After observing the negative impact landmines had on farmers in Africa, Bart Weetjens came up with a novel and cost-effective way to address the issue: teaching rats to detect them.
Bart Weetjens always adored pet rats as a teenager. He would breed them and sell them to pet stores. Little did he know that this teenage hobby would go on to inform his entire career.
In adulthood, Weetjens became a product developer. While touring Africa, he became aware of the scourge of landmines and how much they affect subsistence farmers.
So, Weetjens decided to tackle the issue – with rats.
At Inspirefest 2017, Weetjens explained how his humanitarian organisation trains rats to sniff out landmines.
Words by Eva Short
