Field testing for a roaster prototype was conducted at 5 Shea processing centers in Tamale, Ghana in June 2019. Baseline measurements were also taken for current Shea roasting methods. 

Results from the field testing showed that the first field prototype design reduced the smoke and heat experienced by the women roasting the Shea.  However, this first field prototype did not meet the fuel efficiency or roasting time targets we had set, because the roasting drums in Ghana were different from what we expected.  

The next Shea Roaster prototype testing in Ghana is scheduled for November 2019. We are currently developing another field prototype to address the issues that were identified during the field testing in June. Manufacturing and testing is taking place in our lab on Vashon before testing the prototype in the field.