Publisher’s Comments and Table of Contents – March 2025

Welcome to the Appropriate Technology March 2025 issue.

As we step into 2025, the landscape of appropriate technology continues to evolve, addressing the pressing challenges of food security, climate resilience, sustainable development, and technological inclusion. This issue of Appropriate Technology highlights innovations and initia­tives shaping a better future, from agricultural break­throughs to humanitarian advancements and engineering solutions for change.

We have in this issue another “Focus on…” theme highlighting Africa, with Editorial Board Member Andy Crump exploring AGENDA 2063’s progress and impact. Africa’s commitment to innovation and development is progressing under the framework of AGENDA 2063. Andy, reports on the key flagship project performances and the continent’s strategic direction toward economic and technological self-sufficiency.

Innovation is at the forefront in the Agriculture & Food section. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are amplifying the role of media in disaster preparedness and response, ensuring that communities receive timely, life-saving information.

The Great Green Wall remains a beacon of hope in Africa’s fight against desertification, with renewed momentum driving its expansion.

The Internet of Production team reports on maker­spaces and their growing impact, and Engineering for Change provides information on promising prototypes to watch in 2025.

We have two reports on community-driven agricul­tural solutions from Prolinnova. Ensuring women are at the heart of development efforts remains a core principle for Practical Action, reinforcing the idea that when women thrive, entire communities benefit. The organi­sation is also emphasising biodiversity as a fundamental pillar for achieving a sustainable future.

And, last but not least, Appropedia presents nature-based solutions that offer practical pathways to support communities and protect the planet.

As this issue demonstrates, appropriate technology is more than a field of innovation – it is a movement towards a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world. By leveraging technology in a way that aligns with environmental and social needs, we can pave the way for transformative progress. Let’s continue to push the boundaries of possibility and work towards a future where technology serves humanity and the planet alike.

Ras Patel - Publishing Director
raspatel@appropriate-technology.com

Contents Appropriate Technology March 2025
Volume 52, Number 1

News Briefing
Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ): the way forward for agriculture?
Sand Dams Worldwide and the Howden Foundation: working together to transform lives in Malawi
$40 million boost for Chad
Funding conference for African smallholders

Agriculture & Food
Vegan artificial fish are all the rage
Boosting salt-resistant glasswort to utilise briny fields
iR Fresh: rapid preservation of freshness in fruit and vegetables
Rhizosphere engineering promotes drought-resistant wheat

Education & Knowledge
EU driving forward brine mining
Bagworm silk: the toughest so far
New ‘supramolecular’ plastic dissolves in seawater

Humanitarian & Disaster
SIDS: empowering media to play a crucial role in disaster prepar­edness and response

Climate Change
Africa's Great Green Wall
Spur for Africa's female climate change entrepreneurs

Internet of Production
Evidence of impact: Measuring makerspaces' contributions to Africa's development

Engineering for Change
Promising Prototypes to Watch in 2025

Prolinnova
From research to action:collaborating with agropastoralist women in dryland Africa
Integrating local innovations and multiplying their benefits within an agroecological farming system

Practical Action
How we’re putting women at the centre, so the world works better for everyone
Biodiversity for a sustainable future

Focus on Africa
AGENDA 2063 - African plans for innovation and development
AGENDA 2063 - Progress
AGENDA 2063 - Key Flagship project performance

Appropedia
Nature-based solutions: Practical paths to help communities and the planet

Events Review
The Global Development Conference 2024 - Review

Events Preview
DIHAD 2025: the World's leading event on humanitarian aid and development

Events Calendar

Erratum
We apologise for the typographical error in the AT Dec 2024 issue - The title of the Phelophepa health trains article on page 34 should have read “Phelophepa Health Trains: delivering health services to the underserved”.

Front Cover: A high-speed railway line under construction in Morocco. Credit: GreenBuildingAfrica (see page 46)