York biodiversity firm AgriSound wins funding for project which aims to help female farmers in Kenya

AgriSound’s project aims to improve the consistency of yields and quality of large-scale and smallholder production in Kenya using its Polly bio acoustic pollinator listening device.

It is hoped the device will give female-led farms the insight to increase crop yields, alleviating poverty and food insecurity in the poorest areas.

Casey Woodward, founder, and CEO of AgriSound, said: “Securing this funding from Innovate UK has been fundamental in allowing us to develop with this crucial project to help beat food poverty and bridge the gender pay gap between avocado farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

"This venture will bring AgriSound into new markets, develop new understanding of pollinators and harness huge benefits for crop yield enhancement. Our project will help to improve farm sustainability and resilience and give us the potential to maintain and care for pollinators in a way that has not been reliably done across the globe.”

AgriSound's technology enables the health and activity of pollinators such as bees to be monitored and cared for in hives as well as in commercial agricultural spaces.

AgriSound’s POLLYTM device operates in a similar way to how a smart speaker functions. The device is equipped with a microphone and environmental sensors, measuring temperature, light and humidity. Each one is completely solar powered.

The device listens 24/7 for the sounds of insects and uses advanced sound-analysis to translate the data into activity scores.

This information, available in real time, can then be used to target the introduction of pollinator-protection measures to the areas of greatest need, and determine actions such as the planting of wildflowers or creating new habitats.

According to research by the International Food Policy Research Institute, more than 70 per cent of women in Africa work in Agriculture.