SunSentry

The specific problem that sunsentry aims to solve is inefficient and unsustainable pest management practices in agriculture. 

According to the Heinrich boll stiftung, we have 63% of our pesticides in Kenya being toxic, which affects our crop, health and environment. Additionally, pests have developed resistance to chemical pesticides over time, rendering them less effective. Farmers have been loosing up to 50% of the yield as a result of increase pest incidence.

Our solution provides an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides by harnessing solar energy to attract and capture pests using LED lights. 

We have smart sensors and rechargeable batteries that automatically switch on the LED at night and attract the insects which are then eradicated by water at the bowl below the LED light or electrocution.

The target population we are looking at is the avocado, mango small-scale farmers who rely on their produce as their income.

They are currently underserved because they form the majority of farmers within Mt. Kenya region and the south Eastern part of the country. Their dependence on these crops which makes a significant part of their earning makes it a dire need for us to ensure its sustainability as part of our impact because the current problem is the costs are higher than benefits both at farm level and at consumer level.

My team is well equipped to deliver on our solution because of our proximity to the community because we come from Mt Kenya region with a vast practice of agriculture making us well rounded in understanding what farmers including ourselves go through. 

Our frequent meetups with farmer groups and lead farmers have enabled us understand the level of problems they face and as a result, we came up with a solution that can manage the problem and what it reflects in our community.

It is at pilot stage because we have built the prototypes and have several iterations of the product. We have gathered feedback and have mapped out the right focus group and this information is helping us get to the mass production phase.

We are applying to solve to enable us build the right technology that can be mass produced in the community and create a solution to our farmers.

We are applying to build and connect with the impressive teams in the program and also get a chance to define new frontiers in the space of agricultural technology. Additionally, getting a chance to pitch in the best environment that can enable us get funding and investment.

The solution approaches the pest management problem in a new way because we are able to help farmers reduce their need for pesticides by using solar powered insect traps. The unique aspect is using light to attract and eradicate pests which is a net positive in the agricultural landscape is significantly reducing need for inputs that damage the environment through residue which also goes through our food chain.

It will change the landscape because the impact we are creating will enable horticultural farmers reliant on natural and mechanical methods enabling them shift to organic/regenerative processes.

Problem Statement: Horticultural Farmers are facing challenges with pest control, leading to crop damage, negative environmental and human impact and reduced yields. 

1. Solution: Eco Bristo introduces solar traps to harness solar energy that emit light that attracts pests such as moths and fruit flies during the night, effectively controlling pest populations.

2. Expected short and long term Impact:

   • Reduced Crop Damage: Solar traps help minimize crop and fruit damage, leading to increased yields and improved crop quality.
   • Environmental Protection: Solar traps provide an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, reducing the use of harmful chemicals and mitigating environmental pollution.
   • Healthier Ecosystem: Our promotion of natural pest control methods, we contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and the overall health of the ecosystem.
   • Cost Savings for Farmers: Our farmers reduce their reliance on costly chemical pesticides, resulting in long-term cost savings.
   • Increased Productivity: By effectively managing pest populations, farmers can achieve higher productivity and profitability, contributing to their economic well-being.

The impact goals are:

1. Reduction in Crop Damage: We aim to reduce crop damage caused by pests by 40%, leading to increased yields and improved crop quality for farmers.

2. Environmental Sustainability: We strive to promote environmental sustainability by reducing the reliance on indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides.

3. Cost Savings for Farmers: We aim to help farmers reduce their pest control expenses by providing a cost-effective alternative leading to long-term financial benefits.

4. Improved Farmer Livelihoods: We aim to enhance crop productivity and reducing input costs ultimately contributing to poverty alleviation and sustainable rural development where majority of our farmers reside.

To measure our progress towards these impact goals, we employ various metrics and indicators:

1. Crop Damage Reduction: We measure the percentage decrease in crop damage reported by farmers who adopt our solar traps compared to those using traditional pest control methods. This is assessed through regular surveys and field assessments.

2. Environmental Impact: We monitor the reduction in the use of chemical pesticides among farmers using our solar traps, as well as the corresponding decrease in environmental contamination. This data is collected through farmer interviews and environmental assessments.

3. Cost Savings: We track the cost savings realized by farmers who switch to our solar traps compared to their previous expenses on chemical pesticides. This is assessed through farmer financial records and farmer testimonials.

