Fortify Forward Innovation Challenge 2025 Winners

The Fortify Forward Innovation Challenge 2024-2025 (FFIC) is a transformative regional competition designed to help combat hidden hunger and tackle malnutrition in all its forms, while improving public health in Africa. In July 2025, finalists from East and West Africa gathered for the grand finale events in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Cotonou, Benin, where 23 winners emerged.

East Africa Winners

• Aston Steven Shayo, Agroasys, Tanzania
  • A blockchain platform ensuring traceability, fair pricing, and transparency in agriculture.

• Judy Mwende Mutunga, Fortified Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Flours, Kenya
  • OFSP fortified flour with iron, zinc, and vitamin A.

• Samuel Uwihanganye, Monti 7 in 1 Composite flour, Rwanda
  • Multi-ingredient flour enriched with iron beans for maternal and child nutrition.

• Mukhammad Ramadhani Costa, MOODY POP – Fortified Porridge, Tanzania
  • Fortified porridge flour with iron, B12, zinc, and folic acid.

• John Makongoro Masero, Kwanzaa Venture, Tanzania
  • Fortified porridge with local grains and micronutrients for rural markets.

• Reggie Joseph Okoko, Jani AI - Digital Traceability Platform, Kenya
  • Traceability platform mapping biofortified foods from farm to fork.

• Nicholas Obudho Simon, TAWIAFYA TRACK, Kenya
  • Tracks and certifies biofortified crops using QR codes and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

• Odwour Erich Midigo, Udongo Kwa Maisha, Kenya
  • Fortifies sorghum with local nutrient-rich foods and digital farmer tools.

• Niyibikora Aime, Fortified Instant Porridge, Rwanda
  • Instant porridge fortified with key micronutrients for school children.

• Charite Abijuru, MamaToto Mix, Rwanda
  • Cricket-based fortified porridge tailored for maternal and child health.

• Ezekiel Daniel, Fortified Yoghurt, Tanzania
  • Yoghurt enriched with vitamin A, zinc, iron, and calcium.

West Africa Winners

• Uzoma Chidimma – Enhancing Nutrition Through Fortified Yoghurts – Nigeria
  • Fortified yoghurt with vitamins and minerals using precision micro-dosing and consumer education.

• Yetunde Adegbite – CarroNutra: Precision Carrot Dehydration for Micronutrient Fortification – Nigeria
  • Solar-hybrid system producing carrot powder rich in beta-carotene for natural food fortification.

• Cynthia Adams – Biofortified Vitamin A Maize Cereal, Flour and Snack – Nigeria
  • Vitamin A maize processed into flour, cereal, and snacks sourced from women farmers.

• Ini Jimmy – Palmshops: Integrated Agri-tech Platform – Nigeria
  • Agri-tech platform offering traceability, farmer training, and market access for biofortified crops.

• Bide Adegnandjou Ruth Doris – Bisikuiti Fonio: Le Biscuit Nutritif et Fortifié à base de Fonio – Benin
  • Fonio-based biscuit enriched with iron, zinc, vitamins B and D, and plant proteins

• Noua Gbemisola Christiane – École Doctorale des Sciences Agronomiques et de l’Eau – Benin
  • Research on orange-fleshed sweet potato integration through recipes, training, and outreach.

• Theresa Abimbola Awotundun – Microbial-Based Biofortification of Fermented African Locust Beans with Folate – Nigeria
  • Fermented locust beans enhanced with folate using modified Bacillus strains.

• Endurance Awolowo – Distrifoods Nigeria – Phytase Supplementation – Nigeria
  • Uses microbial phytase to improve mineral absorption in plant-based staple foods.

• Victor Enyojo Agi – FortiCart – Mobile Market-Based Food Fortification for Last-Mile Nutrition – Nigeria
  • Mobile solar-powered cart fortifying staple foods at rural markets with premixes and education.

• Yehouessi L. Wilfried – Fortification de la Purée de Tomate Sweetounvi à la Vitamine A – Benin
  • Locally made tomato purée fortified with vitamin A and packaged to protect nutrients.

• Alladahouinnon Eddy Géraud Metogbé – Mandagbé: Fortification des Légumes Feuilles Transformés avec du Sel Iodé – Benin
  • Leafy vegetables fortified with iodised salt during processing to prevent iodine deficiency.

• Chinenye Unoka – IoT-Enabled Solar-Powered Food Fortification for Sustainable Nutrition – Nigeria
  • IoT-monitored solar system producing fortified foods with a digital marketplace for distribution.