For context, before launching the Amazon initiative, I was first introduced to aquaponics during a visit to the Belvedere School system in Dublin. I was amazed by what I saw. With Charles and Kedar from Emerald Aquaponics, they transformed a classroom into a closed loop-growing environment and built an impressive rooftop garden. 

I began working with Charles and Kedar, learning how to design and operate sustainable food systems, and I started working on putting an educational aquaponic farm into my own school. I later pitched a scalable version at my school’s Dragon’s Den competition and won €2,000 to help develop the project  

Working with Emerald Aquaponics and my school community, we are focusing on a system that can teach sustainability and soilless food production across subjects including biology, chemistry, maths, business, economics, home economics, and environmental stewardship. The project has won “Best Innovation” at the Enterprise Ireland Student Awards, which has helped attract growing interest and support.