KNUST Student Team Husker AI Secures Top Prize at Pan African AI Summit for Cocoa Waste Innovation

Husker AI, a student-led team from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has emerged victorious at the 2026 Pan African AI Summit Hack-AI-Thon. Held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra from September 22 to 23, 2026, the prestigious competition showcased the continent's growing technological prowess, attracting over 200 applications from which only five finalists were selected to compete. Husker AI's winning project addresses a critical challenge in Ghana's agricultural sector by leveraging artificial intelligence to transform discarded cocoa pod husks into a viable source of additional income for smallholder farmers.

The team’s innovation utilizes AI algorithms to assess the physical quality and potential market value of cocoa husks, which are traditionally treated as agricultural waste. By providing a data-driven assessment, the system facilitates direct connections between farmers and industrial businesses that can process the husks into value-added products. This approach not only promises to bolster the livelihoods of cocoa producers but also promotes environmental sustainability within the supply chain by reducing waste. For their achievement, the Husker AI team was awarded a $1,000 cash prize and secured exclusive mentorship to help scale their solution.

The 2026 Pan African AI Summit drew more than 1,000 delegates, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing Africa's unique socio-economic challenges. Having previously served as runners-up in the Ghana AI Innovation Challenge, the Husker AI team is now focused on moving beyond the prototype stage. Their next steps involve seeking local partnerships and refining their technology for real-world application, aiming to prove that local AI solutions can provide practical, commercial answers to systemic agricultural issues.