FÉRO

Agricultural expansion remains the primary driver of deforestation and the loss of forest biodiversity. In regions like the Sahel in Africa, the impact of clearing forests for agriculture has led to widespread land degradation and the southward spread of the Sahara. Féro was founded with a vision to rethink this unsustainable approach to agriculture. We have developed an innovative, affordable bamboo-based greenhouse, specifically designed for the Sahel’s climate. With our greenhouses, farmers can: (i) reduce water use by 90%, (ii) increase crop productivity by 400%, and (iii) cultivate year-round instead of only three months during the short rainy season. By decreasing the land required for agriculture, greenhouses help ease the pressures of deforestation and biodiversity loss.

To make this technology accessible, we need a cost-effective solution. By utilizing bio-materials like bamboo and recycled non-renewable materials such as PET plastic bottles, we have created a product that is 53% cheaper than metal greenhouses, which have a high carbon footprint.

To strengthen our model further, we integrate reforestation into our business approach. Our product achieves the following: (A) we provide smallholder farmers in the Sahel with subsidized greenhouses, and (B) through this subsidy, we contract farmers to plant native forest species on their land. This innovative model enables farmers to increase productivity on less land, allowing nature to reclaim areas previously cleared for agriculture.

This system has the potential to transform agriculture within a circular economy framework, enhancing livelihoods, boosting rural economies, reducing rural-urban migration, and most importantly, fostering climate resilience in an increasingly warming planet.

Read more about Féro.