premium infrastructure without capital barriers.
Farmer Impact – Higher incomes and reduced losses enhance livelihoods and food security.
Sustainability – Asset-backed recurring revenue ensures long-term model viability.
By integrating technology, finance, and market linkages, Synnefa empowers farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture amid climate volatility.
Backing from Global Climate Innovation Platforms
PREO, co-funded by the UK Government via the Transforming Energy Access platform, delivered by the Carbon Trust and Energy 4 Impact, supports enterprises in harnessing renewable energy for productive uses like agriculture. In its latest round, it backed innovative solutions in food systems, water, e-mobility, and digital innovation with grants and tailored business support.
P4G, hosted by the World Resources Institute and funded by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Korea, accelerates climate partnerships in food, water, and energy. It provides grants, technical assistance, and investor matchmaking to scale solutions like Synnefa's.
This combined support equips Synnefa with catalytic funding, expertise, and global networks to expand across Africa.
Quotes
Taita Ngetich, Founder & CEO of Synnefa, said: “This backing from PREO and P4G, following our successful pilot with Efficiency for Access, validates our vision for a food-secure Africa where farmers grow more and retain more of their harvest. Our Smart Solar Dryers are solving for post-harvest losses while creating rural job opportunities and with rent-to-own financing, we’re making them scalable and impactful for thousands of smallholders.”
PREO Programme Director from Energy 4 Impact, Mathieu Dalle: “Smart solar technologies are enabling more precise, efficient, and data-driven processing, which helps smallholders save time, reduce losses, and access new markets. With its Smart Solar Dryer, Synnefa Green aims to demonstrate this potential and help tackle the drying challenge faced by farmers across Africa.”
“P4G is proud to support Synnefa as one of our newest partnerships driving green growth in Kenya,” said Robyn McGuckin, Executive Director of P4G. “Synnefa’s integrated and technology-first approach to efficient drying will make smallholder farmers more resilient to climate shocks and capture more of their produce for sale. By raising awareness and advocating for supportive regulations for smart drying technology, this partnership is paving the way for a more sustainable, climate-smart future for Kenya’s agriculture sector.”
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Notes to editors
About Synnefa
Synnefa builds and finances climate-smart farming solutions for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses in Africa. Its suite includes Smart Solar Dryers, Smart Greenhouses, FarmShield IoT sensors, and FarmCloud software—helping over 27,000 farmers reduce risks, boost productivity, and access premium markets. Synnefa's vision: a food-secure Africa through technology and innovation.
About the Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is a global climate organisation driven by the mission to accelerate the move to a decarbonised future. We have been climate pioneers for over 20 years, partnering with businesses, governments, and financial institutions to drive positive climate action. For more information visit https://www.carbontrust.com/
For further information please contact: The Carbon Trust press office on +44 (0)20 7170 7050 or press@carbontrust.com.
Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities
PREO promotes the productive use of renewable energy (PURE) in sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Island Countries to stimulate local economic development and support global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG7, SDG8 & SDG13). For more information, please visit: Home - PREO Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities
About P4G
P4G helps early-stage climate startups in emerging markets and developing economies become investment ready. Hosted by World Resources Institute and funded by Denmark, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea, P4G accelerates food, water and energy partnerships in Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa and Vietnam. To learn more, visit www.p4gpartnerships.org
Media Contact:
Synnefa
Taita Ngetich
Founder and CEO
Email: taita.ngetich@synnefa.io
Phone: +254 732 613 501 or +254 20 389 2455
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