Meet Samson Ogbole, Nigerian farmer who grows crops in the air

Samson Ogbole, a Nigerian farmer and scientist, is revolutionizing modern agriculture by growing crops without soil through a technique known as aeroponics.

This innovative approach is transforming food production, offering a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s land shortage while ensuring year-round farming.

Aeroponics, a soilless farming method, allows plants to thrive in midair, eliminating dependence on arable land and reducing exposure to soil-borne diseases that often affect crop yields.

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.

His academic background is equally remarkable. He holds a Biochemistry degree from Igbinedion University, Okada, where he graduated top of his class.

He has also earned advanced certifications from the University of Ibadan, the University of Manchester, Lund University, and the University of Western Australia, specializing in biotechnology, agribusiness, and sustainable agriculture.

Before founding his initiative, Ogbole served as a Research Supervisor at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan and contributed to the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project.