Winner, Australia’s Most Innovative
Non-Profit
Cultivating food security – for everyone
It will be the 21st century’s single biggest global challenge:
How do we feed 10-billion people when climate change is shrinking our farmland?
Far from shying away, Food Ladder is meeting this challenge head on by building climate-controlled greenhouses in schools across Australia.
Each greenhouse becomes the cornerstone of learning. Kids get hands-on experience of growing healthy, nutritious food.
They’re falling in love with fruit and veggies – many for the first time.
Best of all, it’s working.
Schools in every state and territory in Australia are now successfully running our system.
Teachers are saving hours of preparation time – thanks to A.I. enabled lesson plans. Students are then enjoying better education outcomes in STEM subjects. It’s why we know Food Ladder is ready to grow, creating stronger, healthier school communities wherever we go.
In one school alone, 84,000+ meals were served in a year. Our greenhouses grow 5x more efficiently than ground-based systems. Importantly, what was a long, carbon-heavy supply chain (farm to warehouse to supermarket) now couldn’t be shorter (greenhouse to table).
Crucially, it’s just the start. With guidance from IBM, A.I. is helping us adapt our system to local conditions, all round the world, in real time. By 2030 we plan to be engaging 1,064,200 students in growing their own food and directly leading to 25+ million meals.
By combining education, technology, and innovation we’re completely changing the next generation’s relationship with food.
That’s good for everyone.
It’s shocking, the number of kids who don’t eat fruit and veggies. For some, it’s because they don’t have access. For others it’s a lack of knowledge. Either way, Food Ladder has found a fresh way to addressing this issue.
We give kids easy access to fresh food and change the way they look at vegetables.
The results are outstanding. We’ve already seen kids who engage with Food Ladder have changed their long-term behaviour. Better still, they teach their parents and their communities. We’ve even seen household gardens springup after Food Ladder arrives in the local school.
Much like teaching someone to fish feeds them for a lifetime, Food Ladder teaches them to grow. Which is a life-skill they will carry forever. And pass on.
Best of all, Food Ladder relies on teachers but doesn’t add to their already punishing workload. We’ve developed a ‘Plug and play’ approach to all our installations. Each of our food growing systems is designed specifically for productivity, community and development.
Productivity
Our systems are 5-times more productive than traditional farming methods when operating at full capacity.
Community
Each system is designed to address the specific climate and food requirements of each individual community.
Development
Our projects address health, education, and economic development. We partner with the local community in a multi- disciplinary approach – including vocational training, STEM education and nutrition workshops.
Growing at schools near you
Schools are the heart of Food Ladder. Without them, children would continue misunderstanding food. On this interactive map you can see schools currently using a Food Ladder system (the green pins) plus our planned locations (the yellow pins). To view details simply click on the pin.
Leonora District
High School,
WA
(Wangkatja)
Alekarenge
School,
TAS
(Kaytetye Country)
Sorell
School,
TAS
(Tommeginne Country)
Kintore Street
School,
NT
(Jawoyn country)
Wellington
Public School,
NSW
(Wiradjuri Country)
Sheffield
School, TAS
(Palawa Country)
Wilmot
School, TAS
(Palawa Country)
Newling Public
School, NSW
(Anaiwan Country)
Radiant Live
College, QLD
(Mamu Country)
Nambucca
Heads High
School, NSW
(Gumbaynggirr Country)
Hilltop Road
Public School, NSW
(Dharug Country)
Broome Senior
High School, WA
(Yawuru Country)
Waterford West
State School, QLD
(Yuggerah Country)
Central Yorke
School, SA
(Narangga Country)
St Helens
District High
School, TAS
(Palawa Country)
Cowell Area School, SA
(Narangga Country)
Tyrrell College
Victoria
(Wergaia Country)
Heywood &
Districts
Secondary
College, VIC
(Gunditjmara Country)
Ungarra Primary
School, SA
(Nawu Country)
Coonamble
Public School, NSW
(Kamilaroi Country)
Prospect North
Primary School,
SA
(Kaurna Country)
Murrumburrah
High School, NSW
(Wiradjuri Country)
Communities @
Work Galilee
School, ACT
(Ngambri Country)
Cunnamulla P-12 State School,
QLD
(Kunja Country)
Barcaldine P-12
State School,
QLD
(Inningai Country)
Longreach State
High School,
QLD
(Inningai Country)
Rainbow P-12
College,
VIC
(Wergaia Country)
Oak Flats
High School,
NSW
(Tharawal Country)
Crescent Head
Public School,
NSW
(Dainggatti Country)
Boonah State
High School,
QLD
(Bundjalung Country)
Stirling North
Primary School, SA
(Nukunu Country)
Yorketown Area
School,
SA
(Narangga Country)
Port Dalrymple
School,
TAS
(Tyerrernotepanner Country)
Winton, QLD
(Koa Country)
Phoenix P-12 Community
College, VIC
(Wadawurrung Country)
Somerly Primary School, WA
(Whadjuk Country)
Charleville State
High School, QLD
(Gunggari Country)
Brewarrina Christian
School, NSW
(Wailwan Country)
Epsom Primary School, VIC
(Dja Dja Wurrung Country)
Kilkenny Primary
School, SA
(Kaurna Country)
Yirrkala School, NT
(Yolŋu Country)
Karcultaby Area School, SA
(Barngarla Country)
Morphett Vale East School, SA
(Kaurna Country)
Alexandria Park Community School,
NSW
(Gadigal Country)
Say Hello
If you’re interested in changing the way Australia eats, we’d love to hear from you. The easiest way is by using the form here.