FreshMinistries’ Desmond Tutu Program to End Global Hunger Opens InnovativeAquaponics Center to Provide Greater Food Security Across Africa

Caption: Rotary International’s District 9400 launches the Aquaponics Training Centre in Johannesburg. (Front L-R:  Riana Pretorius, Dr. Robert V. Lee III, Rotary International President Dr Gordon McInally, Annemarie Mostert, and Mrs Heather McInally, Back : Sabelo Mashwama) 

Caption: (From L-R) FreshMinistries Chairman & CEO, Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee III and Rotary International President Dr Gordon McInally plant their first plant in the newly inaugurated Aquaponics Unit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

— For immediate release —
            March 25, 2024

For more information, contact: Michael Frazier, [email protected], (347) 415-0219

FreshMinistries’ Desmond Tutu Program to End Global Hunger Opens Innovative Aquaponics Center to Provide Greater Food Security Across Africa

Jacksonville-Fla. Based FreshMinistries and Rotary International Partner to Launch Groundbreaking Aquaponics Training Center

Johannesburg, South Africa – FreshMinistries, the long-time leader in bringing successful outreach programs to the Anglican Communion, yesterday unveiled a cutting-edge aquaponics training center in Johannesburg’s northern city of Randburg, marking a significant stride towards achieving sustainable solutions and enhancing food security across six African nations.

FreshMinistries, renowned for its aquaponic farms and training centers spanning Africa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida and other regions in the United States, is collaborating with Rotary

International in its quest to eliminate hunger.

The Desmond Tutu Program to End Global Hunger spearheaded by FreshMinistries, has 25 years of expertise in aquaponics, extending its impact from the Americas to Haiti and a groundbreaking installation in Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga. This sustainable agricultural approach not only transforms lives and combats malnutrition but also fosters community economic development.

During a ceremonial event, Rotary International President Gordon McInally and Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee III, Chairman & CEO of FreshMinistries, unveiled the aquaponics training center.

“Aquaponics isn’t just farming; it’s a revolution,” Lee said. “It promises year-round produce, sustainable incomes, and, particularly, a step towards financial independence for women.”

“Food security is not just a right but a foundation for a hopeful, thriving society,” McInally said,

aligning the project’s launch with South Africa’s Human Rights Month.

The aquaponics system begins with tanks for fish cultivation. Bacteria within these tanks decompose fish waste into natural fertilizer, which farmers utilize as nutrients for plants in hydroponic growing chambers. Plants grown using aquaponics include lettuce, spinach, herbs,

tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers and more. These centers provide local

communities with a consistent supply of fresh fish and vegetables, with a

significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional farming methods.

Situated at the heart of Randburg, the newly inaugurated State-of-the-Art Aquaponics Center at Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk in Ferndale aims to be a beacon of hope and innovation. A collaboration between Rotary International through District 9400, Southern Africa, and

FreshMinistries’ Desmond Tutu Program to End Global Hunger, this project will empower communities not only in South Africa but also in Eswatini, Lesotho and Madagascar with sustainable food sources and economic growth.

The center, serving as one of two training sites in Africa, will train individuals from Eswatini, Madagascar, Lesotho and South Africa. The second site will be in Kenya, catering to participants from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Tanzania. With an ambitious plan to deploy 198 aquaponics units across eight African countries within the next three to five years, FreshMinistries and Rotary International are committed to enhancing food security, education, and economic independence across the continent.

About FreshMinistries 

FreshMinistries is a nonprofit outreach organization dedicated to eliminating extreme poverty by empowering communities and individuals to realize their full potential.

About Rotary International

With a legacy spanning over a century, Rotary International is a global network of 1.4 million visionaries committed to making a difference. Through passion, energy, and intellect, Rotary members address global challenges, from literacy to peace, water security to health, aiming for a better world for all.