Synnefa partnered with Pana Foods, led by Patrick Gichuhi, to deliver a commercial, food-safety focused post-harvest drying solution that stabilised factory throughput, reduced contamination risk and unlocked higher-value markets. Pana Foods was being held back by weather-dependent open-sun drying: slow drying cycles, contaminated lots and inconsistent quality that limited volumes accepted by buyers and risked premium contracts. Synnefa supplied a tailored smart solar dryer under a rent-to-own commercial model, integrated hygienic staged-drying protocols and traceability workflows, and trained operators and suppliers so each batch met buyer food-safety requirements. The implementation aligned dryer throughput with Pana’s processing lines, introduced routine hygiene and sampling checkpoints, and established simple digital payment and installment tracking tied to Synnefa’s FarmCloud system. As a result Pana Foods experienced materially faster drying, fewer weather-related bottlenecks, improved product safety and consistency, and a more reliable off-take pipeline from suppliers — all delivered through an affordable financing route that removed large up-front capital barriers. Hear from Patrick Gichuhi — Founder, Pana Foods Watch Patrick describe the operational and commercial impact of the Synnefa smart solar dryer and why it matters for processors and their smallholder suppliers. Watch now → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edb0Ol5z3BU The Pana Foods project shows Synnefa’s ability to design financing-aware, food-safety compliant post-harvest systems that move processors from weather-vulnerable, low-quality supply chains to predictable, market-ready production. For buyers, processors and funders, the project signals a repeatable model: targeted hardware + process redesign + operator training + commercial model = faster scale, safer products and stronger supplier incomes.