Sierra Leone has demonstrated a clear intention to integrate emerging technologies into key sectors of the economy and phase out legacy systems in favor of next-generation solutions.
The West African country is turning to blockchain technology and eyeing bilateral agreements to accelerate its digitalization efforts. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation Salima Monolma Bah hosted the country’s Ambassador to China, Abubakar Karim, and several blockchain experts from Ferei Techcity and Sovereign Infrastructures for Global Nations (SIGN).
During the visit, the experts expressed their readiness to use their expertise to improve Sierra Leone’s digitalization indicators. The minister said the country is making “ongoing efforts” to leverage emerging technologies.
The minister added that a strong blockchain infrastructure can be a springboard for innovation across West Africa. Monoma cited a strong regulatory framework and clear policy direction as a compass for Sierra Leone to advance the integration of blockchain technology.
Foreign experts will work with key government and private stakeholders to identify practical blockchain applications in the country. It will also enter into high-level discussions on potential blockchain use cases such as digital identity management, public records systems, elections, and traceability of resources in mining. Beyond finance, use cases can extend to healthcare, education, and public service delivery.
Previously, Sierra Leone dabbled in blockchain technology, collaborating with non-profit organization Kiva to roll out a blockchain-based ID system in the country. Given the initial success of the collaboration, the country is keen to expand the utility of blockchain across the country.
Africa goes all-in on blockchain
To reduce the widening technology gap, other African countries except Sierra Leone are turning to blockchain to streamline their digitalization efforts. Nigeria has begun implementing a national blockchain policy to combat real estate fraud and improve airport processes.
While Zambia has made impressive progress with blockchain-based digital identity, other countries are also struggling to improve their financial inclusion metrics. Blockchain-focused companies have outperformed the ecosystem, garnering 13% of venture capital (VC) funding across the continent, demonstrating the growing demand for the emerging technology.
Vietnam’s livestock becomes high-tech
Elsewhere, Vietnam’s livestock industry is undergoing a significant digital transformation, putting sustainability at the heart of its operations.
Small farms in this Southeast Asian country are transitioning to industrial-scale production. Fundamental changes across the ecosystem are poised to improve food safety standards for consumers while strengthening global competitiveness.
Local livestock farms are digitizing their records to meet health and export standards, while innovating supply chain efficiency and opening new global funding opportunities for the sector.
Vietnamese experts are moving into disease-resistant breeding research and smart monitoring to detect abnormalities, and some local companies are introducing automatic feeding systems and wearables for livestock for tracking purposes.
The combined utility of smart technologies in Vietnam’s livestock industry shows the potential to usher in a circular agricultural ecosystem. Major domestic companies have already launched waste treatment and biological treatment systems to convert fertilizer into organic fertilizer for agriculture.
The report documents Hung Nhon Group’s growth from a small-scale poultry farming business to one of Vietnam’s leading livestock companies, citing its advances in smart technology over the past 20 years. Mr. Bu Man Hung, chairman of Hung Nyong, revealed that the company has partnered with international companies and has obtained numerous international certifications based on the Global GAP standard.
“Following the initial failures of small-scale livestock farming, we decided to collaborate with global agricultural giants such as De Huys in the Netherlands and Belga in Belgium,” said Hung.
Seeing the string of successes that Hung Nyong has built, several local businesses are pivoting to digital-first operations to improve efficiency and productivity.
Adopting new technologies in agriculture
While finance and healthcare appear to be at the forefront of innovation, players in the agriculture sector are rushing to implement blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into their internal operations. Some Vietnamese companies are already turning to blockchain for certification in the halal food market, which is a growing trend across Southeast Asia.
In the Far East, a Japanese company is introducing AI into farm processes to meet a milestone in tomato harvesting while addressing labor shortages. Experts predict that AI use cases in agriculture will reach a market capitalization of $10 billion by 2032 as companies seek cost-cutting benefits.
Watch | From farm to fork: Blockchain revolutionizes livestock farming
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blockchaindigital transformationdigitizationdigitizationHoonyoung GroupSalima Monoruma BarSierra LeoneVietnam
