At a school in South Africa, a group of students stare at a row of small plants growing in a greenhouse. Everyone is involved in the lesson while taking care of the growing crops.
But this is no ordinary classroom setting. These children are learning about aquaponics, a method of growing plants and fish in a mutually beneficial water system. This ancient technique of food production is now being taught to millions of schoolchildren after being introduced by the South African government seven years ago.
Leerskool Kempton Park on the edge of Johannesburg was one of the first schools to introduce the subject with the aim of improving food security. This is a serious challenge in a country like this an estimated 19.7 million people, or about 30% of the population, experience moderate levels of food insecurity, meaning they struggle to buy enough food for a healthy, balanced diet.
bringing the farm to school
Aquaponics is a way to help communities access food in a sustainable and efficient way. The solution is simple: Fish waste is converted into available nutrients by bacteria in the water. The plants absorb these nutrients and the clean water returns to the fish tank.
There are many benefits to this approach. This system does not require chemical fertilizers, soil or large tracts of land. It is also highly efficient, with recirculated water being used again and again. This is an important feature in areas of South Africa that experience drought or unpredictable weather.
Agricultural subsidies can be repurposed for equitable and sustainable rural transformation
Aquaponics can provide a variety of benefits depending on the local context. In South Africa, townships in major cities such as Johannesburg do not always have space to grow their own food, while in other places such as the Northern Cape, extreme weather is making agriculture very difficult.
At Laerskool Kempton Park, students have benefited from the innovative work of INMED, a not-for-profit organization that supports vulnerable children and families in the country.
INMED has trained hundreds of teachers and over 7,000 children on the benefits of aquaponics. With the help of financing from the Adaptation Fund through UNDP-Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (Adaptation Fund)AFCIA), the organization was able to develop its own aquaponics system for use in schools.
enhancing the solution
INMED describes its prototype as a 'plug and play' system, designed to be modular and easy to install and manage. The system consists of a 2,000 liter fish tank powered by a solar pump to circulate water. The design is simple in that it can be easily replicated in different school settings.
Unathi Sihlahla, director of INMED South Africa, told Climate Home News that “aquaponics addresses many challenges… including limited access to nutritious food, high youth unemployment, water scarcity and, in many cases, poor or no access to arable land.”
INMED's prototype allows communities to work around these problems because it requires no soil and uses much less water than traditional agriculture.
“We've seen schools that previously had no food production are now able to sustainably grow vegetables, as well as produce fish. That food often goes directly into school meals or supports nearby vulnerable families,” Sihlahla said. The project estimates that more than 5,300 kilograms of food has been harvested each quarter the system operated.
Since aquaponics is now part of the school curriculum, many educational departments in South Africa are considering ways to teach the subject. INMED's innovative design can provide an easy solution. The organization has already begun to implement it in different provinces and a new collaboration with the Eastern Cape Provincial Education Department is in the works. INMED is also expanding the 'plug and play' model in Tanzania.
giving youth a sense of pride
For teachers, teaching schoolchildren new agricultural skills is not only about improving food security, but also about building the next generation of farmers. This group will need to grow food with an increased risk of extreme weather events and knowledge of alternative methods such as aquaponics may be important.
“Agriculture is not seen as something young people want to go into, but when they are exposed to something like aquaponics, it feels modern and relevant,” Sihlahla said. He said some students have started their own projects at home or want to continue studying the method.
“There's also a sense of pride. Producing food that supports their school or community changes how young people see themselves and their role.”
involving the next generation
The Adaptation Fund's support for young people extends beyond South Africa. Several other related projects aim to equip youth with practical skills for climate adaptation.
In costa ricaThe $10 million project, implemented by the private foundation Fundecooperation, included a number of creative youth-focused programs in climate-sensitive areas. It trained youth in coral reef restoration and farming techniques, engaged high school students in community water resource monitoring and management, shared knowledge on adaptation through theater tours in schools, and created an art mural competition using AI.
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In LesothoMeanwhile, climate education is being integrated into the school curriculum through climate-smart agriculture materials and teacher training introduced in primary and secondary schools. It is equipping students with practical, locally relevant knowledge to build resilience from an early age.
“Children and youth are most vulnerable to climate change,” said Mikko Olikainen, head of the Adaptation Fund. “These programs are not only training youth in adaptation but also empowering them.”
Adam Wentworth is a freelance writer based in Brighton, UK.