Research Team
PI:
Dr. Ralph Hall
Associate Professor, Associate Director
School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at Virginia Tech
rphall@vt.edu
Co-PI:
Jessica Agnew
Assistant Director for Research, Operations, and Program Management at the Center for International Research, Education, and Development (CIRED) at Virginia Tech
Mr. Joseph Mwangi Kanyua,
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management at Egerton University
Embedded Research Translation Lead:
Nurvitria Kristofikova (Program Coordinator)
Denny Halim (Impact Officer)
AgUnity
Project Information
Project Name: Exploring the Use of Blockchain Technology to Improve Food Security Through African Indigenous Vegetables in Western Kenya
Sector: Food Security
Country: Kenya
Lead Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Co-PI Institution: Egerton University
Partner(s): AgUtility Pty, Australia
Budget: $236,849
Project Length: 18 months
Research Goals:
Explore how the application assists groups that typically face constraints in accessing economic or nutritional benefits from value chain upgrading (i.e. smallholder producers, women, youth, low-income consumers).
Embedded Research Translation Product:
Develop a smartphone application (app) using blockchain technology (BCT) for the actors in African indigenous vegetables (AIV) value chains (VCs) in Eastern Kenya.
Embedded Research Translation Audience:
This project will also target youth (men and women under the age of 29) to participate in the program and engage students from Egerton University to implement the program activities.
