*RWANDA INSTITUTE FOR CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE | Primary Case

The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) partnered with MASS Design to design and build their new campus in Bugesera, Rwanda, funded through the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The new campus is a response to the growing problem of food security across Rwanda, due to climate change and increased demand. Rwanda is expected to double in population by 2050. The mission of RICA is to educate young people in Rwanda about creating sustainable food systems as a way to provide food for future generations and transform the farming industry in Rwanda. RICA uses the principles of Conservation Agriculture and One Health, in its educational programming to emphasize the interconnectedness of all species, be it humans, animals or plants. The methodology of the program is hands-on where students learn by doing with an emphasis on incorporating research, community engagement, and other disciplines into the practice of agriculture. The campus is meant to echo the curriculum of the institute by embodying ideas of conservation, biodiversity, and community engagement. Within the campus is a solar farm, water treatment plant and pivot irrigation system. The campus includes not only buildings for classes and housing, but also different agricultural plots for the hands-on learning that is so crucial to the curriculum of the institution. It is the hope of the institute that this new campus will provide the foundation for a bright future for Rwanda’s agriculture industry.


2017 
3,400 acres
5450 ft above sea level