LEGEND

G = Graduate    |    U = Undergraduate | D = Doctoral

Wege Prize 2025 WINNERS

1ST PLACE

Solution OVerview

By integrating mealworm farming with maize flour production, we create protein-enriched flour that addresses malnutrition in Njombe and Tanzania at large, benefiting communities with high rates of child undernutrition. Leveraging mealworm farming efficiency, protein-enriched maize flour is produced at a cost of 20-30% lower than other proteins sources, providing an affordable alternative for low-income households. This approach also repurposes agricultural waste from mealworm farm into compost, promoting better nutrition, sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship.

2ND PLACE

Solution OVerview

By creating plant-based alternatives to fossil-fuel plastics, our approach tackles both the plastic pollution crisis and the environmental burden of unmanaged organic waste. Rethread Africa addresses these challenges by transforming post-harvest agricultural and organic waste into fully biodegradable bioplastics through green chemistry and microbial fermentation. Using locally sourced microbes and solvent-free processes powered by renewable energy, we upcycle waste materials like sugarcane bagasse and potato peels into bioplastic resin that naturally decomposes in soil and aquatic environments. This plant-based plastic alternative eliminates reliance on petroleum-based materials while valorizing waste that would otherwise pollute land and air.

3RD PLACE

Solution OVerview

Envirovex addresses antibiotic pollution by proposing a bio-based solution via antibiotic waste-to-value conversion. This proposal provides an alternative to the traditional linear model of antibiotic production - consumption - dispose/discharge to the environment, and makes full use of the antibiotic waste compounds to generate high value byproducts through a sustainable bio-based solution. Our proposal identifies the neglected challenge of antibiotic pollution and its contribution to antimicrobial resistance, highlights the key stakeholders involved, proposes a solution with a viable business model to tackle the sources of antibiotic release from agriculture, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and wastewater discharge, and assesses its impact and potential barriers.

Watch all five of the finalist Presentations on YouTube.