Climate Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

The NjordFrey Climate-Resilient Aquaponic Food Systems initiative deploys scalable aquaponic farming systems that enable year-round production of fish and vegetables with significantly lower water, land, and input requirements than conventional agriculture. The systems operate in closed loops, where nutrients are recycled biologically, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers and preventing nutrient runoff.

The initiative addresses climate change by avoiding emissions at source through more efficient food production while strengthening adaptation to climate variability such as droughts, heat, and unpredictable rainfall. By producing more food per square metre and closer to consumption, the model reduces pressure on land conversion and long supply chains.

Beyond technology, the initiative integrates training, operational support, and local partnerships to ensure long-term adoption and replication. Implemented initially in Rwanda, the initiative serves as a proof point for how climate-resilient, low-input food systems can be scaled responsibly in climate-vulnerable regions, delivering benefits for livelihoods, ecosystems, and climate mitigation simultaneously.

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

['Replaces/avoids GHGs (e.g., projects that replace sources of GHGs, such as the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, transport, or other energy uses)', 'Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption)']

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

NjordFrey’s project empowers climate-vulnerable and underrepresented groups (e.g. female and youth) by expanding access to resilient food production, skills, and income opportunities in regions most exposed to climate risk. Our systems are designed for adoption by smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and community-based organisations, many of which include women and youth who are often excluded from capital-intensive agricultural technologies.

Women benefit both as operators and leaders within NjordFrey’s work. In Rwanda, women hold key operational and leadership roles, including team leadership and site management, and are central to training, quality control, and partner engagement. The project intentionally lowers barriers to participation by simplifying system operation, providing practical training, and supporting local ownership. Women also make up 70% of the agriculture workforce that would have access to our solution.

Youth benefit through skills development in climate-smart agriculture, systems operation, and data-driven decision-making; capabilities that are increasingly relevant in a changing climate. By embedding technology transfer and local capacity building, the project enables underrepresented groups not only to participate in climate solutions, but to lead and sustain them over time.

NjordFrey’s approach centres climate action where impacts are felt most, ensuring those on the frontlines of climate change are also part of the solution.