Commercializing Technology: Models and Case Studies

organizes producers using technology which improves supplier productivity

Farmers purchase technology

directly from shops

Acts as a networker and matchmaker between government, research institutions, private investors, innovators and entrepreneurs

Description

Subsidiary

Purdue University

PICS

Independent

Distributor

Crop Nutrition Lab Services

Challenge

Postharvest losses, largely due to poor storage, compromises household food security and forces smallholders to sell product into an oversaturated market.

Challenge

Surehatch

Technology Transfer

Soil analysis can provide farmers with recommendations that can increase crop yields and overall farm profitability, but it has been too costly for smallholders

Technology Transfer

Uses partner manufacturer in-country, sells wholesale PICS bags to stores throughout the country

(Retailers have ranged from agroinput supply shops to cell phone card distributors!)

Technology

Challenge

Technology

Triple-layer hermetically sealed plastic bags that prevent molds and insects without chemical treatment.

Most African farmers lack the capability to produce quality poultry to meet the growing demand as they lack equipment and breeding stock

simplified and decentralized soil sampling process and SMS recommendation delivery

Technology Transfer

Risk Mitigation

Sells incubators through directly managed subsidiaries across Africa

Risk Mitigation

Results

Technology

More than 1.75 million bags sold in West &Central Africa in five years.

Poultry farm business kits include incubators, feed process millers, and moveable poultry houses.

Results

4,000 smallholders trained on soil analysis

More than 50 agrodealers delivering fertilizer management recommendations

Risk Mitigation

Using subsidiaries instead of independent distributors makes broad-reach more difficult

Results

Increased speed of smallholder commercialization with improved productivity & quality

Local Retailer Model

Aggregator/Outgrower Model

Surehatch

Challenge

Most African farmers lack the capability to produce quality poultry to meet the growing demand as they lack equipment and breeding stock

Technology Transfer

Sells incubators through directly managed subsidiaries across Africa

Technology

Poultry farm business kits include incubators, feed process millers, and moveable poultry houses.

Benefits and Risks

Risk Mitigation

Using subsidiaries instead of independent distributors makes broad-reach more difficult

Results

Increased speed of smallholder commercialization with improved productivity & quality

Benefits

Feed the Future

Partnering for Innovation

Training/extension support for end-users is high

Risks

Reduces cost of technology purchased by suppliers

Allows for quicker evaluation of technology effects

- Suppliers break agreement a loss of the aggregator's investment

- Added cost of training that may otherwise not exist

After sales support/training more cost effective

Surehatch

Technology Transfer

Challenge

Sells incubators through directly managed subsidiaries across Africa

Most African farmers lack the capability to produce quality poultry to meet the growing demand as they lack equipment and breeding stock

Technology

Incubator Model

Risk Mitigation

Poultry farm business kits include incubators, feed process millers, and moveable poultry houses.

Using subsidiaries instead of independent distributors makes broad-reach more difficult

Results

Increased speed of smallholder commercialization with improved productivity & quality

Models and Case Studies

Access to new research, start-up and expansion capital

Surehatch

Commercializing Technology

Challenge

Most African farmers lack the capability to produce quality poultry to meet the growing demand as they lack equipment and breeding stock

Technology Transfer

Sells incubators through directly managed subsidiaries across Africa

Technology

Poultry farm business kits include incubators, feed process millers, and moveable poultry houses.

Mentoring and strategic guidance

Risk Mitigation

Using subsidiaries instead of independent distributors makes broad-reach more difficult

Results

Increased speed of smallholder commercialization with improved productivity & quality

Patent protection services and public-private licensing agreements

Surehatch

Challenge

Most African farmers lack the capability to produce quality poultry to meet the growing demand as they lack equipment and breeding stock

Network and resource multiplier

Technology Transfer

Sells incubators through directly managed subsidiaries across Africa

Technology

Poultry farm business kits include incubators, feed process millers, and moveable poultry houses.

Risk Mitigation

Using subsidiaries instead of independent distributors makes broad-reach more difficult

Results

Increased speed of smallholder commercialization with improved productivity & quality

Equity dilution in return for services

Lengthier process than entering a market without assistance

Public Procurement

Benefit

Risk

Surehatch

Challenge

Most African farmers lack the capability to produce quality poultry to meet the growing demand as they lack equipment and breeding stock

Technology Transfer

Sells incubators through directly managed subsidiaries across Africa

Technology

Poultry farm business kits include incubators, feed process millers, and moveable poultry houses.

Risk Mitigation

Using subsidiaries instead of independent distributors makes broad-reach more difficult

Results

Increased speed of smallholder commercialization with improved productivity & quality