Togo inventor builds Africa’s first agricultural robot

TOGO – In the heart of Lomé, Togo, inventor and entrepreneur Sam Kodo is quietly reshaping how technology meets agriculture.

Through his company, Infinite Loop, which he founded almost a decade ago, Kodo is building robotic solutions that combine innovation, sustainability, and practicality. His focus lies on two key areas: improving farm operations and expanding access to learning tools across Africa.

One of his standout projects is the FarmBot, which he calls Africa’s first agricultural robot. The device, largely built from recycled components, uses artificial intelligence to help farmers monitor crops, collect data, and apply pesticides with minimal human effort. Its goal is simple: increase productivity and reduce the amount of manual work on the field.

“Among my many inventions, the one I personally find most satisfying is the design of the very first solar-powered computer made in Togo, called SmartBag. This innovation has won us countless national and international awards for its impact on education in Africa,” Kodo told TRT Afrika.

Before the FarmBot, Kodo developed several educational tools including VT-BOT, an educational robot that gained recognition in Morocco and Paris during the Scientific Week for Young Talents of Francophone Africa in 2018.

Curiosity as a driving force

Kodo’s ideas are deeply rooted in his early fascination with how things work. Although trained in sociology, his interest in robotics grew from curiosity and a strong desire to solve problems. “A true inventor will never ask ‘Why?’. Instead, the person will always ask ‘How?’ in the quest for knowledge or truth,” he said.

Many of his inventions are still in prototype stages, but Kodo continues to refine them for practical use. Some of his systems focus on helping small-scale farmers feed livestock efficiently, while others explore creative automation such as machines that can sketch or draw.

“I no longer ask myself whether I will be the first or not, I just go for it,” he explains. “At the end of the day, no one really invents anything on Earth; nature and the universe are the source of all innovative ideas and possibilities. All of us draw inspiration from and adapt to our realities.”

Expanding innovation across Africa

Through Infinite Loop, Kodo hopes to partner with African institutions to advance robotics and artificial intelligence in both agriculture and education. The company’s goal is to create technology that works for local contexts, using materials and ideas born from African realities.

Recently, other African innovators have joined this growing movement. In Kenya, university researchers are testing low-cost farm drones that help farmers detect crop diseases early. In Ghana, a youth-led startup has introduced solar-powered irrigation pumps designed for dry regions.

These projects, like Kodo’s, show that Africa’s next generation of inventors is focused on building technology that solves real problems using local solutions.

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