In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the introduction of six new subjects to South Africa’s school curriculum—one of which was aquaponics. Aquaponics is an innovative farming method that combines aquaculture (the raising of fish, shellfish and algae) with hydroponics (growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil).
South Africa’s food system is largely dominated by large-scale commercial farms, making it vulnerable to climate shocks and market fluctuations. Meanwhile, the country’s 2.5 million smallholders and subsistence farmers play a critical role in providing local food and reducing poverty. Introducing aquaponics in schools is a promising step to strengthen local food production and equip future generations with the skills to ensure food security.
Expanding aquaponics in schools
Laerskool Kempton Park in Gauteng Province has been teaching aquaponics since 2017 with support from INMED South Africa, a humanitarian development organization. Recognizing the potential to scale, INMED set out to create a user-friendly, “plug and play” aquaponics system that could be easily introduced in schools nationwide. With support from the UNDP-Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), this vision began to take shape.
To date, INMED has reached ten schools and over 7,300 learners, developing South Africa’s first ready-to-use school aquaponics system. In collaboration with Pioneer Plastics, INMED designed a prototype that is compact, easy to install and school-friendly. The system includes a 2,000-litre fish tank, optional viewing windows for students, a sturdy submersible pump to circulate water and a vegetable growing area supported by steel racks.
“The average age of our farmers is 62 years. Where is the next generation of farmers? Where is our next crop going to come from if there are no young people coming into the space of agriculture? The technology that we designed acts as an attractor for the young people. It bridges the technology gap, especially in marginalized communities, to make sure that no one is left behind.” – Unathi Sihlahla, director at INMED South Africa.
School educators and other community members stand next to the vegetables grown with the aquaponics system. Photo: INMED South Africa
How it works: the aquaponics cycle
Aquaponics is rooted in ancient agricultural practices including the Mayan and Aztecs ‘floating gardens’ and the traditional rice-fish farming systems in East and Southeast Asia. In modern systems, fish tanks are connected to vegetable beds. Fish waste enriches the water with nutrients that help plants grow and the plants in turn filter and clean the water for the fish.
The “plug and play” aquaponics prototypes are currently being tested in two schools: Laerskool Kempton Park and Flora Gardens Primary. One of the schools has catered the programme to children with learning and physical disabilities, ensuring the system is inclusive and accessible.
Aquaponics can produce up to ten times more crops in the same space compared to traditional farming. It requires no chemical fertilizers or pesticides and uses minimal energy, powered by a solar pump. Unlike commercial aquaponics setups that are often costly, INMED’s school systems are designed to be affordable and practical.
Two educators pick up one of the fishes from the aquaponics tank. Photo: INMED South Africa
A man waters the seedlings inside a greenhouse. Photo: INMED South Africa
Building knowledge and skills
To prepare for scaling up, INMED has developed a comprehensive aquaponics training manual and visual learning materials to help educators and staff operate the system confidently.
So far, INMED has trained 113 adults, including lead teachers and community members supporting the schools. The training covers system setup, fish health management, species selection and regenerative agriculture practices that conserve water, improve soil and protect local biodiversity.
INMED also formed a design committee including experts from Nelson Mandela University and Stellenbosch University. Together, they are working on classroom-based educational units that align with the “plug and play” concept.
Part of the INMED team poses with the vegetables grown through the “plug and play” aquaponics systems. Photo: INMED South Africa
Scaling for impact
South Africa has nearly 25,000 schools, with around 23,000 of them publicly funded. Since aquaponics is now part of the national curriculum, INMED sees a powerful opportunity to expand. The organization has set an ambitious goal: to introduce the system in 40 percent of schools across the country.
With additional support from local agencies and South Africa’s Technology Innovation Agency, INMED plans to grow the number of test sites to 20 schools, potentially reaching over 16,300 school children in the short term, with the aim of much wider adoption in the future.
“UNDP-AFCIA has supported us with the opportunity to make our ideas into reality. It is new technology that has not been tested before, but now we can design and refine it to make sure it is effective and productive before we roll it out to the broader market. It will benefit hundreds of schools in South Africa.” – Unathi Sihlahla.
A cook prepares the fish grown with the aquaponics system as part of one of the school’s nutrition programme. Photo: INMED South Africa
INMED’s school-based aquaponics initiative is not just about growing food—it’s about growing futures. By making sustainable farming accessible to young people, the organization is building critical skills, strengthening food security and inspiring a new generation to lead in agriculture and climate resilience. As South Africa faces rising climate and economic challenges, this practical, scalable solution offers a pathway toward healthier schools, empowered communities and a more sustainable future.
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Supported by financial contributions from the Adaptation Fund and the European Union, the UNDP-AFCIA programme has awarded 44 micro and small grants to locally led organizations across 33 countries worldwide, accelerating their innovative solutions to build resilience in the most vulnerable communities.
UNDP-AFCIA is one of two featured programmes under the Adaptation Innovation Marketplace (AIM), a multi-stakeholder strategic platform that promotes scaled-up adaptation at the local level.
