Jeff Kang’acha ‘24: Bridging tech and agriculture for global impact

Department of Global Development
Digital Agriculture
Global Development

Meet Jeff Kang’acha ‘24, a global development student with a deep-rooted commitment to making a positive impact on food systems and digital agriculture. As a fourth-generation smallholder farmer from Central Kenya, Jeff's passion lies in leveraging emerging technologies to empower smallholder farmers and revolutionize food and agricultural systems. As a Laidlaw scholar, Jeff has conducted extensive work in Kenya and Uganda, exploring how mobile-based platforms can facilitate access to farm inputs and amplify regenerative agriculture. Recently, he attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai as a Youth Delegate, showcasing his commitment to intergenerational collaboration in addressing climate change.

First things first, tell us what you’re passionate about. What kind of change do you hope to make in the world?

My desire and passion for agri-food systems is inspired by my lived experiences as a fourth-generation smallholder farmer from Central Kenya. I am passionate about how emerging technologies can empower smallholder farmers to revolutionize the food and agricultural systems of developing economies. In particular, I’m fascinated by how mobile based platforms and data-driven technologies are facilitating access to farm inputs, micro-finance and agricultural extension services for smallholder farmers in East Africa.

I hope that my work in digital agriculture will contribute towards restoring the dignity and sovereignty of smallholder farmers within agri-food systems of developing economies.

As a Laidlaw scholar, you’ve done extensive work in Kenya and Uganda. Tell us about it!

In my work as a Laidlaw scholar, I explored how mobile-based platforms can facilitate access to farm inputs to amplify regenerative agriculture among smallholder farmers in East Africa. Mentored by Ed Mabaya, I had the opportunity to collaborate with two social enterprises in East Africa: Sparky Dryer (Kenya & Northern Uganda) and Sanergy Collaborative (Kenya). At Sparky Dryer, I explored how mobile based platforms can create shared economies for smallholder farmers to access and invest in farm machinery, regenerative inputs and post-harvest preservation technologies. At Sanergy Collaborative I supported the conceptualization of a digital platform to facilitate how farmers and agro-dealers connect, access and supply regenerative farm inputs.

I hope that my experiences as a Laidlaw scholar and an undergraduate research fellow at the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA) will extend into a career in development, particularly within frontier and emerging markets. Ultimately, I hope my research will yield impact-driven technologies, support environmental preservation, and create a shared sense of prosperity for humanity.

Photos from the field

Jeff Kang'acha attends and presents at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, as a youth delegate with the We Are Family Foundation.

While at COP28, Jeff presents on how corporations and the private sector can collaborate with young startup founders to inform their strategy on climate finance and community-based impact.

Jeff Kang'acha '24 visits smallholder farmer fields in Kenya for his research on mobile-based platforms for regenerative agriculture.

Jeff and Eli Newell '24 are developing a proposal on how strategic initiatives on climate action in food and agricultural systems within academia can adopt the intergenerational collaboration model.

As Laidlaw scholars, Jeff and Jensen Njagi are showing leadership in action in their global development research in Kenya.

"Ultimately, I hope my research will yield impact-driven technologies, support environmental preservation, and create a shared sense of prosperity for humanity," Jeff shares.

You recently attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai as a Youth Delegate with the We Are Family Foundation. Tell us about the experience!

This past fall, I had the privilege of being invited by the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) as a youth delegate for COP 28.

Beyond adding a youthful voice to climate action conversations in COP 28, my main role as a WAFF youth delegate was to experiment and amplify intergenerational collaboration as a potential model for adding momentum and amplifying climate action initiatives.

Essentially, my delegation was tasked with engaging with governments, development institutions, corporations and non-profits to show how intergenerational collaboration can add value and sustain climate action. In this light, I presented a keynote address to EY and Kite Insights on how corporations and the private sector can tap on young startup founders to inform their strategy on how their investments in climate finance initiatives can impact communities at grassroots level. Further, I sat in various multi-sectoral panels and co-hosted a multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion on the prospects of the intergenerational collaboration model with c-suite leaders representing various UN agencies, corporates, governments, non-profit and academia.

Ultimately, one of my highlights was getting paired with Andy Jarvis, Director of the Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund, as my mentor. Andy and I were co-panelists at the UK Pavilion where we discussed how intergenerational collaboration can add rigor and vibrancy to climate action initiatives within food and agricultural systems.

Beyond COP 28, I am excited to receive the mentorship of Andy Jarvis over the course of this year to grow my career in digital agriculture and strengthen my capacity to serve within global advisory boards as an ambassador of the intergenerational collaboration model.

Besides my work with We Are Family Foundation, I was also privileged to represent the government of the Republic of Kenya. Particularly, I got to share my work as a co-lead in the development of a memorandum for the PELUM agroecology network, which seeks to inform the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning on budgetary allocations on climate finance and investment priorities of smallholder farmers in Central Kenya.

Favorite class at Cornell?

My favorite class at Cornell is Perspectives in International Agriculture and Rural Development (IARD 1100). This project-based learning course was co-taught by two of my favorite professors at Cornell, Rebecca Nelson and Sarah Giroux. Besides exploring critical theories and models of development, I was fascinated by the real life applications from the course. I particularly enjoy curating my project titled “Bean Voyage,” which proposed a care trade model empowering smallholder women coffee farmers in Central Kenya.

What is a project you’re currently working on that you’re excited about?

This semester, I am excited to co-develop a proposal with my classmate Eli Newell ‘24 on how key strategic initiatives on climate action in food and agricultural systems within academia can adopt the intergenerational collaboration model that I experienced at COP28. I would love to see CALS and Global Development engage and include youth in the leadership of key strategic initiatives such as Project 2030 and CALS Roadmap to 2050.

What is one lesson, piece of wisdom, cultural norm, etc. you learned during your time in Global Development (IARD major) that you know you’ll never forget?

Seize the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants!

I remain amazed by the magnitude and diversity of prominent and top-notch experts within Global Development. Moreso their humility and willingness to offer support!

As I prepare to graduate, my vision stands tall because my faculty advisors, mentors and professors have allowed me to stand on the shoulders of their wisdom, intellect and experiences.

In particular, I have enjoyed standing on the shoulders of my faculty advisor and mentor, Ed Mabaya. Besides his recognition as one of the finest agricultural economist in Africa, Prof. Mabaya’s work focusing on smallholder farmers and the prosperity of the African continent has inspired my prospects of pursuing a doctoral degree in Digital Agriculture. He not only cares about my wellness as a wholesome human being but also invests in creating an abundance of opportunities for my education and career progression. Prof. Mabaya brings the full experience of humanity in his teaching, scholarship and mentorship. Better still he is a kindred spirit!

About the author

Jeff Kang'acha '24

Where you consider home: Nairobi, Kenya
Double major: International Agriculture and Rural Development, Information Science
Minors: Digital Agriculture
Future goals: Build a social enterprise that will yield impact-driven technologies, support environmental preservation and create a shared sense of prosperity for humanity.