The egg was born first

The idea is in fact the basis of an innovative technology that we have developed and tested in recent months: an egg incubator powered by solar thermal, to guarantee maintaining the temperature and humidity suitable for artificial hatching. Why? Hens know how to do their job well, but the instrument equals them in effectiveness - hatching percentage of fertilized eggs around 80% - while allowing much greater quantity and efficiency in generating chicks.

In itself an incubator is commonly used both at an industrial level and by small producers, but the original solution adopted has completely innovative aspects. The goal is to use it where there is no access to grid energy; but also avoiding the use of photovoltaics - just a small panel for the electronics: ample power would be required, and a large set of batteries to provide continuity of power, with high costs and management complexity.

Hot water has therefore been rediscovered: produced by the solar thermal panel, it ensures the temperature (37-38°) and humidity necessary for the 21 days of the hatching cycle. The service electronics optimize the levels, controlling their maintenance within the appropriate limits by acting on the circulation according to the values collected by the sensors. Also sent to the web for remote control.
Operation remains so simple; innovation suited to the possibility of using it in the widest possible autonomy, and aimed at essential needs: improvement of food security by promoting poultry farming through a greater and economical widespread availability of chicks. Therefore production of low-cost animal proteins - eggs and meat - capable of generating income, with a more favorable financial cycle than cultivation. The incubator is sized - 280 eggs - based on the needs of a small community, offering itself to aggregate the work of several small producers / extended families, essential for efficiency.

Support awarded under the "Technologies for Sustainable Development" call from the Cariplo Foundation accelerated the development of the project. And, as always, an essential resource was the professionals and experts who work as volunteers in the field of applied research; desire to meet and be close to the lives of many. As with the solar fridge, the experimentation now continues in Burkina Faso, at the professional schools of the Brothers of the Holy Family; after a long period of training here with two friends from the Burkinabe technical brothers, a now constant collaboration to transfer and propagate knowledge and skills.

As usual, we take on a propulsive role with respect to areas not considered by the "market", with a view, nevertheless, to full sustainability, to bring benefits to the communities of reference.
Making "innovation" to generate "development" and where "producing" is aimed at "sharing" for the common good, supporting life in the villages, raising conditions and quality.


Mauro Palombo
NP October 2023