By Teresiah Kamau (machine learning & AI specialist), George Wambugu (web developer) and Irene Kamau (Biotechnologist)
Our journey to Zambia was an inspiring and transformative experience, rooted in innovation, collaboration, and the opportunity to present our project, Agriverify, on an international stage.
Our participation was full of learnings, and a formulation of a roadmap that illustrates some of the future steps that we are taking to commercialize our idea. The journey here was rigorous, and yet greatly rewarding- with great promise from the onset.
Earlier this year, our team registered for the ISAAA AfriCenter hackathon, where we participated virtually and emerged among the top three teams. This recognition gave us the golden opportunity to present Agriverify in the finals of 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), and later to attend the prestigious ABBC 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia.
Between May and August, our team worked diligently on refining the Agriverify project. We integrated the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology to educate the public on how genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are made, making the project not only innovative but also interactive and engaging. This phase required extensive teamwork, research, and creativity to ensure our project was ready for presentation on an international stage.
On August 27, 2025, we jetted out to Lusaka, Zambia, to attend ABBC 2025. Upon arrival, the excitement was palpable as we prepared to represent our country and showcase Agriverify. On Wednesday, August 27, we presented our project to the audience, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The audience and industry leaders were impressed, providing us with valuable feedback and encouragement. The event also offered us an opportunity to network with high-level leaders and professionals who would otherwise have been nearly impossible to access.
The following day, we had the privilege of being part of an industry visit to Bayer Seed Facility in Kabwe. This visit exposed us to the workings of a newly formed but rapidly growing seed production facility that is making strides continentally. It was a remarkable experience to witness firsthand how seeds are made, the technologies employed, and the scale of innovation driving the agricultural sector.
On Thursday evening, the last day of ABBC 2025, we attended a gala dinner that provided a platform to appreciate and celebrate African culture. It was a beautiful evening of cultural exchange, networking, and reflection on the shared vision of advancing agriculture across the continent.
As we flew back home to Kenya on Friday, our hearts were full of gratitude and minds brimming with ideas for the future. Our immediate next steps include patenting Agriverify and transforming it into a fully-fledged business that addresses misinformation in agriculture. We are determined to scale this innovation for the benefit of farmers across Africa and beyond.
We extend our deepest appreciation to ISAAA Africenter for providing us with this invaluable platform, and to 2Blades president and co-founder Diana Horvath for her guidance and support in enabling us to showcase Agriverify. This opportunity has been a stepping stone toward realizing our dream of creating a lasting impact in the agricultural sector.