22-04-2025
Teaching high-tech agriculture
A Hong Kong social venture is transforming classrooms into agricultural hubs, teaching students sustainable skills while providing fresh produce for low-income families.
The Farmunity initiative, run by farming technology company Farmacy HK, is engaging over 1,200 students across 10 secondary schools, producing up to 20,000 vegetables monthly – equivalent to a small commercial farm's output.
Launched in 2024 with nearly HK$1.9 million in funding from the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund, the project installs hydroponic systems in schools where students learn agriculture, technology and business skills.
Each month, about 6,000 to 8,000 vegetables are donated to nearby low-income households, with the rest sold through student-managed distribution channels.
"This isn't just about growing vegetables or creating future farmers," said Raymond Mak Ka-chun, Farmacy's co-founder and chief empowerment officer, in an exclusive interview with The Standard.
"We're empowering students to solve real community problems through hands-on experience with sustainability and technology."
The program's impact extends far beyond agricultural output. At one participating school, students delivered their first harvest to a temporary housing area across the street, sparking ongoing community connections.
Several schools have established partnerships with neighborhood stores and social enterprises to distribute their produce.
"Many of these underprivileged kids don't have access to green skills or STEM education outside school," he said. "But in five or ten years, these will be essential for their careers. This program lets them learn in a hands-on way, not just from textbooks."
Mak also revealed that over 10 schools are on a waiting list and several have already signed letters of intent. Teachers have also embraced the curriculum, with participation rates surpassing expectations.
Mak expects to expand the model to secondary schools. 'If ten schools can achieve this impact, imagine the potential for expansion."
The Farmunity project was recently recognized at Oxfam Hong Kong's "Beyond Measure: Annual Outstanding Project Award Ceremony," where it was named one of four winning initiatives.
The awards are part of the Oxfam Grant for Good program, which supports innovations addressing poverty and social exclusion.
Wong Shek-hung, director of the Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan program at Oxfam Hong Kong, explained that the SIE Fund appointed Oxfam as an intermediary to help social ventures refine and execute their ideas.
Over the past two years, the program has nurtured 49 projects, providing mentorship, networking, and funding oversight.
(Ayra Wang)
