I recently discovered the website of Factor e Farm, which started out as a 30-acre soybean field in rural Missouri and is now a bubbling source of ecological innovation. What makes Factor e Farm so unique is that they are completely self-sustaining in every regard, from energy production to drinking water. This project is truly a feat of great engineering on so many levels. I am impressed beyond words.
Why the interest in such an idea? It’s completely applicable to many scenarios on the continent of Africa. While “going green” is a hot buzzword here in the States, it’s serious business in Africa. Energy conservation is not only a way to look cool and lend a hand to the environment, it’s often a necessity in Africa’s oftentimes unreliable infrastructure.
While I know that there are many individuals, nonprofits, and for-profits innovating on this level, and have been for many years, I would venture to say that this will become a trending topic over the coming years in Africa and around the world to a point where its progress is obvious everywhere we look.
Good stuff indeed.
For more info on ecological innovation, be sure to check out the Open Source Ecology blog.
