In the heart of the Nevada desert, a remarkable initiative is bringing the farm to the classroom. Green Our Planet, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, has been named the latest winner of the prestigious F1 Allwyn Global Community Award, complete with a €100,000 grant to fuel its expansion.
From the Desert to the Desk: How Hydroponics is Transforming Education
The organisation specialises in installing indoor hydroponic farms in schools, a method of growing plants in water without soil. This approach uses up to 90% less water than traditional agriculture, a critical advantage in water-scarce regions like the Mojave Desert. For students in over 1,400 schools across 44 states, these miniature farms are not just a botany project; they are a hands-on laboratory for learning science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).
The charity addresses two pressing issues in one go: the lack of access to quality science education and limited exposure to fresh, healthy food in many communities. Through its 'HydroConnect' programme, children learn scientific principles by cultivating lettuce, herbs, and other produce right inside their classrooms.
Formula 1's Growing Commitment to US Communities
This award is the second of its kind to be presented in the United States this season, following the recognition of Girlstart, an Austin nonprofit, at the race in Texas. The F1 Allwyn Global Community Award seeks out local organisations in Grand Prix host cities that demonstrate a significant positive social impact.
Representatives from Formula 1 and Allwyn highlighted that Green Our Planet was chosen because its model delivers quick, tangible results. Students gain confidence, engage with real-life experiments, and develop a fundamental understanding of where their food comes from.
The partnership doesn't end with the award. Formula 1 already supports the charity's annual Giant Student Farmers Market in Las Vegas, where thousands of children get to sell the food they've grown. Furthermore, in a symbolic nod to the city's conservation efforts, the team behind the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix has installed its own small hydroponic farm.
Cultivating Curiosity and Confidence
The €100,000 prize, equivalent to approximately $117,000, will be instrumental in scaling the HydroConnect programme to reach even more young people. Ciara Byrne of Green Our Planet emphasised the transformative power of the initiative, stating, "When students learn to grow food, they also grow curiosity and confidence."
With this new funding, the charity, which already supports more than 200 schools in Las Vegas alone and reaches over half a million students nationwide, is set to sow the seeds of knowledge and healthy living in countless more classrooms across the country.
