Innovation

Towerganics aims to address urban food dependency by leveraging vertical farming methods that require minimal water and resources, producing healthy and nutrition-packed food within urban environments. What is also unique about this is that it is altogether youth-led, with its founder and many of the people engaged in this being under 30 years old.

harvesting some broad beans

Inspiration

Towerganics was born from the founder's observation, coming out of university during the COVID-19 pandemic; of the dependency of urban settlements on food in contrast to the self-sufficiency of rural communities.  In urban areas, people flocked to markets for essential items like corriander. At the same time, the founder's mother grew various vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, and corriander in recycled pots on the empty spaces of her rooftop. 

Towerganics has a clear long-term goal: "to create a sustainable urban food system". By promoting their 'food machine' system and encouraging practices such as kitchen and pot gardening, Towerganics envisions a future where urban households across Nepal grow their own food. Over the next five years, the company aims to implement its system in at least one household in every major city. This vision aligns with their mission to make urban areas more self-sufficient in food production, reducing dependency on imported produce and creating healthier communities.

Overall impact

Towerganics has encountered several challenges in its journey. One of the key obstacles is the perception of hydroponics as an artificial and non-natural method, which is relatively new in Nepal. Raising awareness through digital media and building public trust in the system's authenticity has proven complicated. Additionally, as a startup, Towerganics faces limitations in research and development due to constrained resources. Writing grants and securing funding is time-consuming, and networking events often fail to deliver immediate results. In addition, with many of the critical actors still in university, it is hard to dedicate full time to this. Despite these hurdles, Towerganics recognizes the long-term value of these efforts in building connections and refining its business model.

Business benefit

The core of Towerganics is an automated vertical farming system designed to provide a highly efficient and sustainable farming solution. It eliminates the need for soil and uses 90% less water than traditional farming methods. The compact system can fit in the space of a chair and enables users to grow up to 30 different vegetables. This means that people living in apartment blocks, where open space is often limited, could use this method to grow vegetables even on balconies. This innovative solution addresses Nepal's dependency on imported vegetables, many exceeding safe pesticide residue limits, by empowering households to grow pesticide-free, nutritious food in small spaces.

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Social and environmental benefit

Towerganics is committed to functioning as a social venture by promoting inclusivity and offering training on soilless farming techniques to urban communities. The company collaborates with local governments, schools, and private institutions to expand its reach. One of the primary areas of focus is educating children about sustainable farming and food production. This educational initiative is critical in raising awareness of the climate crisis and teaching the next generation about responsible food practices. Towerganics believes that fostering this understanding at an early age can inspire children to participate in creating a more sustainable future.

In 2022, Towerganics was one of the Limitless Youth Academy Innovation Winners from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Interview

Pralisha Adhikari, co founder