A partnership between Akoma Holding and EduHaus aims to employ Black Nova Scotians in hydroponic farming.

Inside a converted shipping container in Westphal, N.S., the Akoma Hydroponic Garden is growing fresh basil and teaching young people about horticulture.

We Grow Aces is an initiative grounded in a simple but powerful idea: access to fresh, nutritious food should not be limited, inconsistent, or dependent on circumstance. Developed at the University of Evansville, the program brings together innovation, education, and community focus to address interconnected challenges such as health disparities, food insecurity, and the need for more sustainable food systems.

The hydroponic system allows students to follow crops from seed to harvest in a controlled environment, turning abstract lessons about plant biology, sustainability and food production into something tangible. Mees said the system has sparked new ideas for lessons that tie together science, math and problem‑solving while helping students better understand where food comes from.

Malak bint Ghalib Al Salmi, CEO of Blue Root, explained that the system is designed to simplify and modernise home agriculture through advanced technology. “The device continuously monitors both plants and fish through an integrated electronic platform,” she said.

The Living Food initiative is being developed in partnership with One Season Farmers and Harvest Today, combining indoor agriculture technology with a health-centered mission to improve access to fresh food, strengthen local food systems, and support long-term community wellness.