Maputo, Oct. 28, 2025 (Lusa) — Mozambican startup Agriview's project to turn corn husks into biodegradable crockery won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, awarded by the Royal Academy of Engineering in London, putting Mozambique "on the map of global sustainable innovation".
"The award validates the purpose of transforming a bad habit into a positive gesture for the environment, where each biodegradable dish gives rise to a tree and contributes to removing up to 25 kilograms of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year," said Joaquim Rebelo, co-founder of the company, quoted in a statement by Agriview.
The project, invented by Mozambicans Rui Bauhofer and Joaquim Rebelo, aims to replace disposable plastic with crockery made from agricultural waste. This process allows the pieces to decompose after use and release seeds that can germinate, creating new plants.
According to the same report, Agriview won the "One to Watch" award at the Africa Prize, the continent's highest engineering honour, recognising innovative and scalable solutions to environmental and social challenges, after a competition involving 30 African countries.
The idea for Agriview began in 2022, when Rui Bauhofer, a native of Maputo, saw corn husks discarded on the streets and plastic piling up along the road. Inspired by a documentary about biodegradable dishes made from pineapple leaves in Central America, he decided to test the potential of Mozambican maize.
"We believe we are the first to make biodegradable plates using labyrinth husks. We saw the potential of an abundant and wasted product to generate new life for small farmers who have lost their livelihoods after devastating floods," said Bauhofer, quoted in a Royal Academy of Engineering press release, recalling that cyclones Idai and Kenneth destroyed more than 780,000 hectares of crops in the country.
The project prototype was handcrafted by the creators, who now plan to use the prize fund to purchase industrial machinery, enabling them to increase production scale. The goal is to take the product to the European, Asian and American markets, as well as expand its presence in Africa.
According to the founders, the initiative also has a direct economic impact on rural areas, allowing farmers to recover between 10% and 20% of the value lost in harvests by reusing the peels.
"This award is an international testament to the work we've been doing over the last three years, thus validating the potential and genius of national innovations. We are putting Mozambique on the innovation map for Climate Resilience in Africa and the world," said Rui Bauhofer.
Agriview, founded in 2021, is a Mozambican start-up dedicated to the circular economy and environmental sustainability, developing biodegradable, germinable products from agricultural waste. The project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and promotes reducing plastic pollution and preserving the environment.
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, launched in 2014 by the Royal Academy of Engineering in London, is considered the largest prize dedicated to engineering in Africa, reinforcing the role of innovation in improving the quality of life and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa.
EYMZ/ADB // ADB.
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