4. Farmer Feedback: We collect qualitative feedback from farmers regarding their overall satisfaction with our solution, its ease of use, and its impact on their livelihoods. This feedback helps us gauge the effectiveness of our solution and identify areas for improvement.

The traditional knowledge and behavior of pests attracted to lights made it possible for our development of the traps and further to this:

1. Photovoltaic Panels: These panels are typically placed on the top of the trap to maximize exposure to sunlight.

2. LED Lights: The electricity generated by the photovoltaic panels powers LED lights installed within the trap. These LED lights emit specific wavelengths of light with low LUX that are attractive to pests such as moths, bettles and fruit flies during the early part of the night.

3. Trap Design: The solar trap is designed to attract pests towards the LED lights, effectively luring them into the trap where they are captured and contained. We use water to eradicate them effectively.

4. Energy Storage: To ensure continuous operation during periods of low sunlight or at night, the solar traps may incorporate energy storage systems such as lithium ion rechargeable batteries. These batteries store excess energy generated during the day for use during times when sunlight is unavailable.

5. Remote Monitoring and Control: Some advanced solar traps may include remote monitoring and control capabilities, allowing farmers to track trap activity and adjust settings remotely using mobile or web-based applications. This enables efficient management and optimization of trap deployment.

https://www.researchgate.net/p...

https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/...

These are some of the papers that show how the traps have been assessed to work in different parts of the world.

Full time staff-2

part-time-2

Consultants-2

1.5 years

Our policy is to build correspondence and diversity of members and ideas to include women as part of our team as part of the founding members as well as decision making.

We also have divers leadership representation throughout our structure.

During team building events, we celebrate diversity through inclusion to promote understanding and appreciation.

We ensure open lines of communication to foster team work and every member of the team voices thoughts and takes feedback through focus groups.

Based on the BMC we have:

1. Product Offering: We offer solar-powered insect traps to farmers.

2. Revenue Streams: Our primary revenue stream comes from the sale of solar traps to farmers and agricultural businesses. Additionally, we may generate revenue through development of complementary products for farmers such as biofertilizers.

3. Customer Segments: Our target customer segments include smallholder avocado mango and fresh vegetable farmers, flower commercial farms and avocado cooperatives

4. Distribution Channels: We utilize multiple distribution channels to reach our customers, including direct sales through our sales team and partnerships.

5. Value Proposition: Our value proposition lies in offering innovative and sustainable pest management solution that help farmers improve crop yields.

6. Cost Structure: Our key costs include research and development expenses for product innovation, manufacturing costs for producing solar traps, marketing and sales expenses for promoting our products, distribution costs for reaching customers, and operational costs for customer support and maintenance services.

7. Key Partnerships: We establish strategic partnerships with research institutions, agricultural organizations and associations, influential marketers and provide comprehensive support services to our farmers.

We received price award of USD 10,000 from Ayute competition for being the best pitch. Our road to financial sustainability is:

1. Diversification of Revenue Streams: We aim to diversify our revenue streams by expanding our product offerings including biochar biofertilizer.

2. Market Expansion: We plan to expand our market reach by targeting new customer segments, geographic regions, and market channels in Kenya and Uganda.

3. Customer Retention and Loyalty: We prioritize customer satisfaction and retention by providing high-quality products, exceptional customer service, and ongoing support to our customers.

4. Operational Efficiency: We aim to build manufacturing strength inhouse to reduce costs so that overheads are sustainable and easily tracked.

5. We aim to build strong case points in the next year to receive grants that will enable asset development that will generate more products to supply demand within East Africa.

Evidence of Success: To demonstrate the success of our financial sustainability plan, we can provide the following evidence:

1. Financial Performance Metrics: We track key financial performance indicators such as revenue growth, profit margins, and cash flow to assess the overall health and profitability of our business. Positive trends in these metrics indicate the effectiveness and build case points for quarterly expansion of our strategies.

2. Customer Satisfaction and Retention: We measure customer satisfaction levels through surveys, feedback mechanisms, and Net Promoter Score (NPS) assessments.  These build our need for taking feedback and improving.

3. Market Expansion and Penetration: We monitor our market share, penetration rates, and geographic expansion to evaluate the success of our efforts for creating more points and strategies for growth.

4. Operational Efficiency Improvements: We track operational metrics such as production efficiency, supply chain performance, and overhead costs.