Growing Healthy Food in Shipping Containers: A Solutions Journalism Story from Nigeria

Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja, a Nigerian entrepreneur, found the recipe for addressing an urban problem. Her idea was to start the first containerized farming in Africa. And this formula helps get around the hurdle and costs of transporting fresh farm produce from the countryside to cities like Abuja.

Nigeria, like other countries in the developing world, faces environmental problems that are immediate byproducts of international trade. One of these problems is the hundreds of waste containers abandoned by the side of the road. These usually occupy the place until they decompose. Angel’s solution is to make these containers useful, by transforming them into urban farms.

There are no fields or soil needed, for Angela and her team use hydroponics. They grow leafy greens and salad just with water, and LED lights. These are products that are normally not suitable to be grown in Nigeria. But Angel and her team are able to grow them year-round, whether it’s in the rainy season or the dry season.

The outcomes are multiple. Her business, Fresh Direct Produce & Agro-Allied Services, gives better job security for urban farmers. She also employs mainly young women. And her initiative provides healthy food to grocery stores, and restaurants in the city of Abuja.

This is a solutions journalism story shared by BBC News on February 2nd, 2018. It explores various international development issues, including international trade, sustainable cities, food and job security and the role and place of women in global south countries.

The difference here is that this story approaches these issues from a solutions journalism perspective — it focuses on a response to social problems like unemployment and pollution. It examines how the formula works in detail by describing the methods Angel and her team use to grow organic produce in waste containers just with water and LED lights. The effectiveness of her business is portrayed by showing some of her clients who often had to import their salad and leafy greens.

The story doesn’t avoid what’s not working in their approach. Nigeria has a problem of power and clean water sustainability. This affects Angel’s business. As a result, they have to use generators, and store rain water for future use. They are also planning on using solar energy.