Beuuy Sanga’s Post

My journey in the farming world has been somewhat of a bitter sweet experience and to be honest I was never a big fan of the agricultural sector. But fate always has a way of playing its tricks on us. I was first introduced to mushroom farming when I was in Upper Six in 2017 and I have to say I was astonished. What astonished me most is that, the whole idea of mushroom was allocated a time of possibility..I always used to say that it was a rainy season type of thing but on the particular day when I first saw the whole process it was a bright August day and there were no clouds in the sky. Over the past years I have done my research and even based my final year project on this exquisite art integrating biotechnology and engineering into one. And my big question to the African engineer is why are we not embarking on different ways to improve these farming techniques? What if we could automate the mushroom farming process , from the growing of spawn to the harvesting process?We can leverage sensor technology and gain valuable insights into the growing environment, making timeless adjustments and creating optimal conditions for mushroom cultivation. This technology can help optimise resource utilization, maximizing yields and enhancement of overall mushroom exportation thereby increasing foreign currency generation for the Zim nation. #mytwocents #womenintech

"Agroecology takes shape as a three-strand braid that plaits science with a set of farming practices and a social movement. It is rooted in and evinces deep respect for the ecological orientation of indigenous and small-holder agriculture. Agroecology dignifies and elevates farmers’ knowledge; it does not approach the humans who tend the land as if they are deficient or need saving. Agroecologists favor bottom-up approaches to agricultural research and development that center local people, their knowledge, and what their local environs can provide. They also believe that change happens by spreading knowledge and power via relational exchange and in communities of practice. By offering a way to farm as part of nature, resetting the “culture” part of agriculture, and relating stories of resistance, agroecology offers a stable foundation for relational food systems." Civita & Auerbach, Feeding Each Other (Changemakers Press, 2023) At Sterling, we're big fans of agroecology. But what does that mean and how does it differ from other forms of "nature-positive" or "sustainable" approaches to farming? Our EcoGather Director Nicole Civita (@plenty.enough) and former faculty member Tony Van Winkle collaborated on a really helpful explainer that does the work of explaining agroecology, situating it among and distinguishing it from some of the other approaches out there (e.g., organic, climate-smart, regenerative, carbon farming, sustainable intensification, etc.). Read more: https://hubs.la/Q020NkfN0

Exploring Grasspea: A New Frontier for Canadian Farming - https://lnkd.in/de43NHAR Priyanka Gupta By Dr. Priyanka Gupta In the realm of agricultural innovation, the introduction of a novel crop like grasspea holds the potential to profoundly reshape Canada’s farming landscape, offering a pathway to sustainable feed production and profitable crop cultivation. While Grasspea is commonly used as a food, feed, and fodder crop in Asian and Sub-Saharan African regions, its acceptance in Canada appears to be more inclined towards its utilization as a feed fodder or cover crop. Even though grasspea is not yet being cultivated in Canada, its potential benefits warrant thorough exploration and promotion, particularly due to its climate resilience, nutritional […]