The DIVAGRI project

“The word DIVAGRI is derived from the project tittle ‘Revenue Diversification Pathways in Africa through Bio-Based and Circular Agricultural Innovations,” explained Prof Khumoetsile Mmolawa in an interview with Communication & Marketing department. The project is for a period of four years, having started on 1st June 2021 (during Covid) and set date of completion is 31st May 2025. The project is funded by European Union through the horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grand agreement 101000348. 

Prof Mmolawa stated that the overall funding for the project is euro 8 999 693.75 which was BWP122 327 835.00 for the twenty partners in the consortium. In Botswana, BUAN and NARDI have been funded. BUAN has been funded with Euro 533 628.70 (BWP7 357 350.32). The Project vision is to adapt, develop and optimise bio-based solutions (BBS) to local conditions in target regions through co-design and co-development with end users at pilot sites and in farming communities. The overall goal of DIVAGRI project is to provide African subsistence and smallholder farmers with tools to sustainably improve farm productivity, profitability and resilience through improved management of farming resources, output diversification and creation of high-value circular bioproducts. It aims to increase the productivity, income and economic opportunities of farmers in arid and semi-arid regions in Sub-Saharan Africa by implementing innovative bio-based solutions that will improve agricultural production, enable diversification of crops and increase added-value, create sustainability, and generate new local economic opportunities. 

A consortium of partners has been established, with competence, commitment, vision and reliability to meet the requirements of this project. The consortium is composed of experts in the agricultural sciences, engineering, bio-based technologies, food systems, circular bioeconomy, business and entrepreneurship and education in five African countries namely, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Ghana; as well as six European countries namely, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, North Macedonia and Turkey. 

Prof Mmolawa went on to narrate that the DIVARGI project has the following technologies which the research will be focused on: 

- Biorefinery 

- The SLECI Technology 

- Multifunctional Constructed Wetlands 

- Business Models 

- Solar Supported Biogas Digester 

- Biochar 

- Ethnobotanical/intercropping 

- Solar Desalination Greenhouse 

“BUAN will be carrying out research in the first eight technologies. BUAN team comprises of Prof Khumoetsile Mmolawa as the Principal Investigator/Coordinator; Dr Baghali Mathapa for Biorefinery and Biochar technologies; Prof Mmolawa and Ms Anne Clifhill for SLECI technology; Mr Jackson Aliwa for Multifunctional Constructed Wetlands; Prof Patrick Malope for Business Models; Ms Tembeka Mpuisang for Ethnobotanical/Intercropping and Mr Buti Mogotsi for Solar Supported Biogas Digester,” explained Prof Mmolawa. The project has recruited 6 MSC students from ABE department. That is these students research will be taken care through the DIVAGRI project. The Divagri project will purchase the necessary equipment for their research as it is within the Divagri scope of research. 

All the best to BUAN team in carrying out and successful completion of this project as this is one of the many ways the institution inspires sustainable growth in agriculture and natural resources!!! 

other source: The DIVAGRI Brochure