From Fragmentation to Function — Built to Work

Why agricultural systems struggle—and what must change before solutions can succeed.

About the Book

Agriculture in Africa and the Caribbean is not held back by a lack of effort, innovation, or intent. It is held back by systems that were never designed to function as a whole.

From Fragmentation to Function — Built to Work examines agriculture as a system—one shaped by assumptions, incentives, and structural misalignment. The book challenges the idea that technology, funding, or policy alone can fix agriculture without first addressing how the system itself is designed to operate.

This is not a how-to guide.

It is a reframing of the problem.

What This Book Explores

Why fragmentation—not innovation—is the core failure point
How well-intended reforms often reinforce dysfunction
The difference between activity and function in food systems
Why smallholders are frequently excluded by design
What must exist before tools, platforms, or policies can work

Who It’s For

This book is written for:

Farmers and agripreneurs
Policymakers and development practitioners
Investors and ecosystem builders
Educators and youth leaders
Anyone questioning why progress feels slower than it should

No technical background is required.

Connection to Grow Mobile

The ideas in this book form the thinking behind Grow Mobile.

Grow Mobile was designed to address fragmentation by improving access, integration, and information flow—focusing first on function, not features. While the book stands on its own, it explains the why behind Grow Mobile’s approach.

The book is currently available as a PDF by request.

Don Hough
Founder, Grow Mobile
Enterprise Transformers, Inc.