Startup Claims Its Tech Could Transform Deserts Into Profitable Plantations In 5 Yrs
A Moroccan startup claims that it can transform a patch of dry soil into a profitable plantation in five years. While desert areas are not considered lucrative or capable of crop yield, a startup called Sand To Green wants to change that.
Sand To Green co-founder and chief agricultural officer Wissal Ben Moussa told CNN in October that "desertification is the future of a lot of countries today" and that "our solution is using agroforestry to create a new kind of agriculture that is sustainable and that can be resilient in front of climate change.¡±
Why desertification is a real threat
According to the United Nations, a third of Earth is already affected by desertification and 135 million people could have to leave their homes in the future because of it.
The company hopes that its tech will help produce crops sustainably, with the human populated slated to touch 9.8 billion by 2050. With more people and ongoing climate changes, food insecurity could become more pronounced in the decades to come.
What does the system need?
For the startup's system to work, brackish water is required. Such water isn't safe for human consumption and is less salty than seawater. It eventually removes the salt using solar power.
Also read:?Why Microsoft And Google Are Chasing This Indian Startup To Develop AI Tools
Once desalination is complete, Sand To Green utilises drip irrigation that decreases water usage by directly nourishing the roots. Using a "green manure" mixture, desert soil may be revived and a diverse group of fruit trees and herbs are planted to make sure the system works.
How are the results so far?
Moussa told CNN that the system is able to create biodiversity that produces better soil, healthier crops, and a bigger yield. "Our plantation can generate 1.5 times more yield and thus more revenue than a monoculture plantation in the same area," he said.
Also read:?Startup To Harvest Desalinated Drinking Water From Ocean Floor
Currently, the startup has amassed $1 million in seed funding and it plans to invest in a 500-hectare site after a successful trial in a five-hectare plot. Sand To Green would be suitable for parts of the United States, Mexico, Egypt, Senegal, Namibia, Mauritania, and the Arabian Peninsula.
What do you think about turning dry deserts into bountiful land? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com?and?click here?for our how-to guides.
