Our PROJECTS
High impact sustainable solutions need to be started now for future generations to benefit from them. We incubate new ideas technologies to solve hunger crises in the world, global shortages of protein, supply chain challenges and futuristic innovations. Our approach is to build demonstration projects which are sustainable, profitable, scalable and replicable around the world.
Help us expand our global impact today:
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Hunger & Nutrition
Forever Young Aquaponics
Clayton County, Georgia
Just ten minutes from the busiest airport in the world, a one-acre Forever Young Aquaponics farm is under construction in Clayton County, Georgia. Once complete, this high-tech, closed-loop greenhouse will produce 1,500 pounds of fresh, organic greens and vegetables per day and over one ton of fish per week—serving as a scalable model for sustainable, urban agriculture.
This project is 70% complete and is expected to open in the Fall of 2025, and will also include a training institute to educate and employ the next generation of aquaponics farmers.
Walsenburg, Colorado
Located in an arid region of southern Colorado, Forever Young Aquaponics is developing a second half-acre farm that will demonstrate how this innovative food production system can thrive on non-fertile and previously unusable land, providing both food security and local job opportunities in food deserts and rural communities.
Youth Education – Andrew and Walter Young YMCA, Atlanta
In partnership with the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA, the foundation has been operating an aquaponics farm for the last ten years. It is a youth-focused aquaponics education program to engage students in hands-on STEM learning, food production, and sustainability. By cultivating curiosity and skills, the program empowers the next generation of environmental stewards and food innovators.
Why Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a revolutionary, closed-loop food production system that creates a symbiotic biome to grow organic fish, organic vegetables, greens, herbs, and fruits—all without soil.
Sustainability
- 90% water savings compared to traditional agriculture—this is critical when 70% of the world’s fresh water is already consumed by conventional farming, and only 2% remains available for human use
- Zero discharge into the environment. This system recycles all nutrients and water internally—no other food production method in the world achieves this
Food Security + Yield
- Grows 10 times more food per acre than soil-based agriculture
- Can be implemented on non-fertile or arid land, making it a viable solution for urban centers and resource-scarce regions
Economic Opportunity
Farms serve as training hubs and job creators, developing local economies and offering green career pathways.
Superfood Innovation to Fight Malnutrition
The World’s Most Sustainable Superfood
Lemna, also known as duckweed, is one of the most nutrient-dense, fastest-growing plants on the planet. Floating on the surface of water, this tiny green powerhouse doubles in volume every 48 hours, making it a revolutionary crop for sustainable food systems.
Recognized by the World Health Organization and leading research universities as a superfood, Lemna offers an unparalleled combination of health benefits, resource efficiency, and environmental impact.
The Andrew J Young Foundation, upon learning about the potential of Lemna to feed the hungry, has been incubating the technology to harness the power of this plant to produce a powerful plant-based protein source. The research, design, and engineering is in its final phase of in developing a closed-loop system to produce it that recycles heat, carbon, and nitrogen, significantly reducing resource waste.
Potent Nutritional Makeup
- Contains 50% plant-based protein, making it the highest protein content of any plant in the world
- Delivers 18 essential amino acids, plus 19% dietary fiber—ideal for human nutrition, wellness, and performance
- Can be consumed as a protein shake or drink, or used as an additive in everyday foods for a clean, natural protein boost
Sustainable by Design
- Zero environmental discharge—every input is repurposed within the system, making it one of the most sustainable forms of agriculture available today
- Requires minimal space, grows rapidly, and can thrive in controlled environments with minimal inputs
Economic Development
Mobile Harbor
Redefining the Future of Maritime Logistics
Originally developed and demonstrated by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the Mobile Harbor is a revolutionary concept in global shipping and infrastructure: a floating port built 10–20 miles offshore that transforms how goods move across the world.
Solving Today’s Supply Chain Bottlenecks
- Bypasses inland water ports that are often plagued by congestion, shallow river channels, and aging infrastructure.
- Reduces ship unloading time to zero by streamlining docking, processing, and distribution—all offshore.
- Protects port cities by relocating critical shipping infrastructure away from potential threats and attacks.
Environmental + Strategic Benefits
- Preserves delicate coastal and river ecosystems by keeping heavy shipping infrastructure off land and out of shallow channels.
- Minimizes dredging and habitat disruption.
- Reduces emissions by eliminating long idle times and rerouting ships for efficiency.
East Coast Innovation Hub
- We are currently working to incubate the Mobile Harbor concept off the east coast of the United States, positioning our team to lead the next generation of maritime business, defense logistics, and sustainable infrastructure. As global trade evolves and climate change reshapes coastlines, Mobile Harbors represent a scalable, secure, and environmentally responsible solution for the future of logistics.
Innovation in Progress: Paso Robles, California
The third phase of research, design, and engineering is underway in Paso Robles, California, where top scientists and engineers are refining the cultivation and processing technologies that will bring Lemna to global markets. This site is a test facility for scalable, science-driven innovation in sustainable nutrition.
Mississippi River Valley
Reimagining the Mississippi River Corridor for Economic Growth
In a groundbreaking initiative rooted in innovation and international collaboration, we are leading an effort to transform the full length of the Mississippi River into a catalyst for 21st-century economic development. Known as “Andy’s Act”, this ambitious project was formally recognized by Congress last year, which allocated initial resources to support early planning and design phases.
The goal: to integrate the upper and lower Mississippi River into a unified, strategic development corridor that revitalizes communities, supports sustainable infrastructure, and unlocks economic opportunities across the entire region.
