Community Fund – Green Up Your Act education – June Update
On the 2nd July, Brighton Eco-Warriors, organised by Green Up Your Act Education, are joining forces with international development charity Emerge Poverty Free to learn about a radical new approach to agriculture that will transform lives in Kenya. Children, aged 6 to 9, will be visiting Kent Science Park to learn about the Solar Grow system (SG1), a mobile germination and seedling plant factory that greatly increases food productions. The system is being sent by Emerge Poverty Free to support farmers in Eldorat, Kenya.
During last year’s food crisis in East Africa, food shortages caused prices to skyrocket across the region. Eldorat is a relatively fertile place but many people, especially those living in poverty, face a struggle to survive. The arrival of the SG1 system will allow local producers to diversify crops. This means better nutrition, higher incomes and greater food security at times of crisis. The SG1 can deal with almost any type of seeded crop in large quantities. It was specifically developed for use in humanitarian and disasters areas as it has the ability to grow crops to the point where they are ready to eat within 7 days. . The SG1 is also environmentally sound making use of natural fertilizers and solar power and is much more water efficient than traditional farming. The system recently won the British and World invention of the year awards.
The Green Up Your Act Eco-Warriors will learn how to operate the system and about the importance of science and innovation in seeking environmentally sustainable solutions to global poverty. They will meet inventor Alexander Bushell, who will be travelling to Kenya to set up the SG1 system and teach local farmers how to use it.
“I am really pleased that these Eco-Warriors are taking an interest,” says Bushell. “I invented the SG1 to encourage sustainable practices and help the developing world. I hope very much that amongst those taking part are the inventors of future technology that will further help people across the world.”
The Green Up Your Act Eco-Warriors will travel on the ‘Big Lemon Bus’ which runs on vegetable oil collected from chip shops, restaurants and hotels in Brighton & Hove and across Sussex.