UMBILO inventor, 20-year-old Jude Bezuidenhout, is making waves in the agricultural sector after successfully launching his ultra-high-density passive hydroponic system, which could one day be the answer to food security in the country.
The self-taught inventor, who is working out of the grounds of Berea Bowling Club, has received backing from WeFeedSA and the Glenwood Bulwer Ratepayers and Residents Association (GBRRA). Designed to combat urban food insecurity and rising electricity costs, Bezuidenhout's system can grow up to 100 plants in a single square metre without using any electricity or mechanical pumps.
"My goal was to create a system that feeds people without costing them a cent in utilities," says Bezuidenhout. "I built this prototype from the ground up without formal qualifications to prove that innovation doesn't require a degree, it requires a problem and a solution."
This "off-the-grid" approach makes it a perfect solution for Durban residents facing high electricity bills or those living in space-constrained urban environments. The system is currently in the proof-of-concept phase, with a functioning prototype already supporting 45 plants. With his provisional patent officially processed as of February 2026, Bezuidenhout is now looking to scale the design to its full 100-plant capacity.
Read more at Berea Mail
