Laboratory
Terraforming the Niger River Basin
The Problem
The West African countries of Mali and Niger are located in the lower region of the Sahara desert.
These two countries are among the least developed on the planet.
Millions of lives are at risk in the midst of a devastating conflict that is fueled by Islamic Jihadists, and economic challenges worsened by climate change.
Over 90% of the population of Mali and Niger live along the Niger River basin, which winds it's way through both countries.
Over 80% of the total population of these two neighboring countries rely on subsistence farming to live.
There is a lack of access to affordable technologies to increase crop yields, agricultural productivity and fully utilize the water of the Niger for irrigation. The introduction of existing power-focused technologies are needed as agricultural practices have not changed in centuries.
"The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty" - Colin Powell - American politician and retired four-star general
The Solution
Importing expensive equipment would only reach a small number of people.
Our mission is to:
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Create a whole new market - a combination of East African flower export ($500 million plus in Kenya alone) and an American "Tyson's' chicken model; with full and continuous support to the farmers - but with high quality organics, such as moringa and other super-foods, which are already grown in the region, for local and most importantly, for export.
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Crowdsource the science and product development of low-cost highly effective transformational technologies, with renewable clean energy, including solar, wind and water power the core of our efforts.
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Manufacture the actual devices in Mali and Niger, to the greatest degree possible.
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Utilize the technology and the increased yield to grow superfoods like moringa, herbs, traditional medicine, and cosmetics.
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Via local collectives, produce quantities sufficient for export, to economically stimulate the region.
Execution of the local production and distribution of these transformational devices will be accomplished by the founder of Niger River Laboratory and local production managers, all of whom reside in Africa.
They will be supported by external project managers, overseeing the crowdsourcing design contests and via subject matter experts in support areas such as marketing, fundraising, administrative and finance; all working together to make a difference. We need your help to stop the war in Mali and Niger.
"I believe that the single most important reason prosperity spreads is the transmission of technologies and the ideas underlying them" Jeffery Sachs - American economist, public policy analyst and former director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University
"We are going to terraform the Niger River Basin like Starship Captain's"
Niger River Laboratory
Focus Areas
1
Irrigation
Irrigation is the single biggest transformation possible for residents of the Niger River basin - present efforts are accomplished by hand - bucket by bucket.
Water is pumped via expensive gasoline engines.
We will crowdsource ideas on how to manufacture devices locally (spiral water pump, powered by a water wheel, or a local pump powered by imported solar panels).
2
Soil Conditioning &
Crop Selection
The soil along the Niger River has been depleted of nutrients and importing chemical fertilizers is impracticable due to the cost and eventual damage to the environment. There is no use of composting and crop selection is extremely limited. Traditional medicines, cosmetics, and superfoods (moringa)
do grow well here. We will fix the soil and grow the plants!
