Compatible Technology International (CTI) creates practical tools that help poor communities in developing countries overcome their most crucial food and water challenges.

We engineer technologies for small farmers in rural communities—who make up about 75% of the global poor. We empower these farmers, many of whom are women, with affordable tools that improve their water quality, food production and their incomes.

Inventive tools for small farmers

The farmers we work with are typically women who work long, grueling hours harvesting and processing their crops with very inefficient, rudimentary hand tools. These women often depend on little more than a mortar and pestle to bring their harvest from the field to the table.

Simply helping small farmers produce food better is one of the most effective methods of reducing global poverty—and that's exactly what our technologies do.

Because they lack proper tools, it's not uncommon for farmers to lose up to 50% of their harvested crops. We help farmers prevent crop losses with our inventive storage and preservation technologies, and we help families raise their incomes using our efficient processing tools like grain threshers and grinders.

CTI's devices are developed by a skilled team of staff and volunteer engineers and researchers. We collaborate with farmers to deliver practical tools that address the food and water challenges that the farmers themselves find critical.

Sustainable pathways out of hunger and poverty

We’re not about short term solutions, and the communities we collaborate with don’t want to be dependent on aid—they want a shot at economic freedom.

Women's groups in Kenya, Guyana, and numerous other countries across the globe are running successful micro-enterprises selling peanut butter and other products milled with our grinder. Thousands of families in Nicaragua have safe, affordable water because villagers are stepping up, investing their own time and money to maintain CTI's Water Chlorinator. While we provide the technology and training, it's the farmers who use the opportunity to transform their lives.