Passage Greens Introduces Hydroponic Tunnel System to Transform Food Production in Botswana

Passage Greens Introduces Hydroponic Tunnel System to Transform Food Production in Botswana. Botswana’s agritech landscape is seeing innovative growth with Passage Greens, a startup that has developed a hydroponic tunnel farming system aimed at boosting sustainable food production. The company secured fourth place at the Orange Summer Challenge 2025 Elevator Pitch showcase, highlighting its potential to address critical challenges in the country’s agricultural sector.

Passage Greens’ system is a soil-free solution designed to overcome issues such as poor soils, limited arable land, and unpredictable rainfall, which can cause crop losses of up to 40 percent. The hydroponic tunnels are capable of producing up to ten times more food while using 90 percent less water than traditional farming methods. In addition, the system eliminates the need for pesticides and allows for year-round harvesting, offering farmers a reliable and sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture.

The startup targets a broad market, including backyard gardeners, urban farmers, and commercial agribusinesses. Its revenue model includes hardware sales priced at P3,500 per unit, nutrient refill packages, maintenance services, and premium data analytics for monitoring crop growth and system performance.

The Passage Greens team—Laone Bareleng, Abang Sebeso, Botho Mabusa, and Chikazana Matengu—is actively seeking P1 million in seed funding to scale production and expand access to hydroponic solutions across Botswana.

The Orange Summer Challenge, hosted annually by Orange, a leading telecommunications and digital services provider, offers young innovators a platform to present digital and technology-driven solutions that address national challenges. Passage Greens’ recognition at the OSC positions the company as a promising contributor to Botswana’s goal of modernizing agriculture while promoting sustainable practices.

With its hydroponic tunnel system, Passage Greens is poised to redefine how food is grown in Botswana, offering entrepreneurs, urban farmers, and agribusinesses a practical, high-yield, and environmentally friendly solution.