The Rdonna Project أرضنا ( Our Earth ) by Zohor LLC

Environmental changes , water scarcity, soil depletion and urbanization are making it more difficult to produce food using traditional methods in many regions and countries. In 2018, heat waves alone resulted in numerous crop losses and yield declines of up to 50%. Urban populations are expected to increase by around 50% by 2045, and the Corona virus pandemic has just made the situation worse.

worldwide inflation and the war in Ukraine have also had a significant impact on global logistics. For Algeria, Africa's largest country, with an irrigated agricultural area of 1.5 million hectares by 2021, i.e. almost 17% of the country's total agricultural area, the problem is still unresolved: prices of fresh agricultural produce have risen by around 9.1%, according to the ONS, which points out that products in this category are highly variable, with a 41.2% increase for vegetables. with an informal, unregulated retail channel, the price of vegetables from producer to consumer is multiplied by 6 to 8 times their initial price,

The urban population has multiplied by 4.6 in thirty years, rising from 3.7 to 17.1 million residents, representing around 60% of the total population. Today, 3 out of 5 Algerians live in urban areas.

Peri-urban farming presents a multifaceted solution that addresses various challenges and provides numerous benefits to communities, the environment, and the economy. By leveraging the peri-urban fringe – areas adjacent to urban settlements – for agroecological food production, it offers a way to enhance food resilience, create new jobs, promote sustainable agriculture, and connect urban and rural economies. This approach not only ensures access to diverse fresh produce for urban populations but also contributes to social, economic, and ecological well-being in peri-urban areas .

In a few simple words, peri-urban aquaponics is the combination of 2 techniques - aquaculture and hydroponics - that enable aquatic plants and animals to live together in perfect harmony in a closed system. This system works like a virtuous, ecological and healthy circle to produce vegetables, flowers and fruit. 

Through the integration of smart technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) to create more efficient and sustainable farming practices. Our system will use sensors, actuators, microcontrollers and a network infrastructure to monitor and control various parameters to the growth of plants and fish in a symbiotic environment ,to automate tasks  with continuous monitoring and remote adjustments, maintaining stable conditions,Digitization of environmental parameters ,Enhanced ecosystem management ,Predictive analysis ,Data visualization and analytics .

By using IoT technologies in our aquaponics system, we can optimize resource use, improve crop yields, manage water quality and automate various tasks linked to maintaining a healthy ecosystem for plants and fish.

in addition the integration of AI with our IoT sensors in aquaponics would hold great promise for improving the efficiency, sustainability and resilience of food production. By automating monitoring processes and analyzing data trends, AI can optimize resource use, improve crop yields and mitigate risks associated .

Peri-urban aquaponics farming provides a range of benefits that contribute to environmental sustainability, economic development, community well-being, and food security in urban areas.

Our solution has several positive impacts on the lives of the individuals concerned

Enhancing Food Security ; Access to locally grown food through peri-urban agriculture enhances food security by reducing dependency on external sources and ensuring a more reliable supply of fresh produce.                    

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Erosion ; By taking part in the mitigation of climate change, by reducing emissions linked to the transport of foodstuffs, and by protecting soil from erosion through sustainable agricultural practices.                                                                                    Economic Benefits ; it can generate income , create employment opportunities, and support local economies by providing fresh produce directly from nearby farms.                                                              Supplying Fresh Produce to Urban Areas ; Proximity to cities allows for the efficient supply of fresh agricultural products to urban populations, reducing the need for long-distance transportation and ensuring food security.   Resilience to Climate Change ; By diversifying food sources and promoting sustainable farming methods, peri-urban agriculture contributes to building resilience in urban areas against the impacts of climate change on food systems                                                                                          Promoting Sustainable Land Use ; Utilizing peri-urban spaces for agriculture encourages sustainable land management practices that balance agricultural production with environmental conservation and urban development needs .  Community Engagement ;Engaging in peri-urban agriculture can foster community involvement, social interactions, and educational opportunities related to farming practices and food production.                                         Education and awareness ; This practice  raises awareness of sustainability principles, interconnected ecosystems and encourages a better understanding of our relationship with the environment.

In today's dynamic and complex business environment, maintaining a sense of closeness is crucial to effective group leadership. The role of a group leader rests on two fundamental pillars: closeness to team members and clear, open communication. Both are essential if the leader is to be accepted in his or her role as guide.

These practices not only improve team cohesion, but also foster an environment where commitment, creativity and productivity can flourish toCreate an environment of trust, improve talent retention, stimulate innovation and creativity,

We are a team currently composed of three founders, we first met in different programs related to sustainable entrepreneurship, and we have embarked on this green adventure, where each of us has different and complementary expertise.

