While Ethiopia is often associated with food and water shortages, there is also another perspective. Did you know that one of the most sophisticated greenhouse technologies in Africa is set up in Addis Ababa, where food production, water savings, and people's health are top priorities?
Together with Resilience, Zuqualla, Flevoplant and RVO, Meteor Systems carrying out a cultivation project where strawberries are sustainably produced on a large scale. They organized the first strawberry demo days in September, which took place for 2 days at Zuqualla Farms. There was a lot attention from local growers, investors and government officials. While the importance of sharing Dutch knowledge on sustainable cultivation practices was highlighted these days, the specialists of Meteor Systems also witnessed another important effect of the project.
How water is recycled, filtered and returned to the plants. This recycling system not only saves water and fertilizers, but a similar technique is also being used to provide people in the surrounding villages with clean drinking water
How Dutch greenhouse technologies and cultivation knowledge are shared with Ethiopian growers to set a standard for Africa's greenhouse industry. Ethiopia is a big country with good environmental conditions, and it has great potential for horticulture.
That profits from the project are partly used to build an infrastructure where workers from the surrounding villages have access to health services and medicine, healthy food and clean drinking water. They also have access to courses like sexual harassment, gender equality, sexually transmitted diseases, discrimination, family violence and more. Recently an elementary school for children has been established.
This project is an example of how this industry is not just about profitability. The horticultural sector can also help shape a cultural environment in that contributes to achieving sustainable goals for future generations.
For more information:
Meteor Systems
Minervum 7081
4817 ZK, Breda, Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)76 504 2842
www.meteorsystems.nl
