Purdue Startup Addresses Food Insecurity
JUA Technologies International CEO and co-founder Klein Ileleji in front of his Dehytray. (photo courtesy: Purdue)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Purdue University-affiliated startup is getting help from a Brazilian-based farm machinery company to distribute its solar-powered drying technology, Dehytray, to food-insecure countries in East Africa.
JUA Technologies International has developed a partnership with BrazAgro LTD. to distribute the solar-drying tray in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda
The device dries grains, produce, fish and meat. It helps small farmers in Africa and Asia reduce food waste and help give a variety of foods more storage-life with solar-powered drying technology.
The device turns fresh foods into high quality, shelf-stable food products for local consumption or export.
Purdue says this tool is especially important in East Africa where small and medium-sized farms and food processors often throw away excess fresh crops because of the lack of storage.
JTI was co-founded by the husband and wife team of Klein Ileleji, a professor in agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue, and Reiko Habuto Ileleji, a Purdue alumna who earned her Ph.D. from Purdue’s College of Education.
The Dehytray, which was licensed through the Purdue Research Foundation, has been shipped to customers on four continents since it became available on the market in December 2018.