Welcome to HydroHack: The Power Edition, a national design challenge by Future S.E.T., where innovators, creators, and youth across Canada reimagine how farms can grow food using less power and more creativity.

Farming uses a lot of energy, from lights and pumps to heating and cooling systems and not every community can afford that. Your mission is to design a low-power hydroponic or farming system that still grows healthy plants efficiently, using renewable energy or smart design to cut down on electricity use.

You don’t need to build the system physically, you just need to draw it or explain it clearly. Show how it works, what powers it, and how it saves energy while keeping plants alive and thriving.

This is your chance to help shape the future of sustainable agriculture in Canada and prove that innovation can start anywhere, even with a single idea.

The Challenge Prompt

Design a low-power hydroponic or farming system that can grow fresh food year-round using minimal energy.

Your design can include:

  • Renewable power (solar, wind, or kinetic, and more).

  • Energy-saving methods (timers, gravity-fed watering, insulation).

  • Creative ways to reuse energy or light.

Important Dates

  • Submission Deadline: November 13, 2025 – 11:45 PM EST

  • Optional Public Voting: November 14–16, 2025

Prizes

🥇 Future S.E.T. Innovator Award – $20 Amazon Gift Card + Innovation Certificate
🗳️ People’s Choice Award – Digital Feature + Recognition on Future S.E.T. platforms

Why It Matters

 

This challenge helps rethink how Canada grows food sustainably, especially in communities where power costs are high or resources are limited. Every entry helps us move closer to energy-smart farming, food security, and climate resilience.

Requirements

Submission Requirements

To successfully enter HydroHack: The Power Edition, every participant must submit the following items on Devpost before November 13, 2025, at 11:45 PM EST.

1. Project Title and Description

  • Give your project a short, clear title.

  • Write a 100–250-word description explaining:

    • The problem you’re solving (high energy use in farming).

    • Your idea or system — what it looks like and how it works.

    • What materials or technology it would use.

    • How it saves power or uses renewable energy.

    • Who could use it (families, schools, farms, communities, etc.).

2. System Design or Diagram

 

  • Upload at least one clear drawing, sketch, or diagram of your design.

    • This can be hand-drawn, made in Canva, Google Drawings, PowerPoint, or any digital tool.

    • Label key parts (for example: solar panel, water pump, plant tray, power source).

  • Make sure your image or file clearly shows how water, light, and power flow through the system.

Important Notes

  • Projects must be original work created during the challenge.

  • Your design must focus on reducing energy use in food production.

  • Public voting for the People’s Choice Award runs November 14 (9 AM EST) → November 16 (5 PM EST).

  • Judges will score entries based on the criteria attached.

People's Choice:

  • The People’s Choice votes do not decide the main winner.

  • However, the number of votes a project receives will give it bonus points in the judging categories for Creativity and Community Impact.

  • The project with the most community votes will win the People’s Choice Award, a digital recognition certificate and a feature on Future S.E.T.’s social media and website.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$CAD 20+ in prizes
+ other prizes
The Future S.E.T. Innovator Award
$CAD 20 in cash
1 winner

Awarded to the most innovative and energy-efficient farm system design that demonstrates creativity, feasibility, and alignment with Future S.E.T.’s mission.
The winner will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card and an official Future S.E.T. Innovation Certificate recognizing their contribution to sustainable agriculture in Canada.

People’s Choice Award
1 winner

The winner will be featured on Future S.E.T.’s website and social media, receive a digital “People’s Choice” certificate, and an invitation to present their project at an upcoming Future S.E.T. Youth Innovation Spotlight event.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Aminat Adama

Aminat Adama
CO-Executive Director - Future S.E.T.

Bintu Adama

Bintu Adama
CO-Executive Director - Future S.E.T.

Ayo Dawodu

Ayo Dawodu
Agri-Tech Software Developer

Fuseinat Brimah

Fuseinat Brimah
Agri-Tech CEO - Cangro Agrifoods Inc.

Judging Criteria

  • Innovation & Creativity
    How original, creative, or forward-thinking is the idea? Does the design introduce a new approach to solving farm energy challenges or combine technology in an unexpected way?
  • Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
    How well does the system reduce power use compared to typical growing systems? Does it use renewable energy sources (solar, wind, kinetic, etc.) and show real potential for long-term sustainability?
  • Design & Clarity of Presentation
    Is the concept visually clear and well explained through drawings, diagrams, or models? Does the participant clearly show how the system works, how energy flows, and how plants are supported?
  • Impact & Alignment with Future S.E.T. Goals
    Does the solution contribute to a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future for agriculture in Canada? Does it align with Future S.E.T.’s mission to empower youth and communities through science, education, and technology?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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