When we last wrote here, Growing Africa was proving a simple idea: that precision agriculture — the drones, the soil data, the crop intelligence built for thousand-acre estates — could be delivered profitably to the two-hectare farms that actually feed Kenya.

That idea is no longer a hypothesis. Today our fleet has served more than 1,000 smallholder farmers and mapped over 5,000 acres across Kenyan counties. Our services run commercially, week in and week out: aerial mapping, crop monitoring, targeted spraying, and soil analysis translated into advice a farmer can act on within their budget.

Just as important is who is flying. Through Drones for Youth, our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, our first cohort of 20 young Kenyans — with strong representation of young women — earned their Remote Pilot Licenses and moved into the field. Applications exceeded the seats available, which tells us something we have long believed: rural young people do not need convincing to join the future of agriculture. They need a doorway.

So here is what is next. We are expanding the fleet, entering new counties, and preparing Cohort 2 — 50 more pilots, with young women first in line. We are deepening our work with partners across agriculture, technology, and government. And we are building toward a continent-scale ambition: an Africa that leads in agricultural innovation rather than importing it.

If you are a farmer, a cooperative, a partner, or someone who wants to help us grow faster — talk to us at help@growingafrica.com.

The farms that feed Africa deserve the best technology in the world. We are delivering it.