Alaa Salih Hamadto
Solar Foods
For Dr. Alaa Salih Hamadto, food has always been a love language. Raised on the warmth of traditional Sudanese dishes, she dreamt of passing those flavors and the care they carried on to her children and generations to come.
Harnessing the sun to nourish communities
Building on her father’s legacy at Solar Energy Enterprises Co., Dr. Alaa founded Solar Foods, a cleantech startup based in Khartoum. Using proprietary solar drying and cooking technologies, the company is transforming how food is preserved and processed, especially in regions with limited electricity and few means for long-term storage. In areas where food supply chains are fractured by climate change, drought, and disaster, Solar Foods offers a resilient, homegrown solution.
A hybrid model for sustainable, tech-driven agriculture
Solar Foods blends ancient knowledge with cutting-edge clean technology. Solar drying, the world’s oldest method of food preservation is reimagined through industrial-grade solar dryers embedded with IoT sensors. These smart systems preserve everything from vegetables and fruits to meats and ready-mix falafel powders, extending shelf life without the need for refrigeration or chemicals.
Packaged in eco-friendly materials and free from preservatives, GMOs, and additives, Solar Foods’ products bring the taste of Sudanese agriculture to tables across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Beyond technology, Dr. Hamadto’s vision is deeply human. Through technical training, sustainable sourcing, and fair-trade practices, Solar Foods now partners with over 5,000 farmers to create stable incomes, reduce food waste, and bridge the supply chain gap between local producers and global markets.
Solar Foods is a clean-tech startup using proprietary solar drying and cooking technology to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food processing in low-electricity regions.
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