I will be speaking on the design of situated technology for urban agriculture at the TEDxJohannesburg Salon – Hacking the Farm on March 1 2018.
From http://www.tedxjohannesburg.co.za/hackingthefarm.html :
“The nature, texture, and complexion of the farm are changing. The gates are opening—slowly if not surely—to many who were previously excluded. Land reform promises to deliver tangible justice to those who’ve been deprived for far too long. Human population is projected to reach an astounding 9.7 billion by 2050. Every mouth will need to eat, and do so well. Climate change remains a challenge. But human ingenuity is hard to beat. Strategies and tactics will emerge. They must emerge. Business models are shifting—the farm is transforming into a high performance, high growth enterprise. It’s adding value to crops, turning commodities into products, and moving up the supply chain. The modern farm is a brand, with a USP, and a target audience. It can double-up as a factory, distillery, restaurant, place of learning, or even a wedding venue. Today’s farm is experimenting with new production methods and processes: biotechnology, big data, GPS, drones, robotics, and autonomous systems. Even the adjectives are changing: the farm can now be smart, precise, vertical, lean, organic, hydroponic, aeroponic, or aquaponic.
The farm, like the future, is not what it used to be.
Get ready for TEDxJohannesburgSalon: Hacking the Farm. The event takes place on 1 March 2018, at Tshimologong Precinct, in Braamfontein. We’re selecting our speakers from a range of farmers, technologists, agronomists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, commodity traders, chefs, restaurateurs, analysts, and activists. Each will take the farm apart, and put it back together again. Collectively, they will give us a perspective on the exciting changes that the farm is going through, as it transforms to meet the demands of a rapidly approaching future.
We’re thrilled that a truly awesome group of speakers have agree to participate. They include the following:
Wandile Sihlobo: Agricultural Economist, Columnist
Gertjan Meeuws (The Netherlands): Horticulture Engineer
Michris Janse van Rensburg: Farmer, Inventor
Emma Naluyima (Uganda): Veterinarian, Smallholder Farmer
Thato Moagi: Agripreneur, Nuffield International Scholar 2017/18
Claire Reid: Inventor, Entrepreneur, Gardener
Joshua C. Ngoma: Serial Entrepreneur
Tola Okunlula: Researcher, Afrika Burner
Jimmy Ka-Botha: Farmer
Mojisola Ojebode (Nigeria) : Biochemist, Social Entrepreneur
Busiso Moyo: Researcher, Food Activist
Matt Purkis: Green Economy Entrepreneur
Tracy Ledger: Author, Food Security Specialist
Brad Meiring: Entrepreneur, Geologist
Naudé Malan: Developmental Studies Researcher
Angus Donald Campbell: Industrial Designer, Design Researcher
Brian Dick: Slow Food Advocate
Michael Rudolph: Professor, Urban Farming Advocate
Thabi Nkosi: Agricultural Economist
Edward Mabaya (Zimbabwe, USA): Agricultural Economist, Academic
Stay tuned for more information. Buy your tickets here.”