Photo: Klaus Thymann via Imagine 5
The Sahara Forest Project on Jordan’s Red Sea coast is using solar power and seawater to grow vegetables in one of the world's driest places. Despite being a water-poor country that imports 98% of its food, the project shows how farming can adapt to climate change and water scarcity. Solar panels provide power to evaporate seawater for cooling and humidity in greenhouses while removing salt. Crops that wouldn't normally thrive in harsh sunlight, such as herbs and salads, grow in the shadows of solar panels. The project aims to reverse land degradation by enriching the soil with waste products. Plans are underway to scale up the project in other desert locations. The initiative also creates jobs and provides training for young female engineers. The hope is to demonstrate the feasibility and commercial viability of sustainable food, water, and clean energy production using existing technologies.
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