This Nigerian Lab is Farming Without Soil to Rethink Food Security

In Dandabazar, a community-wide shift to commercial cauliflower farming was supported by local government seed distribution and subsidies for modern tools. This transformed a food-insecure hill village into a recognized vegetable-producing hub, enabling individual farmers to grow their businesses.

Over 3,000 tribal farmers in Odisha are using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)—an organic method that uses 92% less seed, no standing water, and traditional formulations—to double their rice yields, increase incomes, eliminate dependence on expensive chemicals and moneylenders, and revive 70+ indigenous rice varieties while improving soil health.

The Rye Resurgence Project planted 4,000 acres of rye in Colorado's San Luis Valley, leading to a 30% reduction in soil nitrogen leaching, dramatically improved water infiltration, and reduced soil erosion and dust storms, while providing farmers with profitable markets that incentivize soil-protecting practices.

The traditional Barahnaja system of cultivation helps protect farmers’ crops from erratic weather conditions and crop failure and guarantees access to multiple food options and nutrition even during unprecedented conditions. The system helps crop diversification, ensures maximal use of land, nutrients and water and allows farmers to achieve year-round self-sustainability without commercial interest.

As a result of incessant oil spills, a rural community that once relied on fishing for food and its main source of income has begun to diversify its skills and occupations by pursuing more lucrative jobs like tapping rubber trees and growing cassava. Pivoting their occupations has helped to keep families out of poverty, children in school and keep the village’s economy afloat.

Skagway Brewing Company built an aeroponic farm inside their brewpub to grow fresh lettuce year-round, successfully meeting the restaurant's full weekly demand and capturing brewing CO2 to boost yields.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation donated two solar-powered freezers (and a private business investment in additional solar freezers) to the off-grid coastal community of Ayetoro. Now, affordable and sustainable alternatives to the (previously generator-powered) cold storage can meet the community's needs to preserve fish and reducing post-harvest losses.

The Barkum Women Rice Processors Association in rural Kano, Nigeria, secured a collective ₦8.8 million loan through cooperative action and training, enabling 38 women to build profitable rice-processing businesses that have financed their children's education and generated monthly incomes for members.

A group of Kenyan coastal women used a blue economy grant to establish a mud crab-fattening enterprise in Jomvu Creek, generating up to $310/month in collective income and planting nearly 1 million mangrove seedlings.

Around Boston, local farms and community markets are using creative financing and marketing tactics to reach and incentivize lower-income communities to benefit from access to fresh, local Massachusefts foods.