Food & Energy

Job creation, food production and self-sufficiency are objectives that SUNfarming has set itself to combat the causes of migration and flight.

Peter Schrum, founder and principal shareholder of the SUNfarming Group, visited various African countries during his trip abroad in February. The agenda included Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania and Mauritius. Together with presidents, ministers and stakeholders, the potential of the Food & Energy projects was discussed for job creation, self-sufficiency in regionally grown food and solar energy production. Talks were also held with representatives from Ethiopia and Senegal and project-preparatory steps were initiated.
Peter Schrum:"Global warming is increasing, which has a devastating effect especially in already arid and drought affected areas in Africa. The result are major refugees flows, our aim is to create help for self-help for the people in their home countries. Our agro-solar greenhouses can produce food even in arid areas with water savings of up to 90%. The solar modules installed on the roof of the greenhouses produce electricity that can be used in the communities. It will create up to 1000 new jobs, including 500 franchise partner, in 10 years per MW/2ha".
Our title photo shows Peter Schrum with the President of Mauritius Mrs. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim and members of SUNfarming in the government building in Port Louis.

We are “sustainable”;-) pleased, that our project "SUNfarming Food & Energy" is one of the TOP 10 nominees in the Sustainable Development category.
Since its founding in 2008, the GreenTec Awards have become the world's most important environmental award. Together with over 120 partners, they offer large and small companies the international stage to present the best projects for environmental protection.
From the ten best projects in each category two finalists will be announced from the jury until January 08/2018 , a third will be elected by public online voting of YOU!
We would be delighted if you vote now for SUNfarming Food & Energy in the category "Sustainable Development":

www.voting.greentec-awards_sustainable-development

Your vote counts!
SUNfarming, our operating partner the North-West University and all project participants say "Thank you"!

The first Food & Energy Training Centre in South Africa is a partnership project:
Operating project partner: North West University Potchefstroom
Co-financing project partner: KFW DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH)
Coordinator of the project: ALENSYS (Alternative Energiesysteme AG)

SUNfarming Food & Energy Training Centre is one of their key partners in cooperation with the North-West University in South Africa.
The North-West University (NWU) launched the Leopards Lair competition which received a large number of entries of which 12 finalists could exhibit their ideas to the public and industry partners at NWU Sethi Explosion. NWU student Kumbewe Liwewe, the founder of “Let´s Grow Together” has won the Award for best entrepreneurship/business idea.
The "Let’s Grow Together" initiative was launched by students of the North-West University (NWU) to address the issue of food insecurity on the campus by creating jobs for students in need of financial assistance.
“This is done by providing the campus of the NWU with fresh fruit and vegetables on a weekly basis. From the packing of vegetables, to the transport and delivery of vegetables “Let’s Grow Together” is able to create student jobs in everything we do. This however would not have been possible without the assistance of SUNfarming and the NWU's Food & Energy Training Centre, who were vital to the conceptualization and initiation of "Let’s Grow Together”, said Kumbewe Liwewe.
The presence of the SUNfarming Food & Energy Training Centre creates a valuable resource for the students of the North-West University as through the presence of high quality food produced on the university campus is used to end food insecurity on the campus. This key partnership we believe will lead to the creation of at least fifty (50) on campus student jobs with the possibility of growth only limited by what is available with the existing Food & Energy infrastructure.
Video-Link: Interview with Kumbewe Liwewe

The Minister calls the SUNfarming Food & Energy Project, a joint project of SUNfarming GmbH, North-West University and DEG / KfW on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany, as a future-oriented development for agriculture in South Africa.
SUNfarming Food & Energy Project allows to produce food and solar energy at the same time through unique agro-solar greenhouses. Training in food production with water-saving droplet irrigation creates sustainable jobs. The Food & Energy Project is the first of its kind in Africa and the goal of SUNfarming and the NWU is to bring this project to all universities and schools in Africa. SUNfarming and the NWU see themselves as a nucleus to support other universities in research and education with their expertise.
Councillor Kgotso Khumalo Executive Mayor for Tlokwe municipality: “I am excited about the project and the potential it has for our municipality and I want to pledge our full support to this project."
“The project provides an opportunity to grow affordable and nutritious food in local municipalities. This is an opportunity to effectively address household food and nutrition insecurity. This is innovative technology for agriculture and we want to see this replicated in other parts of the country as it effectively deals with the issue of climate change and the scarcity of water and land", said Minister Zokwana.
"Agriculture is the answer to many problems. We need a doctor or dentist or lawyer several times a year, but we need a farmer at least three times a day. We need to strive for sustainable methods of agricultural production. What I have seen today is the future of agriculture, I congratulate you on this incredible initiative and innovation," so Zokwana.

Video-Link: Minister Zokwana visits Food & Energy Project

This year, SUNfarming presented itself as a partner, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development (BMZ), to the 400,000 trade fair visitors.
The general interest in SUNfarming as a project developer for capital investors as well as in the realization and active support of PV projects for commercial and private power plants was as always great. This year, we were able to successfully present our unique "Food & Energy" concept, a combination of solar energy production and food production. With the
experience of more than 1,000 hectares of solar projects implemented worldwide, SUNfarming developed the unique Food & Energy concept. In addition to the benefits of solar energy, the key elements are food production, job creation, training and water management. The SUNfarming "5 in 1" model contributes actively to the sustainable improvement of people's living conditions, particularly in resource-poor areas or refugee regions.

PDF-Link: "5 in 1" Food & Energy Concept

Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller, has put more support in the refugee policy for the countries of origin and was very interested in finding out more about our Food & Energy concept.
Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, showed also great interest in cooperation in the area of Food & Energy as an approach to combating the causes of flight. There will also be concrete discussions on projects in the solar PV sector in developing and emerging countries.
The Minister of the Environment of Qatar and the Agricultural Minister of Mauritius took the opportunity to get information about possibilities of cooperating with our competent project leaders.
Madagascar's Embassy Adviser, the Ambassador of Guatemala and the Bolivian Ambassador, as well as a delegation from the Nigerian Embassy, were also interested guests.
Representing the Embassy of Paraguay, Mr Maidana, responsible for Economic Affairs, visited us and the embassy council of the Republic of El Salvador also got to know our stand.
The already implemented Food & Energy project in South Africa was presented by SUNfarming at the public event "A world without hunger is possible", a special initiative of the BMZ.

Video-Link: SUNfarming Food & Energy South Africa