Our team leader, and manager of the Rdonna project: Mr Sofiane Guedjal is a man of organizational agility, based on creativity, innovation and collective intelligence, who has gathered us all around him and around a project in which we all strongly believe in its success.

a very committed social entrepreneur, where we also made a social commitment with him, to provide help and support to the local and rural community throughout the covid 19 pandemic, we were able to make our contribution by distributing food to hundreds of needy families and daily workers who could not cover their needs, we also committed to distributing medicines to the patients, and oxygen concentrator to the most suffering, under the name of the collective; we are in solidarity.

He is also very committed to environmental protection and the climate change movement. 

Climate Justice

social commitment

Social Solidarity

Our business strategy has been to first target some plants products with high market potential ,we started by developing various herbal food , We have lunch  : Mixtures of food supplements ; like Moringa & Ginger , Moringa & curcumin , Moringa & Mint , with an eco-friendly packaging, in kraft paper, for our food supplements , We also have a herbals beauty cares , Extra Virgin Oils ,that we test them on the local market in drugstores.

Herbal Product Proto

summer 2023 , We set up and built at the Oran Fisheries and Aquaculture Technological Institute an aquaponic DWC (Deep water Culture) prototype, The (DWC) system, also known as an aquaponic raft system, uses floating rafts to support plant growth in nutrient-rich water. The system follows the fundamental principles of aquaponics, where fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants help purify the water for the fish.A prototype able to produce around 35 kilos of lettuce per cycle ,

DWC PROTO

Now, after having successfully mastered the aquaponic process, we are working to create and develop a larger aquaponic farm, with a high productivity of plants and fish By leveraging IoT technology in smart greenhouses, we're working to implement precision farming practices that promote sustainability and environmentally friendly farming methods.

Rdonna VI

For our Buisness  Model ;  developing a soil-less, peri-urban  local farming concept for a country that was once called the the attic  of Europe is a complex challenge , We faced a few challenges that make it difficult to implement scalability. These challenges are: high initial investment costs, lack of expertise, infrastructure limitations, market access and distribution, regulatory barriers, sustainability issues,

 By applying to the program, we hope to find international support and expertise to help us realize our vision to adapt it to the local environment and contexts.

Peri-urban aquaponics stands out as an innovative approach to sustainable food production by combining aquaculture and hydroponics in a mutually beneficial system that addresses various challenges faced by urban communities ,this may positively impact the surrounding communities. By reducing the need for long-distance transportation of food products, 

Our  solution can be considered innovative because of several key aspects that distinguish it from traditional farming methods: enables year-round cultivation of a variety of crops regardless of seasonal limitations , utilizing significantly less water compared to traditional agriculture by recirculating water within the system. It also eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers, promoting organic farming practices ,Space Utilization , Environmental Benefits , and if we integrate automation systems, and Artificial Intelligence it can bring significant benefits to farming practices by improving efficiency, sustainability and productivity through precision monitoring, smart irrigation systems, disease prevention, adaptive climate control, data-driven decision-making and autonomous operations.

Traditional farming challenges like extreme weather events, resource scarcity, urbanization pressure on agricultural resources, and climate change vulnerability have led to the exploration of innovative solutions like aquaponics., And As the human population grows, the demand for food also increases. Although famine has been considerably reduced, an adequate food supply for all has not been achieved, and we expect an additional 1 to 3 billion mouths to be fed over the next few decades. Conventional agriculture is at the root of deforestation, and its yields are suffering from declining soil quality and the variability of climate change. Our solution could be one of the answers to food insecurity , 

Our solution could provide an answer to the problem of food insecurity in the world's poorest countries, where "traditional" agriculture is often part of a long supply chain, targeted towards national or international markets. 
The benefits are evident by the reduced use of land and fertilizers, as well as dependence on weather conditions. The amount of water required is also 90-99% less than for agriculture.

By monitoring key performance indicators, we aim to optimize and improve sustainability practices, while helping to make a positive impact on communities and the environment.

These KPIs help us to measure various aspects of our farming operations to ensure efficiency, productivity, and environmental responsibility.

1-Yield per Square Foot:  It helps evaluate the productivity and efficiency of our farming operations.

2-Carbon Footprint: Measuring the carbon footprint  helps assess their environmental impact.  includes factors such as energy consumption, transportation emissions, and greenhouse gas emissions from our  activities.

3-Impact on food security: Assessing the contribution of urban agriculture to local food security is another key performance indicator. This includes measuring access to fresh produce, nutritional value and food distribution within the community.

4-Income generation: Peri-urban aquaponics can also be a source of income for individuals or communities. Tracking income generated through sales or other means is a key indicator for assessing economic sustainability.

5-Community Engagement: Community involvement is a vital aspect of urban agriculture , including participation in farm activities, support for local produce, and educational initiatives.

Peri-urban aquaponics farm serves as a holistic solution that addresses multiple dimensions of sustainability outlined in the UN’s SDGs. By integrating aquaculture with hydroponic vegetable cultivation in a closed-loop system, it demonstrates the potential to contribute significantly towards achieving these global goals :such as Zero Hunger ,Clean Water and Sanitation ,Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure ,Responsible Consumption and Production ,Life Below Water,Life on Land .

