Containerized vertical farming

Global warming, food security, unemployment, hunger and poverty. These are some of the challenges being faced in South Africa and Globally. Off the Grid Vertical Farming in customized shipping containers aims to address all f the above and reduce or eradicate them. The provision of localised all year round crops of fruits and vegetables in a controlled environment will reduce global warming ans their will less impact on the emission of GHGs. Food for local consumption will be available thus making an impact on food security. Unemployment, hunger and poverty will reversed and possibly eradicated as the farm will provide and income and food for the people of the loacl community. This solution is and easily scaleable solution anywhere in the world. It works of solar if available and water reticulation to minimize the impact on the environment.   

Global warming, food security, unemployment, hunger and poverty are the primary problems that this solution aims to address. Covid 19 has brought the world to its knees economically. If we search for the most important job globally. without a doubt a farmer features on the top 5. This solution will allow people to climb up out of their economic state that their currently in. Whilst feeding their families, their community and ultimately their nation, they will also be increasing their financial stability. 

The problems indicated above affect the entire world. That would be appproximately 8 billion people. 

The solution is to use second hand shipping containers and convert them into vertical farms where people could farm fruits and vegetables all years round in a controlled environment. further in areas that have adequate sun we will use the power of the sun to power the lights, water pumps and ICT. This solution will be used to training and develop local communities to run their own off the grid containerized vertical farms  

The target market for the solution is currently localized to Tongaat, Kwa Zulu Natal and Market Street, Fourways, Gauteng in South Africa. The need is great however it is with this solution that we will provide to the conventional society that this is the new normal where people can farm anywhere sustainably. The project has recruited 1000 people. 500 in Kzn and 500 in Fourways. The are all rural black women, youth and people with disabilities.  

This solution addresses all of the dimensions above in that it has an appeal and will provide solutions to small scale farmers, large farmers, improve supply chain by ensuring that they work with suppliers to reduce their impact on the environment, through this type of farming use no pesticides and alternative growing medium than soil. This will result in a healthier crop with no chemicals.   

There are numerous vertical gardens in greenhouses and some even in containers. I am not aware of any in Africa that are off the grid that have a zero carbon footprint. 

Further our solution is unique as it can be set up anywhere even in the absence of a shipping container. It can be used on rooftops to further reduce the carbon footprint of urban farmers by supplying local. 

The core technology that powers our solution is solar, water reticulation, recycling of used water, sanitizing before entering facility, no pesticides and herbicides, no soil to prevent insect infestation. 

It has been proven that vertical farming uses up 75% less space than conventional farming. As a result of a controlled environment crops can be grown all year round.    

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVIirjEWkuY

With the introduction of our solution we find that mushrooming of urban farmers, even established farmers will start using our solution as land is a scarce commodity. This solution will mean that people even in urban areas can become farmers. This will also reduce the carbon foot print and possibly with a larger number of people globally taking up this solution reduce carbon emissions to an extent. This could also possibly lead to less starvation as local supply of fruit and vegetable could be provided to those in need either at no cost or at a reduced cost ans they will not incur the great costs of transport that is the norm. the growing of crops that are free from pesticides and herbicides means a healthy population and possibly less illnesses. 

it currently serves 100 people in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, However by the next five years we anticipate to serve in the region of 5000 people. Our solution will be targeted towards women, youth and people with disabilities. 

Our intention for the next year is for our solution to serve 400 people. 200 in Kwa Zulu Natal and 200 in Johannesburg. During the course of the next five years to serve 5000 people or more. The need is great however our reach can only be determined by our budget. Our budget per person for a year is $5000. In the next five years to have projects in all nine province of South Africa with a project each in Namibia and Botswana

Current the three barriers that we face are:

1. covid and social distancing

2. funding 

3. effective marketing.  

1. for covid we can commence the project however strict guidelines have to be adhered so as not to spread the disease

2. towards funding we have numerous applications and proposal as this one and pray that some or even one comes through

3. towards effective marketing. we need a partner that has strong proven experience that can get us out to market and convert our leads to sponsors or partners.  

Full Time - 10

part time - 20

contractors - 2

Sizanani is a forth generation organisation. registered in 2007 with The Department of Social Development in South Africa our focus has and continues to be assisting those in need. Whilst we are busy with this we provide training and development for them towards their sustainability. The word Sizanani in the local isiZulu language means " helping you help yourself".  This s the motto that we live by. In these many years my team has worked alongside me to ensure that every project that we took on was completed within allocated time frames and within budget.     

Eskilz College - an accredited private college with an online presence that provides all our training needs. 

Marketing Matterz- a digital marketing agency. they assist with the marketing of our campaigns 

Our business model is to seek donors and sponsors that are aligned with our projects. Further to make use of the current legislation that dictates that organisations should contribute specific funding towards their legislative compliance. Through our marketing campaigns to hig