The pilot on urban vertical farming is a drive that responds to an impending food crisis, as climate change threatens to undermine the global food systems. The global agriculture sector is ravaged by climate change, and vice versa, as traditional agricultural methods contribute to deforestation, and carbon emissions. The high level of urbanization in Lagos implies high food demands. Farms on the peri-urban (fringes) of Lagos Metropolitan area have been unable to meet up with the excessive demand. Many people have farms on the peri-urban of Lagos but like with many urban areas, demand far exceeds production.
The project thus aims to combine modern technology, design and techniques/practices to enhance food production efficiency and the social ecosystem surrounding that process. A controlled environment agriculture to explore the possibilities for food production sufficiency and meet the food demands in Lagos while also improving the standard of living.
The primary objective of this project is to increase the capacity of food production in the heart of the Lagos Metropolitan Area. This involves creating a more efficient value chain of food production systems, cutting out waste in transport, time and loss through diseases.
The project aims to develop human capacity resources through training in technical and practical farming skills. This involves the design, construction and management of vernacular vertical farm structures and hydroponics for the Lagos community context. In a manner similar to acupuncture, the project will revitalize city life by providing active public spaces for communities in previously abandoned areas of the city. This involves working closely together with communities already engaged in urban farming and determining what works for each specific context. The project will also revitalize previously ignored or abandoned pockets of space in the city into active urban spaces.
The pilot is expected to be a point of reference for fast, efficient and healthy food production. It is expected to improve living conditions by enhancing security, also animal labour friendly and security of tenure etc. The pilot is designed in such a way that the activities going on in and around it are self-sustaining.