Saudi Arabia is investing in a green initiative to transform the country’s deserts but faces many challenges in turning the ambitious project into a climate solution.
As part of the Middle East Green Initiative, Saudi Arabia aims to plant 10 billion trees and improve more than 74 million hectares of land. To achieve that ambitious goal, effective land and water resource management is essential. Himanshu Mishra, an environmental science and engineering expert at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), said his research team has developed a product that can transform the country’s deserts into fertile land. fat. The carbon-rich organic fertilizer made from chicken manure that is abundant in Saudi Arabia has far more effectiveness than conventional fertilizer, according to AFP.
Mishra explains the product acts as a sponge to retain nutrients and water, while promoting the microbial biodiversity that plants need to grow. His experimental farm was filled with greenery when using the new fertilizer.
On a large plot of land in the desert north of Jeddah, another project uses microorganisms to reduce the energy costs of wastewater treatment. The treatment facility seeks to filter wastewater in an energy-efficient way, according to manager Peiying Hong at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The process relies on microorganisms converting carbon into methane gas. This gas will be collected and used to produce energy. Filtered water from the above process can be used to grow microalgae to help provide food for livestock and irrigate plants to cope with desertification. Recycled water could be very useful for desert countries with extremely limited water resources.
Despite their great potential, implementing such systems on a regional or national scale requires financial support and determination from the authorities. But John Robinson, investor and partner at Mazarine Ventures, said raising capital for these types of startups is extremely difficult, although some are able to attract private investors.
Meanwhile, in addition to fighting desertification, Saudi Arabia also focuses on carbon capture technology. But critics say this effort is only meant to polish its image to allow the country to continue investing in fossil fuels.