"Across Africa and in developing countries generally, dynamics of culture, lack of access to finance and poor information dissemination preclude smallholders from best-in-class sustainable farming practices.The project aims to develop a D4Ag (Digitalisation for Agriculture) Smart Farming APP using Smart technologies including machine learning/artificial intelligence and data analysis to enable smallholders in developing regions to access integrated, site specific sustainable farming information, boundary mapping facilities and early disease identification resources. The productivity, welfare and route to market of smallholder farmers will be enhanced by a holistic accessible resource of agri-data and sustainable farming advice. These farmers find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of poor productivity and poverty, this is particularly the case for women and young farmers. For example, in Nigeria [insect pests and diseases][0] in [yams][1] resulted in a 25% mean annual yield loss in 2003\. Early disease identification via the app will improve smallholders' productivity and profits. Access to disease identification and strategies to mitigate adverse climatic conditions for smallholders, together with information accessibility for improved market access will improve the current under exploitation of smallholder resources. The increased yield through informed farming decisions via the smart farming APP will create the potential for improved wealth across gender boundaries, enabling women and youth to directly access the information they need to run efficient smallholdings, thus by-passing the patriarchal traditions of information dissemination prevalent in West Africa and developing countries.In a future of uncertain food supply, climatic change and the need for increased efficiency in farming methods, the APP will encourage smallholders to use innovative Smart Farming and precision farming techniques thereby reducing waste, increasing yield, improving the productivity, efficiency and autonomy of smallholders and introducing other uses for existing biomass production and processing. As the effects of climate change spread, and the global population continues to grow and become urbanized, it is imperative that farmers in these regions, who are the mainstay of rural communities, become successful in the future. [0]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/insect-diseases [1]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/yam"

Zyba is a UK based SME developing a novel wave-energy converter called CCell, which consists of a curved oscillating paddle hinged at the seabed. The paddle moves back and forth with the waves to convert kinetic wave energy into electricity through a submerged power-take-off unit. The electricity is used to grow artificial reefs using an electrolytic process that transforms natural minerals found in seawater into rock on which the coral proliferates alternatively it can be used to power local communities. Many of the components within the power-take-off unit of the CCell wave-energy converter generate heat due to inherent inefficiencies. Some of these components are also temperature sensitive and vital to the proper operation of the device. The heat generated by the power components lead to the possibility of the electronics overheating, particularly when this is also coupled with the high sea temperatures found in the intended deployment areas, such as the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, where sea temperatures reach 35 °C and hurricanes frequently occur. For long-term deployments is it is essential that Zyba develops an informed and intelligent temperature management process. This project between Zyba and NPL will monitor the temperature dissipation within the power-take-off unit under various conditions. This research will allow Zyba to optimise the internal arrangement, particularly the airflows, and determine the safe working limits for the system.

Zyba and Biorock are partnering to provide the world’s first eco-based coastal protection that is powered by wave energy while enhancing the ecosystem with new coral reefs. Zyba’s core technology is a curved paddle (called "CCell") that both harnesses and dampens the energy within ocean waves to generate electricity. BioRock is an electrolytic technique used to grow artificial reefs that provide long-term coastal protection and a foundation on which corals grow at an accelerated rate. This project encompasses three main work packages involving market research, business and financial model refinement and the development of marketing and public relations strategies. Zyba will be working with a range of professional agencies to undertake this work, including consultation with customers both in the UK and abroad.

The project aims to demonstrate cost-effective performance of an array of CCell paddles. This will be achieved through optimisation of the shape of the curved paddle and Power Take Off (PTO) for a wide range of sea conditions. Intelligent proactive control algorithms will be developed to maximise power capture in the highly variable conditions that operating devices will experience. Numerical tools developed and validated as part of the preceeding project will be extended to study interactions between arrays of CCell paddles. Co-operative PTO control strategies will be developed to optimise array performance, matching demanded power with generated power and balancing against device loading and degradation. Prototype systems will be constructed and tested both in laboratory conditions and at sea to validate concepts. Successful completion of the project will bring CCell and associated technology to the pre-commercial stage. Economic viability will be established and the barriers preventing the uptake of competitor technology will be removed.

Zyba has invented a new wave energy paddle (“CCell”) that extracts energy from ocean waves. The innovative curved compound shape of CCell makes for a strong yet light structure, with superb wave energy absorption properties. In laboratory tests it extracts significantly more energy than comparable alternatives. This project will develop numerical tools to improve our understanding of the interactions between the ocean waves and paddle structure through a detailed program of numerical and laboratory studies. These tools will be used to optimise the device for a range of conditions, culminating in the design of an integrated system for desalinating sea water using reverse osmosis (“RO”). A shortage of fresh water is a global problem, with a growing market for RO equipment on arid island communities. The project includes three UK SMEs and two universities, with results to be disseminated in academic papers and conferences. If successful it will lead to sea trials.

We are developing a renewable wave energy device (“CCell”) based on a newly patented novel paddle shape. Laboratory tests show this extracts 2-3x more energy than existing designs. We now need to test a larger device in real waves.We have permission to install a trial device for a short period on the west coast of England (often call the "Energy Coast"). This project involve securing expert advise to design the base foundations, upon which our CCell device will be mounted, and supporting our activities during the trials. The trials will last for a period of 2-3 weeks (depending on wave conditions) and demonstrate our technology within a wide range of water depths that arise with the changing tide. Overall this represents a vital first step in the transition of our technology from the laboratory to the real environment.

Zyba has developed and patented a significant improvement in green technology that harnesses energy from ocean waves and converts it into a usable form using a wave-paddle. Whilst this device can be used for the generation of electricity, it is particularly well suited for pumping high-pressure seawater to an onshore reverse osmosis desalination unit. This will enable the production of fresh water for either drinking or agriculture, by using a dependable and renewable source of energy, which has no carbon emissions. Globally, the availability of fresh water is a significant challenge, with water sources under stress throughout much of world. It is estimated that 1/5 of the world population do not have enough water to meet all their needs. This situation is only getting worse, with some estimates suggesting that the world needs 30% more fresh water by 2030, much of which is needed for agriculture to feed the increasing World population. Even in England, a nation famed for its rain, Defra recently commented “Making sure we have enough water is going to be one of the main challenges facing this country in years ahead”. Numerous potential solutions are being considered and Thames Water has recently constructed a desalination plant to support London’s needs. However, like most similar schemes, this plant will rely heavily on fossil fuels. This project seeks to identify sites throughout the world that have the appropriate mix of ocean wave conditions, topography, demand, infrastructure, and political support / stability to allow this technology to be deployed. Following a broad identification of possible areas we will work with NGO’s within developing countries and government agencies to identify twenty potential sites that have the required characteristics. Each of these will be studied in detail, to quantify both the demand and likely output over a 20 year period. We will publish key results on our website (www.zyba.com) and in relevant journals.