Introduction:
In a powerful new initiative aimed at addressing food security issues in Zambia, Mentors Groups Netherlands has joined forces with Imperial College London and its innovative Wicked Acceleration Labs. This project unites industry experts, academic researchers, and students to create tangible solutions targeting Zambia’s most pressing agricultural challenges—starting with reducing the country’s milk wastage.
The Need for Change:
Agriculture forms the backbone of Zambia’s economy, yet inefficiencies in storage and transportation result in significant losses. Zambia produces 620 million liters of milk annually, of which 200 million liters are wasted due to poor storage infrastructure. Adding to the challenge, 90% of Zambia’s milk production comes from small-scale farmers, while 88% of rural households lack electricity, hindering proper storage and distribution.
Recognizing these critical issues, Mentors Group Netherlands launched the Mentors for Africa campaign, focusing on finding actionable solutions to enhance Zambia’s agricultural resilience. Through their partnership with Imperial College, Mentors Egypt aims to provide research-backed strategies that can directly benefit Zambia’s farmers and consumers alike.
The Role of Wicked Acceleration Labs:
Wicked Acceleration Labs—an initiative by Imperial College London—empowers students to work on “wicked problems” that have no straightforward solutions and require multidisciplinary approaches. Through this program, Imperial students take on global challenges, applying their knowledge and skills to create sustainable impact. For the Zambia project, Wicked Acceleration Labs focused on mitigating milk wastage, addressing this specific aspect of food insecurity with practical, research-based solutions.
In June 2024, a team of Imperial College researchers and students, through Wicked Acceleration Labs, visited Zambia to meet with local farmers, agricultural experts, and community leaders. They studied the on-the-ground realities of milk production, distribution, and storage. This visit provided crucial insights that would inform the development of a prototype solution tailored to Zambia’s unique challenges.
A Partnership for Progress:
Through the collaborative efforts of Mentors Group Netherlands, Imperial College, and Wicked Acceleration Labs, a prototype for improved dairy storage was developed and tested. This prototype, showcased in August 2024, demonstrates the potential to significantly reduce milk wastage, representing a major step toward food security in Zambia.
Event Highlights:
On November 6th, 2024, an international event was held at Imperial College London to share the achievements of this partnership with a broader audience. Investors, stakeholders, and representatives from leading organizations gathered to learn about the project’s goals and discuss the importance of tackling food security challenges collaboratively.
The event brought together key figures from influential organizations, including Orange, MasterCard, Solugrowth, SBRD, BBC, Mentors Group Netherlands, Imperial College, the UK Ministry of Defence, Red Cloud, the Zambian Embassy in the UK, and Arweqah. The discussions emphasized:
- The unique challenges of food security in Zambia.
- The success of the dairy storage prototype in reducing milk wastage.
- The vital role of academic and corporate partnerships in driving sustainable development in Africa
Meet the People Behind the Project:
This initiative was made possible by the collective dedication of several key players:
- Mentors Group Netherlands Leadership – Spearheading the Mentors for Africa campaign with a mission to support economic development in Africa.
- Wicked Acceleration Labs Team – A passionate group of Imperial College students and researchers dedicated to tackling global “wicked problems” with impactful, innovative solutions.
- Imperial College Researchers – Providing the technical expertise necessary to address Zambia’s agricultural challenges from a research-driven perspective.
Together, these teams are working to ensure that this initiative will create lasting change, bringing Zambia closer to achieving food security.
A Call to Action for Investors:
The Mentors Group Netherlands and Imperial College collaboration offers a unique opportunity for investors to contribute to sustainable solutions that address one of Africa’s most critical challenges. This initiative combines research, practical solutions, and a commitment to driving positive social impact. We invite investors and venture capitalists to join us in this journey—your support can help expand the reach of this project and improve food security in Zambia and beyond.
Closing Thoughts:
This partnership is more than just a project; it’s a commitment to making a lasting difference in Zambia and setting a new standard for tackling global food security issues. Together, Mentors Group Netherlands, Imperial College, and Wicked Acceleration Labs are dedicated to fostering sustainable growth and resilience in Zambia’s agricultural sector. We are excited for what the future holds and the positive impact this collaboration will bring to the country and the continent.
To learn more about this initiative or find out how you can get involved, please contact us or follow us on our social media channels.