Perched on the roof of Baidpura Village School for 1,600 children, Food Ladder has opened the first of its innovative hydroponic food security solution to be rolled out to schools across India.
Supported by The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Direct Aid Program (DAP), award-winning Australian NGO Food Ladder is focussing the distribution of its custom-designed hydroponic systems where the need is the greatest to address food security for the 1 in 3 children in India suffering from malnutrition.
Food Ladder CEO Kelly McJannett, announced today “with the roll out of Food
Ladder systems now under way, our vision in India is coming to life. Part of our
unique offering is the education about micro-nutrient rich diets for children as well as the opportunity to sell produce and create employment opportunities within their local communities. We’re truly putting food security back into the hands of the people who are most affected by it.”
The Australian High Commission, New Delhi commented, “We are proud to support Food Ladder’s innovative program. Enhancing sustainability, empowerment and health outcomes continue to be at the heart of this partnership and we look forward to working together in the future.”
Food Ladder is an innovative, affordable food security solution and micro
development venture rolled into one unique system. It supports the current trend toward efficient small-scale farming as the answer to feeding the world.
The Principal of Baidpura Village School Tej Pal Nagar said “I am grateful to Food Ladder and proud that our school is the first of so many in India to receive this wonderful system. The children will now be able to learn about growing food sustainably and improve their health.”
With projects at different phases of maturity in the Northern Territory (Australia) and India, it is a solution with infinite possibility across Australia and
around the world.
“The problem is not that there isn’t enough food, the problem is that disadvantaged communities can’t access it,” Kelly said. “Food Ladder has created a low cost, high yield solution that can be installed in small spaces and support high need communities to grow their own food. We are now calling on funding to deliver to another 100 schools in the next 6 months.”
A report released by the United Nations has stressed the need for a
paradigm shift in the focus and delivery of food security initiatives. The report states:
* Food security and nutrition is a pressing global challenge.
* The problem is access to food, not food shortage.
* Sustainable and affordable food production methods are required.
* Access to adequate, safe and nutritious food needs to be addressed for
existing and future generations.
* Traditional agriculture is both a major contributor and casualty of global
warming.