Mwembeshi, Lusaka, Zambia
We’re young innovators from Mooto College of Business developing CluckTech—smart IoT biosensors that help poultry farmers track greenhouse gases, cut emissions, and unlock income through carbon credits.
Development & Testing
1 - 6 months
$25,000.00
Last update: October 05, 2023
Challenge
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, poultry farming is one of the fastest-growing agricultural activities, providing food security and income for millions of families. However, behind this growth lies an invisible challenge — greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from poultry houses, mainly methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and ammonia (NH₃). These gases contribute to climate change and poor air quality, yet most smallholder poultry farmers have no way of measuring or managing them.
Current GHG monitoring technologies are designed for large industrial farms and cost thousands of dollars. They require technical expertise, stable internet, and controlled conditions — none of which are available in rural African settings. This means that millions of small poultry farmers are left out of global climate data systems and carbon markets simply because they cannot measure what they emit.
In Zambia, where our project is based, more than 80% of poultry farms are small-scale and rely on open or semi-closed housing systems. Waste and litter often accumulate in poorly ventilated areas, releasing gases that harm birds, reduce productivity, and impact the health of farmers. The absence of real-time emission data makes it difficult for policymakers to design effective climate mitigation strategies for the livestock sector.
The problem goes beyond the environment — it also affects livelihoods. Without verifiable GHG data, poultry farmers cannot participate in carbon credit programs or climate finance initiatives. This locks them out of emerging green economic opportunities that could help them grow sustainably.
Our project, CluckTech, was born from this gap. As agriculture and technology students at Mooto College of Business, we saw an opportunity to combine IoT and biosensor science to create a simple, affordable, and data-driven way for farmers to monitor emissions. We want to bridge the divide between smallholder farmers and the digital climate economy, empowering them to reduce emissions and earn income from doing so.
By focusing on this challenge, we are not only addressing a local problem but contributing to a global goal: making climate action inclusive, accessible, and rewarding for everyone — even the smallest farmer.
Our project, CluckTech, provides a practical solution to measure and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in poultry farming using affordable, IoT-enabled optical biosensors. The system detects gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and ammonia (NH₃) from poultry houses and transmits the data through GSM or LoRa networks to a central data repository accessible by farmers, regulators, and researchers.
Our approach combines optical biosensing technology, IoT integration, and data analytics. Optical biosensors convert gas concentrations into measurable light signals, while IoT modules allow real-time data transmission even in rural areas. The central data repository collects, stores, and analyzes these emissions, helping farmers understand their environmental footprint and identify reduction strategies.
Methodologically, the research follows five stages:
1. Desk Review: Identify and test suitable biosensing optical materials, design PCB boards, and outline data repository requirements.
2. Prototype Development: Assemble and test optical biosensors embedded with GSM modules, and integrate IoT components for reliable data transmission.
3. Prototype Testing: Deploy 20 sensors in poultry houses, compare their readings with reference analyzers, and collect feedback from farmers.
4. Product Deployment: Scale up to 100 sensors, connect them to the data repository, and engage carbon market stakeholders for accreditation.
5. Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyze emissions data, prepare a final research report, and design a carbon trading proposal for poultry farmers.
This integrated approach provides both scientific validation and practical application, empowering smallholder farmers to monitor emissions, improve productivity, and access carbon markets for sustainable income.
Outcomes
1. Working Prototype Developed:
We successfully designed and assembled functional optical biosensors integrated with GSM modules capable of detecting CO₂, CH₄, and NH₃ emissions in poultry houses.
2. IoT Data Transmission System:
The biosensors were connected to an IoT platform that transmitted real-time emission data to a cloud-based repository, demonstrating reliable communication even in rural environments.
3. GHG Data Repository Established:
A prototype data repository was developed to collect, store, and analyze greenhouse gas data. It generates visual dashboards and alerts for farmers and researchers to interpret emission trends easily.
4. Field Testing Conducted:
Twenty pilot biosensors were deployed in different poultry houses across Zambia, producing verifiable GHG emission readings and validating the accuracy of the technology.
5. Farmer Engagement and Training:
Participating farmers were trained on how to interpret emission data and apply management practices to reduce emissions, improving both productivity and environmental awareness.
6. Carbon Market Readiness Assessment:
The collected emission data was analyzed and formatted into a preliminary carbon trading proposal, showing how poultry farmers could earn income through verified emission reductions.
7. Youth Innovation Capacity Built:
The project equipped students with hands-on experience in IoT, biosensing, and climate-smart agriculture, creating a foundation for future technology-driven environmental research.