Design by Challenge: One Mile at a Time
With the best minds in engineering, urban planning, and economic development, we are reimagining the Mississippi River as a thriving artery of commerce and innovation.
We are proposing that one mile on either side of the Mississippi River, from its headwaters in Minnesota to its outlet in Louisiana, be designated as a Business Enterprise Zone. This corridor would be optimized to attract investment, spur entrepreneurship, and create jobs—while preserving the ecological and cultural legacy of the river.
Bridging Expertise: A Dutch-American Partnership
We are bringing together Dutch and American engineers—two of the world’s leading forces in water management, climate resilience, and civil engineering. This international collaboration will serve as a model for climate-conscious economic development in vulnerable regions across the globe.
The Netherlands, with its centuries of experience in flood control and land reclamation, brings invaluable expertise that can help guide adaptive, forward-thinking designs for river-based economies.
What’s Next: Laying the Foundation for Transformation
This project is still in its early stages, but the momentum is building. With the support of Andy’s Act and a growing coalition of public and private partners, we are:
- Finalizing the scope and parameters for the design challenge.
- Engaging communities along the river to shape development priorities.
- Conducting feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments.
- Identifying investment pathways for long-term infrastructure and business support.
Education
Andrew Young HBCU Scholarship Program
Closing the Gap, Empowering the Future
Every year, thousands of talented students begin their journey at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) full of promise. Sadly, many are forced to abandon their dreams early.
Nearly 30% of students drop out during their first year, not because of academics, but because of a financial shortfall. This dropout rate is caused primarily by a lack of “gap funding,” which covers basic living expenses like housing, meals, transportation, and supplies.
The Andrew J. Young HBCU Scholarship Program, made possible through the generous support of McGraw Hill, is designed to solve this problem at its root.
How We Build Them a Bridge
Unlike traditional scholarships focused on tuition alone, this program provides critical gap funding during a student’s first year—a make-or-break period when financial stress is most acute and dropout risk is highest.
This scholarship is not about reward—it’s about retention, stability, and support. It’s about making sure no student has to choose between their education and their survival.
Why It Matters
HBCUs are more than academic institutions. They are historic homes of Black excellence, leadership, innovation, and social mobility found nowhere else in the country. As a result, the financial pressures facing first-year HBCU students are often greater than at other colleges.
The Andrew J. Young HBCU Scholarship Program is here to support the futures of HBCU students.
Looking Ahead
This program is just the beginning. We are actively working to:
- Expand the number of scholarships available each year
- Partner with additional HBCUs nationwide
- Create a network of wraparound services including mentorship, career guidance, and academic support
Andrew Young Presents
The Andrew Young Documentary Series
Through a library of 37 one-hour Emmy-winning documentaries, this series tells powerful, credible stories through the lens of Ambassador Andrew Young. Covering topics from the American Civil Rights Movement to developments in Africa, India, and contemporary issues in the U.S., these films offer a rare blend of firsthand insight and historical depth.
Each documentary is a testament to the values Andrew Young has championed for decades—justice, diplomacy, and human dignity—and serves as an educational resource for audiences around the world.
Explore the stories that shaped our world—and the ones still shaping our future.
Health & Heal
Selenium
A Potentially Life-Saving Mineral
Selenium, a common dietary supplement found in pharmacies and grocery stores across the U.S, has played a surprising role in the Foundation’s global health efforts.
During the Ebola crisis in Liberia, Ambassador Young responded to a direct call for help from Liberia’s president. The Foundation coordinated with frontline doctors—later featured on the cover of Time Magazine—to deliver 1,000 bottles of selenium into the outbreak’s hot zone. Results were promising: 68% of patients receiving selenium survived, compared to 44% without it.
Today, in collaboration with Ethan Will Taylor, Ph.D., the Foundation continues this work—providing selenium free of charge to help boost immunity in vulnerable populations facing COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Oxygen Concentrators
Delivering Oxygen Concentrators
In the spring of 2021, India faced a catastrophic second wave of COVID-19. Hospitals were overwhelmed, ICU beds were full, and a deadly shortage of medical oxygen left thousands of patients gasping for air. Each day, the country reported tens of thousands of deaths, many of them preventable—caused not by lack of medical expertise, but by lack of basic resources.
In response to this crisis, the Andrew J. Young Foundation took swift action
Working through its global network of partners and humanitarian contacts, the Foundation helped procure and deliver critically needed oxygen concentrators directly to medical facilities in India. These portable machines, which filter and supply medical-grade oxygen, became lifelines in overwhelmed clinics and rural health centers where oxygen tanks were unavailable or unreachable.
The mission was urgent, but the logistics were complex: sourcing equipment during a global supply crunch, navigating international shipping restrictions, and ensuring the devices reached the communities most in need.
But the Foundation moved fast—because every delay meant more lives lost.
With trusted partners on the ground, the Foundation ensured that oxygen concentrators were placed directly in hospitals and care centers where they could do the most good. In a crisis where hope was in short supply, these machines brought relief—not just oxygen, but the possibility of survival.
This effort reflects the Foundation’s deep belief in human dignity, international solidarity, and practical, life-saving action. When people are suffering—no matter where they are—the Andrew J. Young Foundation shows up.
PROMTERA
We work with PROMETRA in Senegal to bring proven nature-based healing solutions in Africa to the world. Work is in progress on natural ingredients to be tested in US labs and gain FDA approvals.
