The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has reaffirmed its commitment to research commercialisation, entrepreneurship and practical innovation with the unveiling of the Eco-System Hybrid Dryer, a technology designed to support agricultural processing and reduce post-harvest losses.
The innovation was unveiled on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, by Eco-Synergy Innovations (Nig.) Ltd. during an innovation-focused programme held at the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), FUNAAB.
The programme, which attracted farmers, community members and other participants in agricultural innovation, provided an avenue for the demonstration of technologies capable of addressing challenges across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The Eco-System Hybrid Dryer was showcased by the Team Lead of Eco-Synergy Innovations, Mr Oluwagbemiga Adeboye, who also conducted an interactive training session for farmers.
The technology is designed to provide an efficient method of drying agricultural produce, with potential benefits including reduced post-harvest losses, extended shelf life and improved quality, marketability and value of farm products.
FUNAAB stresses research commercialisation
Welcoming participants to the programme, the Dean of the College of Biosciences (COLBIOS) and Mentor of Eco-Synergy Innovations, Professor Iyabode Kehinde, acknowledged the contributions of Aspire Institute, Eco-Synergy Innovations, Budding Leaders Empowerment Initiative (BUDLEIN) and FUNAAB to the development of the University’s innovation ecosystem.
Kehinde said the initiative demonstrated the importance of collaboration among researchers, students, entrepreneurs and other members of the university community in transforming ideas into practical solutions.
She emphasised the need to provide students and researchers with grants, mentorship and other opportunities capable of supporting venture creation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation.
According to her, research should not end with academic publications but should be translated into practical solutions capable of addressing real-life challenges and improving livelihoods.
She encouraged members of the university community to take advantage of available funding and international exposure opportunities to strengthen their research and entrepreneurial capacity.
Experts call for affordable agricultural technologies
The Director of the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), Professor Jacob Olaoye, called for practical, affordable and accessible technologies that reflect the realities of farmers.
Olaoye said persistent agricultural challenges could not be adequately addressed through theoretical approaches alone, stressing the need to develop technologies that farmers could adopt and use effectively.
He called for stronger collaboration among research institutions, farmers and industry players to ensure that innovations were converted into practical technologies capable of improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening food security.
The AMREC Director also linked investment in agricultural research, innovation and entrepreneurship to employment creation and improved livelihoods.
IFSERAR seeks closer engagement with farmers
The Director of IFSERAR, Professor Kazeem Bello, stressed the importance of sustainable farming practices and continuous engagement with farming communities.
Bello said closer interaction with farmers would enable researchers and agricultural professionals to identify production challenges more accurately and develop solutions that were suitable for local conditions.
He called for stronger collaboration among researchers, extension agents, agricultural professionals, government institutions and farmers to improve the adoption of agricultural innovations.
According to him, sustained engagement would help researchers understand emerging challenges and provide timely interventions capable of improving production, reducing losses and strengthening the livelihoods of farmers.
Inventor advocates simple, cost-effective technologies
Speaking during the training, Adeboye advocated the adoption of simple, affordable and efficient technologies for post-harvest handling, processing and preservation.
Adeboye, a graduate of the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Resources Engineering, College of Engineering, and an awardee of the Federal Government Student Venture Capital Grant, said inadequate processing and storage facilities continued to expose many farmers to significant losses.
He argued that agricultural technologies should be easy to operate, cost-effective and capable of delivering practical results across different categories of farmers.
According to him, efficient drying technologies could enable farmers to preserve agricultural products for longer periods while improving their market value.
Technology targets tomato losses
Adeboye identified tomatoes as one of the crops that could benefit significantly from improved preservation and processing technologies because of their highly perishable nature.
He advocated technologies that would enable farmers to process fresh tomatoes into value-added products, thereby reducing wastage and creating additional income opportunities.
He further called for greater cooperation among researchers, farmers, extension agents, processors and other participants in the agricultural value chain to improve the transfer and adoption of innovations.
The programme highlighted the growing emphasis on connecting research and innovation with practical agricultural needs, particularly in areas such as post-harvest management, food preservation and value addition.
For FUNAAB, the unveiling of the Eco-System Hybrid Dryer represents another step towards strengthening its innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem while promoting research outcomes that can be applied beyond the university environment.
The institution’s continued emphasis on research commercialisation, partnerships and farmer engagement is expected to support efforts to develop locally adaptable technologies capable of improving agricultural productivity, reducing food losses and contributing to food security.
