On July 1, 2025, the kick-off meeting for the joint project between the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)——Research on the Driving Mechanism and Early Warning of Algal-induced Water Quality Degradation in Typical Bays of Lake Victoria, East Africa,” was successfully held in Kisumu, Kenya. As a key technical partner of the project, Lihe Technology, led by Executive Director Hou Liang, participated in the meeting and presented the demonstration laboratory construction plan as well as the company’s technical strengths in the field of water quality monitoring.

The project focuses on Lake Victoria—the largest lake in Africa—and aims to systematically study the growth patterns of toxin-producing and odor-producing algae under relatively stable low-latitude water temperatures, identify key driving factors, and assess their impact on water quality. The goal is to develop a big data-driven early warning model for algal-related water quality risks and propose regional nutrient discharge control strategies, thereby supporting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) in the East African region.

Eight representatives from the Chinese project team attended the meeting, including Researcher Yang Min from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Chen Shuang from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Lihe Technology’s Executive Director Hou Liang, and Technical Manager Zhou Yirong. They engaged in in-depth discussions with Kenyan experts, including Professor Christopher Aura, Director of Freshwater Systems at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Professor Zhang Linxiu from UNEP’s International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), and Dr. Joash Oruta, Head of Lake Victoria South Basin Area-Regional Office of Water Resources Authority. The meeting, moderated by Professor Aura, was attended by more than 50 participants.

The delegation also visited the UNEP headquarters, Machakos University, Kisumu Water Treatment Plant, and Lake Victoria South Basin Area-Regional Office of Water Resources Authority, laying a solid foundation for higher-level and higher-quality international cooperation in the future.

Lihe Technology will continue to uphold its mission of “innovative intelligent monitoring for a healthier living environment”, actively participate in national research and international cooperation projects, and promote the global reach of China’s environmental technologies—contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global ecological governance.