Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 22 0027
The Kenya Solar Cold Storage grant opportunity is a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) pilot project focused on improving year-round availability and quality of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) roots, a widely promoted vitamin A-rich biofortified crop, while also supporting cold storage needs for onions. The core problem the grant is trying to solve is that root crops and onions face significant post-harvest losses and quality deterioration, especially when storage is inadequate, electricity is expensive or unreliable, and supply fluctuates seasonally. By testing solar-powered cold storage, the project aims to reduce decay and waste, stabilize supply for both fresh markets and processing (including OFSP puree), and strengthen local market systems that connect producers, traders, processors, and institutional buyers.
The project is designed around identifying and demonstrating a sustainable, economically attractive cold storage model using small, solar-powered container-style units. These units must be flexible enough to handle two main commodities (OFSP roots, including roots intended for puree processing and for fresh use, and onions) and should also be adaptable for other agricultural products, whether locally produced or imported. A major emphasis is not just on installing equipment, but on determining the economic viability of this approach in real Kenyan operating conditions, meaning the project is expected to generate practical evidence about costs, performance, and value chain impacts rather than only providing infrastructure.
The award anticipates close collaboration with USDA/FAS, the International Potato Center (CIP), and Kenyan partners, including the Government of Kenya and stakeholders involved in the Kenya Home Grown School Meals Program (HGSMP). The connection to school meals is important: improved storage can help schools access a more consistent supply of nutritious, culturally appropriate foods, including vitamin A-rich OFSP, potentially improving dietary quality while creating steadier demand for local farmers and processors.
In terms of deliverables, the grant expects three concrete outcomes. First, the recipient will procure or otherwise obtain two solar cold storage units (manufactured in Kenya or abroad) and install them in Kenya, with one unit placed under the Government of Kenya and the second placed with a farmer organization. Second, the recipient will train Kenyan operators to store both root crops and pureed sweetpotato properly, as well as onions, and to manage the facilities using digital monitoring and airflow management practices, which are key to maintaining temperature, humidity, and overall product quality. Third, the pilot must be aligned with and complementary to other ongoing work in Kenya related to OFSP and onion value chains, so the effort builds on existing investments and knowledge rather than operating as a stand-alone demonstration.
Administratively, this opportunity was listed as a discretionary USDA FAS funding action in the agriculture category (CFDA 10.960), with an award ceiling of $100,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities as clarified in the full eligibility guidance. The original posting dates indicate it was created on June 16, 2022, with an original closing date of July 18, 2022. Overall, the grant reads like a targeted, practical pilot meant to prove whether solar-powered cold storage containers can be a cost-effective way to reduce losses, cut energy costs, improve market reliability for root crops and onions, and ultimately support better nutrition outcomes through more dependable food supply chains, including those serving school feeding programs.Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 22 0027
- The Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Kenya Solar Cold Storage" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 16, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 18, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Kenya Solar Cold Storage Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is the Kenya Solar Cold Storage grant opportunity?
This is a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) pilot project focused on testing solar-powered cold storage in Kenya to reduce post-harvest losses and improve year-round availability and quality of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) roots, while also supporting cold storage needs for onions.
What problem is this grant trying to solve?
The grant targets major post-harvest losses and quality deterioration for root crops and onions, especially when storage is inadequate, electricity is expensive or unreliable, and supply varies by season. The pilot is intended to reduce decay and waste and stabilize supply for fresh markets and processing.
Which commodities are the main focus of the pilot?
The two main commodities are orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) roots (including roots intended for puree processing and for fresh use) and onions.
Is the project limited to OFSP and onions only?
No. While OFSP and onions are the core commodities, the cold storage units are expected to be adaptable for other agricultural products, whether locally produced or imported.
What type of cold storage solution is being tested?
The project is designed around small, solar-powered, container-style cold storage units. A key requirement is flexibility to handle OFSP (fresh and processing roots, including puree-related storage needs) and onions.
