Sustainable development project
Organic School Gardens
One of our most successful sustainable development projects is the Organic School Garden Project in Ghana. The Agro Eco-Louis Bolk Institute started this project in 2008, together with GOAN, the Ghana Organic Agriculture Network. Funded by Oxfam Novib, the project has set up sixteen organic school gardens within the past two years, with eight more to follow in 2010.
Smart solutions for interconnected problems
Due to inadequate and unbalanced diets many children in developing countries suffer from malnutrition. This affects not only their health but also their learning abilities. Fruits and vegetables, which are essential for growing children, are often unavailable, or laced with pesticides due to improper use of agrochemicals.
The significance of organic school gardens
Organic school gardens produce fruits and vegetables for the daily meals of schoolchildren. By using organic growing methods, the production does not harm the environment. Moreover, the produce is free from pesticide residues and safe for consumption. The school gardens also serve as demonstration plots for Farmer Field Schools, where local farmers learn how to make compost and how to farm organically. The farming families can use the fruits and vegetables for their own meals. And if production is sufficient they can market the surplus to earn additional income.
Making systems work
We approach poverty alleviation from a broader perspective than others. We take into account the complexity of local factors. In our view sustainable agriculture is the driving force behind rural development. We work together with national organic movements. Thanks to our longstanding experience with agricultural development projects, we are able to make systems work.
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Leaflet
Organic School Gardens
Contact person
Inge Vos 
