The Third Dimension of Agriculture: How Cubic Farming Can Redefine Africa’s Landscapes

Traditional farming has been the cornerstone of human life for as long as we know, the horizontal greenery, sweeping landscapes and its ability to feed us for so long. But there are challenges, much like everything else. Africa in particular has an exciting challenge that will see the population doubling to 2,5 billion people by 2050.

This poses a few challenges. Pressure on land, energy, and water systems will rise dramatically with the influx of new inhabitants to the continent. This not only poses a threat to horizontal farming, as land will need to be split between habitation and food production, but also exposes deeper vulnerabilities. Add to that the natural elements — soil degradation, drought and the loss of agricultural knowledge due to a lack of interest in farming, particularly among the youth — and you have a recipe for an extremely insecure food future. This is not an indictment of the youth; I myself am a descendant of this loss of knowledge. Who could blame them?

This is the perfct entrée for cubic farming — a model that is turning outdated agricultural norms on their head by utilising 3D space instead of 2D. Think of it as the difference between watching an old school Bugs Bunny cartoon — clearly giving away my age — and experiencing a fully immersive 3D movie inside the Las Vegas’ experimental dome, “The Sphere”. The contrast is staggering. Expanding agriculture into aerial space means there is a multiplication of horizontal space dramatically increasing production per square meter.

The beauty of cubic farming lies in its adaptability. Across Africa’s varied landscapes, these systems can be tailored to the environment and the community in which it operates, ie:

• Urban skylines: Rooftops, balconies, and abandoned buildings can host hydroponic growing infrastructure feeding city neighborhoods directly.

• Semi-arid regions: Renewable energy-powered, water-efficient cubic farms can produce vegetables and legumes even where rainfall is a scarce commodity.

• Mountainous terrain: Modular stacks are able to thrive on uneven land where traditional agriculture would be deemed impossible.

• Coastal areas: Using desalinated water and controlled-environment farming, cubes can produce fresh greens close to ports and cities making them ready for export.

• Rural heartlands: Hybrid greenhouses combined with vertical modules extend the growing season and improve food security.

Every context offers a unique expression of this concept, each acting as a cultural and economic enabler, something that the African continent needs now more than ever.

Rooted in Community

Cubic farming is not about replacing the farmers of yesterday. Quite the contrary. It is about amplifying age old knowledge systems while connecting modern innovation with centuries of agricultural wisdom. Most importantly it is a tool to restore dignity to farming in the African context, one that has immense potential to unearth new vocations, and empower the youth to see agriculture as a viable, aspirational career that is in tune with their modern reality.

The Promise and the Path Forward

Cubic farming is more than a concept; it is a call to action to harness the available 3D space to maximise the Earth’s most valuable resource: its food. It offers a way to finally combat continental hunger, curb wastage and demonstrates that Africa can feed itself without relying solely on large tracts of land.

Pilot projects across the continent are already showing the potential to do things differently: rooftop farms in Nairobi are producing fresh herbs and greens for local markets, while solar-powered hydroponic towers in Namibia are thriving despite the arid conditions of the region. These are no longer mere experiments — they are prototypes for scaling a new agricultural paradigm that is imperative for the future of food security.

A Vision for Africa

Imagine African cities dotted with 3D farms, the ASALs (arid and semi-arid lands) of Africa transformed into food producing oases, and rural communities enabled by modular systems. Envision a continent where hunger is a thing of the past, where the youth find pride in producing food, and where Africa’s landscapes are measured not just in hectares, but in its productive contribution towards innovating new possibilities and reclaiming dignity.

Cubic farming asks us to grow upward — not only in the physical spaces available but in our ambition, ingenuity, and collective action. It challenges us to reimagine agriculture as a shared responsibility and invites us to seek opportunity where there was once none.