Our project aims to propose a solution to issues regarding the ecological harm done by land-degrading agricultural practices faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Cape York, Australia.
The proposed solution is a solar-powered hydroponic system produced from both sourced and independently manufactured materials. Manufactured materials will be composed of upcycled and recycled plastic waste from the community, further addressing issues within the community with waste disposal. The system is composed of 12 components: reservoir, air pump, water pump, solar panel, electrical storage system, tubing, casing, air stone, net pots, nutrient solution, and a water trapping mesh. All of these components went through a careful iterative selection process in order to select materials that interact well with social, environmental, and economic factors in Cape York. The total cost of the system amounted to an investment of approximately £620, which was predicted to be paid back in less than two years’ time.
If this system were to be implemented successfully, indigenous community members in Cape York would be able to self-sustainably produce high quality fruits and vegetables while having a net positive ecological footprint.
Great work