opening Food & Energy

SUNfarming/ALENSYS and the North-West University celebrated the opening of the first Food & Energy Training Centre in South Africa.
The 12th of October was an exciting day for SUNfarming/ALENSYS and our partners. Together with more than 150 guests from all over Africa, including stakeholders from politics, business and universities, the opening session was held on the Campus of the North-West University in Potchefstroom.
After Prof Frika J van Rendsburg, Rector of the NWU cut the ribbon, the guests were invited to visit the solar green-houses accompanied by trainers, explaining the project and answering questions.
In his speech Prof LJ Grobler, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering especially emphasized the function of the NWU as a renewable research and development university towards sustainable communities. "We as a University form the basis of education and from here we can replicate it to other Universities and other regions through agreements between our university and other universities", so Prof LJ Grobler.
"The students that have been trained here at our first and unique Food & Energy Training Centre can help us to roll out the investments to the rest of Africa. We see the cooperation with the NWU as a development nucleus for other universities and partners", said Peter Schrum, main shareholder and founder of SUNfarming, in his speech to the audience. “The benefits for citizens and local government are endless! This project will facilitate broad base community participation with long-term ownership, sustainable Food & Energy production and job security benefits with a strong training component to those who need it most,” Schrum adds.

Interesting videos and articles published after the opening:
North-West University video: Communities to benefit from farming with the sun
News on SABC: Woman of Ikageng now able to grow vegetables in solar powered greenhouses
Article in Bloemfontein Courant: SUNfarming Food & Energy
Article in New Age Daily Newspaper: SUNfarming initiative will provide food and energy