Our international challenge is aimed at young people looking to enter the world of work, who we train for free at our Solidarity FabLabs. They develop a project from A to Z, learn about digital manufacturing, teamwork and perhaps even a future trade.
This year, their projects address new agriculture and food issues & the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.
15 “Agri Makers” projects were selected by the Orange Foundation, then 3 by the online audience and jury. The prize for the Solidarity FabLabs challenge was awarded on May 21 to the Solidarity FabLab in Rabat. Their digital production, titled Ghallaty, received nearly 12,000 votes. It is a smart harvest basket, which tracks fruit maturity and allows farmers to double their productivity.
Discover the 3 finalist teams!
The aquaponics kit
Solidarity FabLab Lisungi
This urban farming kit offers a solution to urbanization happening at breakneck pace in the country, climate change and growing rates of malnutrition. It was invented and produced at the FabLab by 4 young people aged 24 to 28 who had to interrupt their studies. The nutrients produced by fish fertilize the plants, which grow in the water and recycle it. This agricultural system could be installed on roofs and patios. Production that yields 15 times more than planting in the ground, consuming 90% less water... and requiring less labor!
The Ghallaty Smart Harvesting Basket
Solidarity FabLab Rabat ODC
How can the new FabLab technologies double agricultural productivity and the revenue earned by smallholder fruit farmers? This challenge was tackled by 10 young people, who designed and produced a smart harvesting basket robot at the FabLab. This smart basket includes an app that tracks and controls fruit ripeness to harvest it at the right time. Controlled remotely, it also helps save a lot of effort at non-mechanized farms. Several FabLab disciplines and tools were used to create this basket robot: soldering iron, Arduino, micro-control design and development workshops, laser and digital manufacturing.
The high-frequency rocket
Solidarity FabLab Amman
The pesticides used to combat locust infestations prevent food shortages, but harm the planet and our health. This new system changes everything, by producing high frequencies to disturb the insects! It is placed in an aerodynamic rocket that can be transported by drone to difficult-to-access agricultural areas. Designed and produced at the FabLab by a young 23 year old, the next version of this high-frequency rocket prototype could be powered by solar energy.
We have provided free training to young people seeking to enter the world of work since 2014 in our Solidarity FabLabs. There they learn digital manufacturing, teamwork and perhaps even a future trade. Our international challenge is aimed at them. It allows them to use our FabLabs to develop a project from A to Z and show everything they are capable of doing today. This year, the challenge is to create digital objects that address new agricultural and food issues. A theme that directly addresses one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture."