H2Grow has been growing organically since 2016, offering a portfolio of solutions ranging from fresh animal feed for livestock to vegetable production on household level and in institutions such as schools.
Present – SCALE: H2Grow is being rolled out in 9 countries always adapted to the local context with the users themselves. In Zambia, 23 greenhouses in schools produce fresh vegetables to enrich school meals under the ownership of the Ministry of General Education. Through 234 new units in Chad, communities were able to produce 340 tons of hydroponically grown animal feed in 2020, making them resilient during COVID-19. This gave them the ability to grow food when markets were closed or should be avoided.
2016 –DESIGN: Together with food-insecure families living in the arid urban slums of Lima, Peru, WFP tested hydroponic methods to design an easy-to-implement solution for growing vegetables using locally-sourced materials.
2017 – FAIL: Deployment of a high-tech controlled environment Food Computer was tested for 6 months in Jordan to identify the best growth conditions for highly nutritious crops. Concept proved to be too early-stage to be field ready.
2018 – ITERATE: Sahrawi refugees in the Algerian Sahara Desert adapted a high-tech hydroponic system to their specific context, using local materials. Through multiple iterations they created a low-tech and accessible solution that provides a sustainable food supply for livestock. This became the base for replicating the model in other contexts such as Chad as well.