Johannesburg, South Africa - August 07, 2024

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠By introducing advanced technology and training skillful workers locally, a hydroponic strawberry farmland in South Africa's Johannesburg is helping locals, especially the youth, get employed.

Carltonville is an old mining town. With some operations having closed over the years, young entrepreneurs spotted opportunities to work with the space and not necessarily the land.

Vusi's strawberry farm stretches over 2.5 hectares and his fruit never touches the ground.

Hydroponic farming requires a constant supply of water. All rain on this farm is harvested and directed into a dam. There are boreholes on the property too.

Growing strawberries is no easy feat. It took up to four years in research and development, putting in the right nutrients, getting the water supply correct in order to produce this beautiful fruit.

Vusi's farm is also making a big impact in the community.

Agricultural activity across the globe is being impacted by global warming and climate change. Farmers have to adapt to adverse weather patterns and the hydroponic method is proving successful.

Shotlist:
Johannesburg, South Africa - Aug 7, 2024:
1. Various of pools, greenhouses at hydroponic strawberry farm;
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Bruce Avis, general manager, Vusi's Farm (partially overlaid with shot 3/ending with shot 4):
"We purchased the farm, and we started growing hydroponic strawberries, which is labor intensive. There aren't many hydroponic farms of this size in South Africa, so a lot of the technology that we are using was not available. We had to import that technology and then staff members or people that could build this type of system aren't locally available. So, we've trained a lot of them how to install and manage and get systems like this on the go.";
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3. Various of interior of hydroponic strawberry greenhouse;
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4. Interior of hydroponic strawberry greenhouse;
5. Greenhouses;
6. Various of hydroponic systems;
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Bruce Avis, general manager, Vusi's Farm (starting with shot 6/partially overlaid with shot 8/ending with shot 9):
"We moved to hydroponic systems because we can apply the right amount of water with the right nutrient solution to each plant individually, and we can recover the water, too. So, by doing that method, we are saving a lot of water. We are making sure that the plant is fed properly, and we're getting the optimal return from each plant. And also using hydroponics we can put more plants per square meter.";
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8. Various of Bruce Avis in greenhouse with reporter;
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9. Packers working;
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kgomotso Mashabela, local harvester (starting with shot 9/ending with shot 11):
"I just want to see this farm growing and then making opportunity for our community, especially for the youth. The rate of unemployment is high.";
11. Various of packers working;
12. Boxed strawberries;
13. Various of boxed strawberries being loaded onto truck;
14. Truck running.

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