Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

CropScan is the world’s first AI-driven, solar-powered Fertilizer Application Advisory Device, developed by a Kenyan computer scientist to address the climate and environmental impacts of fertilizer over-application in smallholder agriculture. Excessive and imprecise fertilizer use is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with data from the International Fertilizer Association indicating that up to 2.55 kg of emissions are generated for every 10 kg of excess fertilizer applied. In developing countries, more than 65% of soils are degraded, and only 30–40% of applied nitrogen is absorbed by crops. The remaining nutrients contribute to water pollution and nitrous oxide emissions—298 times more potent than CO₂—underscoring the urgent need for precision-based, climate-smart farming solutions.

CropScan directly addresses this challenge through a patented, solar-powered handheld AI device that provides real-time, field-level decision support for sustainable input use. The device performs pre-harvest crop analysis to identify nutrient deficiencies and recommend precise fertilizer types and quantities, enabling farmers to apply only what crops need. This reduces fertilizer waste, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and improves soil health. In addition, CropScan conducts post-harvest testing to detect chemical and fertilizer residues in harvested produce within seconds, helping farmers comply with food safety and export standards while accessing premium markets.

By enabling accurate fertilizer application, CropScan reduces nitrous oxide emissions, minimizes nutrient runoff, and promotes climate-resilient food systems. Its solar-powered design ensures off-grid functionality, further lowering its environmental footprint and making the technology accessible in rural and marginalized communities. The solution has been developed through inclusive, farmer-centered design, with a strong focus on empowering women and rural youth through skills development, job creation, and access to climate-smart technology.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

CropScan reduces greenhouse gas emissions by enabling precise, data-driven fertilizer application through pre-harvest crop analysis. The CropScan device is a handheld, solar-powered tool that determines nutrient deficiencies in crops within seconds and provides accurate recommendations on the exact type and quantity of fertilizer required. By applying only what crops need, farmers minimize excess nitrogen use, a major source of nitrous oxide emissions—298 times more potent than CO₂. This approach reduces fertilizer-related emissions, prevents nutrient runoff into water systems, and supports healthier soils with lower carbon and nitrogen losses.
In addition, CropScan’s solar-powered, off-grid design eliminates reliance on fossil-fuel-based energy for field diagnostics, further lowering the overall carbon footprint of agricultural decision-making. Through improved input efficiency and clean energy use, CropScan contributes to measurable, long-term reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

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Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

1. Cost: Cropscan provides affordable crop diagnostics at just $4 per half-acre test, significantly reducing the financial barrier for small-scale farmers, particularly women, youth, and other marginalized groups. Traditional lab tests cost around $20 with long wait times, making our solution more accessible and affordable.

2. Job creation: Cropscan has already created 9 high quality jobs and 311 indirect jobs, many of which are filled by women and youth in rural areas. As our business model scales, it has the potential to generate thousands of jobs, empowering underrepresented groups with stable income opportunities.

3. Reduction in fertilizer input costs: Cropscan helps farmers reduce fertilizer input costs by over 45%, directly lowering their expenses. This also leads to a reduction in emissions through precision application of fertilizers, promoting sustainable farming practices and environmental benefits.

4. Ease of accessibility: Through an innovative algorithm, Cropscan pairs farmers with the nearest field agents, enabling them to request on-site tests. This offers immediate, actionable results, enhancing accessibility for farmers in remote areas and making expert agronomic advice available at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.

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