Podcast Summary: TED Talks Daily – Sunday Pick: Tech Solutions (#1): The Affordable Tech That Will Revolutionize Farming (with Samir Ibrahim and Josephine Waweru)

Date: November 9, 2025
Host: Sherrell Dorsey
Guests: Samir Ibrahim (CEO & Co-founder, Sun Culture), Josephine Waweru (Kenyan Farmer)

Episode Overview

This episode explores how affordable solar-powered technology is catalyzing a revolution in small-scale farming across Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa. Host Sherrell Dorsey investigates the profound impact of Sun Culture’s solar water pumps, hearing both from the company’s founder, Samir Ibrahim, about the business and innovation journey, and from a farmer, Josephine Waweru, whose life and prospects have transformed thanks to this sustainable technology. The discussion is centered around technology’s ability to deliver practical climate solutions and drive both economic opportunity and food security.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Build Solar Pumps for African Farmers? (08:09–10:02)

• Personal Motivation: Samir Ibrahim shares his personal connection, rooted in family heritage from East Africa and a lifelong sense of responsibility. He felt compelled to “do well by doing good.”
  • "You kind of put all these three things together and you fast forward and you had me wanting to figure out how to do, you know, classic do well by doing good." — Samir Ibrahim (09:10)
• The company mission stems from honor to family and a broader accountability towards those lacking economic opportunity.

2. Centering the Farmer in Innovation (10:02–11:51)

• Sun Culture’s main design principle: building everything with the farmer at the center. The company spends significant time in the field listening to challenges, which has led Sun Culture to expand offerings (e.g., health insurance, bundled agri-inputs).
  • "We build with our customers for our customers." — Samir Ibrahim (10:38)
• Their iterative, responsive model is fueled by repeatedly asking farmers what they actually need.

3. Making Solar Tech Affordable and Accessible (12:01–13:17)

• Technological & Business Model Evolution: The cost of a solar-powered irrigation system dropped from $5,000 in early pilots to around $400 today.
  • "Our first pilot, we put it together for $5,000 ... Now our cheapest system is around $400. And that came from a lot of engineering innovation, but also a lot of business model innovation." — Samir Ibrahim (12:09)
• Innovations include: financing (monthly installments), leveraging carbon credits to subsidize costs, and continual engineering improvements.
• Affordability is critical due to the extreme price sensitivity of smallholder farmers.

4. The Challenges of Building Climate Tech for Smallholder Farmers (13:17–20:37)

• Initially, there was skepticism from investors and stakeholders due to the unprecedented nature of the business and Samir's profile as a young founder.
  • "It was such an uphill battle. Everyone was like, wait, you're gonna do what? This has never happened anywhere in the world." — Samir Ibrahim (13:57)
• Complexity: The work doesn’t fit into one neat “box”—it impacts jobs, climate, national security, food security, migration, etc.
• "Long Game": These companies aren't Silicon Valley unicorns; timelines for impact and returns are extended.
  • "The only way we're going to get more money into businesses like soundculture is to prove that we can help people make money. Incentives rule the world." — Samir Ibrahim (16:18)
• Sun Culture is evolving into a marketplace/Ecosystem hub for farmers and suppliers, aiming to create ongoing value and generational wealth for both employees and customers.

Memorable Quote

"If we leave them after a few growing seasons, we have failed. That cultural mindset, I think, is the hardest thing to scale." — Samir Ibrahim (19:55)

5. On-the-Ground Impact: Josephine Waweru’s Story (23:45–31:18)

Josephine’s Journey into Coffee Farming (25:14–26:23)

• Inspired by her son, a coffee barista, Josephine began coffee farming to support his passion and provide hands-on knowledge for his craft.

The Struggle for Water Before Solar (26:23–27:46)

• Previously relied on costly, unreliable diesel water pumps. Delays and fuel costs often jeopardized crop yields.
• Emotional toll:
  • "I really cried so many times. You are speaking to the plant. I tell them, my babies, don't worry, I will have find something for you." — Josephine Waweru (27:25)

Transformation with Solar Pumps (27:46–30:03)

• Josephine installed Sun Culture's pump in 2019; now she is free from reliance on fuel and manual hauling.
• Financial savings (~10,000 shillings/month), diversification into new crops and fish farming, and steady, ample irrigation—even during unpredictable rainfall.
• Ripple effect: Within two months of installing her pump, 20 neighboring farmers adopted the technology, growing to over 50 adopters.
  • "Each farmer who comes to my farm and see how I'm enjoying water and I usually tell them I just need the power of the sun and I'm good to go." — Josephine Waweru (28:44)
• Farming is business: Josephine views agriculture as a scalable opportunity, and the technology empowers financial empowerment and planning for the future.

Advice for Young People (30:03–31:11)

• Josephine encourages youth to diversify their skills and consider the economic opportunities found "in the soil."
  • "There's a lot of money in the soil. Your 1000 can grow into millions. Your 10 shillings can grow into thousands." — Josephine Waweru (30:33)

On Hope

• Josephine holds hope for future generations, striving to lay foundations for sustainable opportunities.
  • "My hope lies in this generation and the generations to come. And I pray to God I be around to see this change that is going to come through." — Josephine Waweru (30:46)

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• “We build with our customers for our customers.”
  — Samir Ibrahim (10:38)
• “A little bit of a reduction in price goes a really, really long way.”
  — Samir Ibrahim (13:10)
• “Farming is business, it’s an opportunity.”
  — Sherrell Dorsey (28:59)
• “There's a lot of money in the soil. Your 1000 can grow into millions. Your 10 shillings can grow into thousands.”
  — Josephine Waweru (30:33)
• “If we leave them after a few growing seasons, we have failed. That cultural mindset, I think, is the hardest thing to scale.”
  — Samir Ibrahim (19:55)
• “My hope lies in this generation and the generations to come.”
  — Josephine Waweru (30:46)

Key Timestamps

• 08:09–13:17: Samir Ibrahim on founder motivations, centering the farmer, and the evolution of solar irrigation systems
• 13:17–20:37: Overcoming business and investor skepticism, climate tech’s “long game,” and the complexities of scaling a values-driven business
• 23:45–27:46: Josephine Waweru recounts her farming journey, the struggle for water, and early days before solar technology
• 27:46–30:03: Impact of Sun Culture on Josephine’s farm operations and the local farming community
• 30:03–31:11: Josephine’s advice for youth and perspective on hope

Takeaways

• Affordable, locally-informed technology is key to climate resilience and inclusive economic growth in agriculture.
• Putting the end user—the farmer—at the center leads to practical, life-changing innovations and should guide tech development.
• Early adopters like Josephine become influential champions, multiplying impact within their communities.
• Tech for good can succeed financially if it demonstrates real, scalable value and builds trust with both investors and users.
• The future of farming—and solutions to climate and food crises—depends on empowering new generations, adaptable business models, and relentless focus on community needs.