A Multi-Layered Approach to Food Security

Gardens of Babylon’s secret lies in a marriage of two technologies: vertical farming and integrated aquaculture. Crops flourish in stacked layers, maximizing space and minimizing land use. Here’s where the magic truly happens: fish raised in a recirculating system provide natural nutrients for the plants, while plant water is recycled back to the fish tanks. This ingenious aquaponic loop dramatically reduces water consumption and waste.

“The idea originated from the challenges faced by Algerian farmers,” says Mokhtar. “Water scarcity, variable yields – these were the issues I wanted to address with sustainable solutions.”

Besides The fish, Gardens of Babylon cultivates a dazzling array of greens, berries, microgreens, and even edible flowers. Imagine lush rows of romaine lettuce, kale, basil, rocket, bok choy, and spinach thriving alongside strawberries. For a more exotic touch, they offer peppery rocket, zesty cress, and vibrant red mustard microgreens. And to add a whimsical touch to your plate, edible flowers like spilantes, borage, viola, clove, and blue corn flower are also available. Their commitment to innovation extends to experimental crops, currently including cucumbers, thyme, mint, fennel, radish, cherry tomatoes, purslane, and amaranth.

From Prototype to Powerhouse: A Journey of Perseverance

Mokhtar’s vision didn’t bloom overnight. It took a dedicated team of IT specialists, engineers, and agricultural experts to bring the prototype to life. By mid-2023, the startup was ready to enter commercial operations. Smain Bensalem became the Lab Director, while Alaa eddine Belalia assumed the role of IT engineer. The startup also enlisted the skills and experience of Belounis Mustapha, its irrigation manager and Dahmani Djilali as agronomist.

The Gardens of Babylon team bloomed together, their talent and collaboration fueling their rise. Together the team began achieving several corporate milestones. The Algerian government’s acceleration program, along with SwitchMed’s incubation phase, proved instrumental. It empowered them to finalize their MVP and develop a targeted business model focused on supplying hotels and restaurants as a first step. By 2023, with a spacious 640sqm facility and partnerships with hotels and restaurants secured, they’re poised to revolutionize Algerian agriculture.

An Ingenious Twist: From Waste to Growth

But Gardens of Babylon’s innovation goes beyond the aquaponic system. Committed to minimizing waste, they’ve developed a clever solution. Between the aquaponic and vertical hydroponic systems, they’ve included a reverse osmosis system to filter excess fish waste that could be harmful. This waste isn’t discarded, however. It’s combined with cactus byproducts and transformed into a gel that aids seed germination. This resourceful approach exemplifies Gardens of Babylon’s dedication to maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.

Further enhancing this closed-loop system, aquatic plants have also been strategically incorporated into the fish ponds. These plants act as natural filters, absorbing any remaining nutrients from the water, ensuring optimal health for the fish and maximizing the efficiency of the entire ecosystem.

Looking to the Horizon: A Garden Box for the World

Mokhtar doesn’t stop at feeding Algeria. His ultimate dream? A personal-sized, automated “garden box” that allows anyone, anywhere, to cultivate fresh produce. This ambitious vision speaks volumes about the potential of Gardens of Babylon. They’re not just growing food; they’re cultivating a future of sustainable abundance, one innovative layer at a time.

Learn more about Gardens of Babylon through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gardens.of.balylon.alg or by contacting the founder here.