By integrating IoT technology into our system, we can offer numerous benefits by enhancing monitoring capabilities, enabling automation, improving resource management and increasing productivity in a sustainable way by creating a smart aquaponics Green house system that takes advantage of automation, data monitoring and control to optimize plant and fish growth while conserving resources , automation and data-driven decision-making enable more efficient use of resources, resulting in higher yields and less waste ,with real-time monitoring to detect problems early, avoid crop loss or fish mortality, and maintain ideal growing conditions.

Intelligent management systems adaptively monitor and control nutrient inputs and growing medium conditions based on real-time sensor data, optimizing the health and quality of growing media while minimizing the risks associated with environmental shocks.

In the medium term, we also want to explore and integrat advanced AI technologies, in particular computer vision, which plays a crucial role in the management of intelligent greenhouses. Computer vision systems using multispectral and hyperspectral cameras can quickly identify diseases and pest infestations, and predict yields and harvest times,

we're a work team made up of 5 associates, 5 friends met through various programs dedicated to entrepreneurship, each of us an expert in his/her respective field. we're already in the incubation phase at the oran business incubator, PÉPINIÈRE D'ENTREPRISES INCUBATEUR D'ORAN - Accélérateur de projet (pepiniere-entreprises-oran. dz ) four team members living in the same city, work full-time, while our fifth teammate works part-time, mainly remotely, and can be reached as needed.

We've been working on the project since 2019, even though  corona virus  slowed us  considerably , we've been working on this solution for almost four years now . our strategy began with the question: would our products have a chance of succeeding in the local market? we began developing dietary supplements based on moringa, curcumin, ginger and menthol (plants that can also grow under the aquaponic systems of Media bases) a type of aquaponic installation where plants are grown in a culture bed filled with a specific growing medium, such as gravel, clay pellets or lava rock. 

A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) statement is an essential part of any organization's commitment to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. It involves articulating the company's values, principles and actions to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization. , an interconnected values that organizations must embody to ensure fair treatment .

Our team is made up of four women and one man, and we are fully committed to equal opportunities and the inclusion of women in our organization , we consider people on their merit, their skills, their values and what they can bring to our team without considering other elements or factors,

moreover we're not just business partners , more than that , we are friends .

In the peri-urban farming context, our business model canvas Would be structured as follows:

 Key Partnerships:  can include collaborations with communities, neighborhood stakeholders, other farmers, agronomic researchers, Also local landowners, developers, retail/grocery chains, NGOs/nonprofits, and institutions of agriculture are crucial for the success of 

Key Activities:

• Impact assessments
• Acquisition of land
• Development of the facility
• Sourcing of supplies
• Harvesting of crops
• Culturing of fish
• Processing of food items
• Packaging of food items
• Distribution of food items
• Marketing of services/products
•  production, marketing, animation (engagement activities), and communication .
• Key Resources:
• Staff with relevant experience
• Equipment and tools
• Labor and technical skills
• Financial resources

buildings, greenhouses, Water systems, vehicles, equipment, and machinery. Financial resources for technological investments and human resources are also vital for the success of our business.

• Value Propositions:
• Fresh, organic produce available locally
• Community involvement in food production
• Education on sustainable food production
• Economic benefits by supporting local businesses
•  high added-value products.
•  technological innovations . 
• specific production techniques. 
• education and community engagement. 

• Customer Relationships
• One-on-one relationships and customized orders with customers
• Providing insights and feedback to customers
• Subscription-based feedback and orders

We focus on proximity, quality, and authenticity of products. Building strong customer relations through marketing strategies like events, awareness campaigns, and open days can enhance customer loyalty and satisfaction.

• Channels:
• Direct to consumer marketplace
• Outreach programs to local communities
•  Utilizing direct (own stores, web sales) and indirect (partner stores) channels effectively is essential for reaching customers at different stages of their journey - from awareness to after-sales support.
• Customer Segments:
• Consumers of locally produced food
• Consumers of organic produce
• Individuals interested in sustainable agriculture
• Individuals supporting local businesses

Can include local  restaurants requiring fresh produce, and institutional clients like collective catering services. 

Cost Structure: Once the foundational elements of the business model are established, understanding the cost structure becomes vital. This includes considerations for infrastructure costs such land , equipment depreciation, labor expenses, marketing costs, and ongoing operational expenditures.

We can achieve financial sustainability through a combination of innovative funding models and strategic partnerships , For a financially sustainable plan have to leverage reduced resource use, increased production efficiency, operational cost benefits, alignment with market trends, environmental sustainability practices and economic resilience strategies.

Our strategy would be to diversify our funding sources. This could be a mix of traditional loans, grants and partnerships with local businesses or non-profit organizations. 

We are already preparing our documentation to get the Startup label Startup Label , which will enable us first to obtain simplified joint-stock company status , this could open up the possibility of financing from the Algerian Startup Fund Algerian Startup fund , for venture capital funding