Samson Ogbole, a Nigerian farmer and scientist, is hoping to change modern agriculture by growing crops without soil through a technique known as aeroponics.
With a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria faces significant food security challenges. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, only 30 million hectares of farmland are cultivated annually—far below the 78.5 million hectares required to meet national demand.
Farmer Samson's soilless farming system presents an innovative alternative to traditional agriculture, helping to bridge this gap. His journey into aeroponics began in 2014, and by 2016, he had fully embraced soil-free farming as a viable and scalable agricultural method.
Speaking with CNN, farmer Samson emphasized the advantages of aeroponics, noting that it enables year-round crop cultivation, supports urban agriculture, and brings fresh food closer to city dwellers. Beyond his groundbreaking farming techniques, Samson is deeply invested in youth empowerment. As the Team Lead at Eupepsia Place Limited (Soilless Farm Lab), he trains 1,000 young people aged 18 to 29 every quarter, providing free accommodation and stipends to encourage participation.
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