Transforming Land, Transforming Lives: Greening Innovation and Urban Agriculture in the Context of Forced Displacement

There are more refugees in the world today than ever previously recorded. If the displaced were the population of one country, it would be the 24th largest in the world. In the face of this unprecedented challenge, the world is tasked with finding durable solutions that require common purpose. We need bold and inclusive leadership, deep understanding, and ambitious plans with decisive actions. Change calls for the innovation and nimbleness more typical of lean start-ups. It calls for an approach rooted in a network of talented professionals who believe grassroots movements can change the world. At Lemon Tree Trust, we believe that urban agriculture – the tangible manifestation of ecology, greening and cultivation – creates new and unrealised value to achieve dignity, empowerment and sovereignty for those living in under-resourced communities, such as refugee camps. A lemon tree serves not only as something physical to be nurtured, but also functions as a symbol for agricultural solutions for displaced persons – trees and gardens provide beauty, shelter, food and economic security. At the Lemon Tree Trust, we envision refugee camps where residents are engaged in the design of sustainable and innovative urban agricultural practices while ensuring yields that benefit all. This report details the vision, mission, strategies and tactics for how we will undertake this greening innovation in refugee camps. We invite you to join us in our effort to assist the globally displaced – one tree, one garden, one life at a time.