South Africa - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Urban Agri-Tech is a project which aims to help feed the current and net generation through innovative and sustainable farming solutions focusing mainly on hydroponic systems and vertical farms in urban areas and townships.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Hydroponic farming is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. The systems work by providing plants with the necessary nutrients directly into the roots through the water system, plants are grown in a soilless mediums such as PVC pipes and/or rock wood. The systems allow for precise control of environmental parameters such as temperature and pH balance, as well as increased nutrient and water exposure. The nutrients that the plants normally derive from the soil are dissolved into the water. Hydroponic farming is a sustainable farming solution as it allows for producing high-quality food at a faster yield time in a controlled environment, which, reduces the risk of pesticides, and uses 40-70% less water than traditional farming. Vertical farming is a modern agricultural practice of growing crops, stacked vertically in a protected indoor environment, which mainly utilises a hydroponics, and can be built anywhere.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

- Food Security: Vertical farm structures operate year-round and are resilient to diverse climate conditions, serving as a practical solution to mitigate food shortages, they increases local food sovereignty, gives rise to local food markets, and decreases local food prices. Hydroponic vertical farms allow to farmers to grow more quantities in shorter time frames. - Water Shortage: Hydroponic farming consumes less water compared to traditional farming as it recirculates and reuses the nutrient solution and delivers nutrients to plants’ roots, which minimizes water wastage. - Soil erosion: Hydroponic farming allows plants to grow without soil, which eliminates soil-borne diseases and pests, leading to healthier crops. It also allows for farming to take place in areas which are affected by soil erosion or there is not sufficient land. - Health and personal wellbeing: Hydronic farming allows for organic and nutriesent rich produce which is healthy for consumers.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Advantages include: - Less water consumption/usage compared to traditional farming. - Plants not affected seasonal changes and can grow all year round. - Faster growth rate and nutrient rich produce. - Allows individuals or business entities in urban areas to grow their own food. Disadvantage may include: - Waterborne diseases which can spread quickly among plants and infect the entire system - Hydroponic systems have a high startup costs compared to a traditional garden - Hydroponic systems are vulnerable to power outages which can affect the components such as grow lights, water pumps and fans.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

This project is aimed at the individuals, schools, street vendors and local businesses within the community (townships) where Urban Agri-Tech vertical farms are built. The project will mostly be focused in improving the township economy and allowing the rand to circulate within the community. -The price of fresh and organic produce is high in townships and urban areas because most farms are in rural areas and outskirts of the city and the logistical cost to transport the produce is factored in the pricing, by having a hydroponic farm within or near the townships it allow individuals, street vendors and local business access to affordable, organic and nutrient rich produce all year round. - Most schools in townships and/or rural areas have vegetable gardens, mainly to sell back to the community or use in their feeding schemes - by introducing schools to hydroponic farms instead of traditional farming, they have the opportunity to upscale, save water and teach sustainable farming.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-01-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

- Motheo is currently completing her degree in Agriculture and has one-year practical work experience on a farm. Her experience also includes sales and administrative work, she is organised and knows how to manage an office and run a project. Her passion for wanting to make a difference and transform lives is what makes her a valuable part of this team. - Ishmael is a qualified mechanical engineer, he is mainly concerned with the design, structural integrity and maintenace of the hydroponic systems. As an individual he is a hard worker, problem solver and critical thinker. He dreams of leaving a legacy in the township he grew up in. As a profession he is experienced in his field.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Agriculture

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Hydroponic farming has proven to yields faster produce compared to traditional farming because the nutrients are directly fed to the roots through the water; it also allows various produce to be grown all year round regardless of the season; hydroponic farming allows farmers to grow produce even in areas where land is not arable - and these reasons allow producers and farmers to grow more food. By applying alternative and sustainable farming solutions to traditional farming we can grow more food in higher volumes and faster rates which can keep up with the increasing population rate as well as feed communities which face a food security problem - This is what Urban Agri-Tech aims to accomplish Hydroponic farming has great influence towards the Zero Hunger mission.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Hydroponic farming systems promotes good health and overall well-being. The produce grown in hydroponic systems is organic and rich in nutrient because the all the nutrients are directly ed to the roots in the water dissolvent. Hydroponic farms offer a pathway towards a more sustainable food ethic that prioritizes the health of our food, bodies and environment without the heavy use of chemicals. Urban Agri-Tech aims to promotes good health, healthy living and general individual well-being through growing organic and healthy produce.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Urban Agri-Tech wants to play a role in increasing the economic growth through agriculture. Agriculture in South Africa has a significant contribution towards the economic growth of the country - by finding more innovative and sustainable ways to farm, we increase the quantity and quality of what we produce, trade and export which continues to grow and strengthen the economy.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Hydroponic farms and vertical farming introduces us to an alternative, innovative and sustainable way of farming. Unlike traditional farming, hydroponic farms and vertical farms allow for farming in controlled environments and it optimises space and uses 40 - 70% more water. Vertical farms produce foods in vertically stacked layers commonly integrated into other structures like skyscrapers, shipping containers or repurposed warehouses, this method of infrastructure allows for conservation in space, resulting in a higher crop yield per square foot of land used.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Urban Agri-Tech contributes to making cities and communities inclusive and sustainable by introducing a vertical farms within the communities and creating smart urban agriculture. The objectives of Urban Agri-Tech is to present the current development of vertical farming and urban agriculture in townships and combining state-of-the-art of vertical farming with modern and precision technologies. Urban Agri-Tech wants to build smart farms within urban areas and townships.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

5

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

5

05.08 Justification

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Oracle Farming Technologies - Similar to Oracle Farming Technologies, Urban Agri-Tech will not only be manufacturing hydroponic systems but will have its own farm which will be open to the public. Urban Agri-Tech will have a field sales team and reps who will introduce and sell and small-scale hydroponic systems to schools and residential. Urban Agri-Tech wants to make a difference and revolutionize farming in urban areas while promoting good health and well-being. We will not only be focusing on selling produce grown through hydroponic and vertical farms, but also introduce hydroponic farming solutions as an alternative to traditional farming.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes - Promoting and hiring females for my textile business when we have markets - Buying and donating tickets to aspiring females, for local entreprenuer events and seminar