Climate Adaptation and Mitigation innovations

Seeds carry more than the promise of a harvest. They carry the stories, traditions, knowledge and wisdom of generations before us. Passed down from grandparents to farmers and from one generation to the next, indigenous seeds are deeply connected to our culture, heritage and food systems. Protecting and preserving these seeds is therefore not only about safeguarding food for today, but also about ensuring that future generations inherit the knowledge, diversity and resources that have sustained communities for generations. As part of the Urban Futures project the team travelled to the heart of Matobo District to engage directly with communities and learn more about the rich diversity of indigenous seeds found in the area. The journey provided an opportunity to learn from farmers and households who have cultivated, preserved and passed down these seeds over many years. Every household visited had a unique story to tell. Community members shared knowledge about the different types of indigenous seeds, their origins, uses, nutritional and agricultural value, as well as the traditional methods used to grow, harvest, dry and preserve them. These conversations offered a deeper appreciation of the knowledge embedded within our communities and highlighted that indigenous seeds are much more than agricultural inputs. They are living repositories of culture, history and resilience. The seed-sourcing exercise also provided an opportunity to acquire a variety of indigenous seeds for preservation at the isiziba youth innovation hub in Njube, Bulawayo. This forms part of a broader effort to connect traditional knowledge with youth-led innovation and create a space where young people can learn, experiment and develop practical solutions for more resilient and sustainable food systems. . The Isiziba Youth Innovation Hub is being developed by the Urban Futures project as an agri-food knowledge and innovation centre where young people can gain practical skills across different aspects of agriculture, food systems and sustainability. The hub is designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities, allowing young people to explore practices such as multi-storey gardening, raised-bed farming, hydroponics, food processing and value addition, while also promoting inclusivity, creativity and innovation. . Located in Njube, the hub is gradually coming to life. Its gardens are already thriving, a greenhouse has been established, and a hydroponics demonstration area is taking shape. Among the most exciting developments is the establishment of the Isiziba seedbank which will provide a dedicated space for preserving indigenous seeds and the knowledge associated with them. . The seeds sourced from Matobo will become part of this growing collection. Through the seedbank, young people will have the opportunity to see, learn about and engage with indigenous varieties that are often underrepresented in modern food systems. They will learn why these seeds matter not only for food and nutrition security, but also for biodiversity, climate resilience, cultural heritage and community self-reliance. . The learning will go beyond simply storing seeds. Young people will be introduced to the concept of seed sovereignty and encouraged to understand the importance of communities protecting, preserving and maintaining access to their own seed resources. The hub will also facilitate seed multiplication, giving young people practical experience in growing, harvesting, selecting and preserving seeds for future planting seasons. In this way, the seedbank will become more than a place where seeds are stored; it will be a living learning space where knowledge is shared, tested and passed on. . The journey from Matobo to Njube represents more than the movement of seeds from one place to another. It represents the transfer of knowledge, heritage and community wisdom from one generation to the next. By learning directly from communities, Urban Futures is creating opportunities for valuable indigenous knowledge to be shared with young people and adapted to urban environments. The Isiziba Youth Innovation Hub is therefore becoming a bridge between traditional knowledge and youth innovation, a space where young people can learn from the wisdom of the past while developing solutions for the food systems of the future. As the hub continues to grow, so too will its seedbank, gardens, demonstrations and learning opportunities. . The journey is only beginning, but every seed sourced, preserved and planted brings us one step closer to building food systems that are more diverse, resilient and rooted in our heritage.

The Isiziba Youth Innovation Hub is steadily taking shape as a vibrant space for learning, creativity and innovation. From raised beds and a seed bank to vertical gardens and a greenhouse, the various features of the hub are coming together as it prepares for its official launch in September. The hub is envisioned as a home for young people, a space where they can come together to learn, unlearn and develop innovative solutions that can contribute to improved urban food systems. It is being developed through a partnership between the City of Bulawayo and the Urban Futures Project, a project which seeks to strengthen youth participation in urban food systems while contributing to the development of climate-resilient and sustainable urban food systems. The Urban Futures Project is being implemented in Bulawayo and Mutare through a consortium of four partners: Greenhut, Unemployed and Vulnerable Foundation Trust, African Food Revolution, and the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association, which serves as the lead partner. The project is funded by HIVOS. Once fully operational, the Isiziba Youth Innovation Hub will serve as a source of knowledge, creativity, opportunities and practical solutions for young people. A greenhouse has already been established and will provide a space for demonstrations and hands-on learning in areas such as hydroponics and vertical farming. A demonstration garden has also been established to showcase various sustainable food production practices, including multistorey gardens, raised beds and intercropping. These approaches are designed to demonstrate practical ways of building resilient urban food systems while creating a more sustainable future. Inclusivity has also been incorporated into the design and development of the hub, ensuring that the space and its activities can be accessed and enjoyed by everyone, including persons with disabilities. Among the innovative features at the hub are multistorey gardens, which demonstrate how small spaces can be transformed into highly productive growing areas. Each multistorey garden can accommodate up to 80 plants, compared to approximately 14 plants in a conventional garden occupying a similar amount of space. The gardens also promote efficient water use, as water draining from the upper levels can benefit plants growing on the lower levels. The raised layers of the multistorey gardens can also improve accessibility by making planting, watering and harvesting easier. In keeping with the hub’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, one of the multistorey gardens was constructed using recycled PET bottles. This demonstrates the principles of a circular economy, where waste materials can be transformed into useful and productive resources. Raised beds have also been incorporated into the hub, with disability inclusion being an important consideration in their design. Their height and structure make them more accessible to people who use wheelchairs, helping to ensure that more young people can actively participate in gardening and other activities at the hub. The hub is also home to a diverse range of plants, including vegetables such as covo, spinach and tsunga, as well as trees such as waterberry and umvebe. Lemon trees, herbs and edible flowers have also been incorporated into the space. Together, these different plant species contribute to a biodiverse and ecosystem friendly environment while creating valuable opportunities for young people to learn about sustainable food production and biodiversity. Another important feature currently being developed is the seed bank, which will help preserve indigenous seeds while educating young people about the importance of seed sovereignty. The seed bank will house a variety of indigenous and locally adapted seeds, including white sorghum, red cob maize, red maize, groundnuts, round nuts and okra, among others. The seeds will be sourced from rural communities, creating an opportunity for knowledge exchange between young people and communities with longstanding experience in seed preservation. Young people will learn about traditional seed preservation methods and the importance of conserving indigenous seed varieties. Seed multiplication initiatives will also be conducted periodically to support the continued availability and preservation of these important resources. Through its focus on innovation, sustainability, biodiversity, climate resilience and inclusion, the hub is creating opportunities for young people to actively participate in shaping the future of their communities. As the different components of the hub continue to take shape, Isiziba is set to become a space where knowledge is shared, ideas are transformed into practical solutions and young people are empowered to contribute to more resilient and sustainable urban food systems.