Online Reporter
Chronicle Writer
LUPANE State University (LSU) students have scored a major innovation breakthrough after their start-up, NanoPath, won the Emerging Technology Category of the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Mutual Value Creation Challenge, beating more than 1 100 entries to pocket US$10 000.
The achievement, announced by the university on its Facebook page, places the student-led technology venture at the centre of efforts to develop innovative solutions to Zimbabwe’s agricultural challenges, particularly post-harvest losses.
It is a practical demonstration of the Education 5.0 thrust, which seeks to transform higher education institutions into centres of teaching, research, innovation, industrialisation and community engagement.
NanoPath was founded by LSU students Mark Rukanda and Leona Nyoni and operates under Nannovoe Private Limited.
The start-up is developing FreshGuard, a nano-enabled, spray-applied edible coating designed to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, potentially helping farmers and traders reduce spoilage and preserve the quality and marketability of agricultural products.
The technology targets produce including tomatoes, potatoes, bananas and selected vegetables, which are vulnerable to deterioration during storage, transportation and marketing.
By developing a coating that can be applied directly to fresh produce, NanoPath is seeking to address post-harvest losses through technology-driven preservation methods.
The recognition in the Old Mutual competition buttresses the potential of university-based innovation to contribute to agricultural productivity, entrepreneurship and economic development.
For LSU, the success of Rukanda and Nyoni demonstrates the capacity of its students to develop practical solutions to challenges affecting communities and industries.
The achievement also comes against the background of the country’s Education 5.0 policy, which places emphasis on universities producing graduates capable of creating solutions, commercialising knowledge and contributing to national industrial development rather than solely seeking employment.
It also underlines the role of student-led enterprises in fostering innovation and creating opportunities for young people to become entrepreneurs and technology solution providers.
The US$10 000 prize is expected to provide an opportunity for NanoPath to advance its innovation, although the university’s announcement did not specify how the funds would be allocated or provide details on the product’s commercialisation timeline.
The development of FreshGuard comes as Zimbabwe continues to face the challenge of minimising post-harvest losses and improving the efficiency of agricultural value chains.
The NanoPath achievement positions LSU students as emerging contributors to the country’s innovation ecosystem, with their technology venture seeking to connect scientific development with practical agricultural needs.