Is the grant mainly for buying equipment?
No. The emphasis is not only on installing equipment. The grant is meant to demonstrate and identify a sustainable, economically attractive model and to generate practical evidence on costs, performance, and value chain impacts under real Kenyan operating conditions.
What outcomes or deliverables does the grant expect?
The grant describes three expected outcomes: (1) obtain and install two solar cold storage units in Kenya; (2) train Kenyan operators to properly store root crops, pureed sweetpotato, and onions and to manage facilities using digital monitoring and airflow management; and (3) align the pilot with and complement other ongoing OFSP and onion value chain work in Kenya.
How many solar cold storage units are expected under this award?
Two units are expected to be procured or otherwise obtained and installed in Kenya as part of the pilot.
Where will the two cold storage units be placed?
One unit is expected to be placed under the Government of Kenya, and the second unit is expected to be placed with a farmer organization.
Do the cold storage units have to be manufactured in Kenya?
No. The units may be manufactured in Kenya or abroad, based on the opportunity description.
What training is expected as part of the project?
The recipient is expected to train Kenyan operators on storing root crops and pureed sweetpotato properly, as well as onions. Training also includes facility management practices such as digital monitoring and airflow management to maintain temperature, humidity, and product quality.
What is meant by digital monitoring in this project?
The opportunity indicates the facilities should be managed using digital monitoring, supporting effective control of temperature, humidity, and overall conditions needed to maintain product quality.
Why is airflow management mentioned as a requirement?
Airflow management is highlighted as a key practice for maintaining appropriate storage conditions (including temperature and humidity), which helps preserve quality and reduce spoilage for stored OFSP and onions.
How does this pilot relate to OFSP puree and processing?
The project explicitly includes OFSP roots intended for puree processing and mentions training on storing pureed sweetpotato properly, indicating the pilot is designed to support both fresh markets and processing pathways such as OFSP puree.
How does this project strengthen markets and value chains?
By reducing waste and stabilizing supply, the pilot aims to strengthen local market systems connecting producers, traders, processors, and institutional buyers, improving reliability for both fresh and processed products.
What is the connection to school feeding programs?
The opportunity notes alignment with stakeholders involved in the Kenya Home Grown School Meals Program (HGSMP). Improved storage can support schools by improving access to a more consistent supply of nutritious, culturally appropriate foods, including vitamin A-rich OFSP.
Why is OFSP emphasized in this opportunity?
OFSP is described as a widely promoted, vitamin A-rich biofortified crop. The pilot is intended to improve its year-round availability and quality by reducing storage-related losses and variability.
Who are the expected collaborators or key partners?
The award anticipates close collaboration with USDA/FAS, the International Potato Center (CIP), and Kenyan partners, including the Government of Kenya and HGSMP stakeholders.
Is the pilot expected to connect with other ongoing projects in Kenya?
Yes. A stated deliverable is that the pilot must be aligned with and complementary to other ongoing work related to OFSP and onion value chains in Kenya, building on existing investments and knowledge rather than operating as a stand-alone demonstration.
What is the funding agency and program category for this opportunity?
This was listed as a discretionary USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) funding action in the agriculture category, under CFDA 10.960.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $100,000.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity indicated an expectation of one award.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities as clarified in the full eligibility guidance.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The listing indicates it was created on June 16, 2022, with an original closing date of July 18, 2022.
What makes this a "pilot" rather than a standard infrastructure project?
The opportunity frames the work as a targeted, practical test intended to produce evidence about real-world economic viability and operational performance in Kenya, rather than focusing only on deploying equipment.
What broader impacts is the pilot aiming for?
The pilot aims to show whether solar-powered cold storage containers can be cost-effective for reducing losses, cutting energy-related constraints, improving market reliability for OFSP and onions, and supporting better nutrition outcomes through more dependable supply chains, including those serving school meal programs.
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