Making Deserts Agriculture-Friendly

Published 20 December 2022

2 min read

Between 90-99% of tropical deforestation is directly or indirectly caused by agriculture (Science, 2022). Responding to the challenges of desertification, soil degradation, food insecurity and pressure on forests, Parisian start-up Sand to Green has developed a sustainable solution that transforms deserts into fertile land. Stylus highlights its three-pronged approach.

  1. Sand to Green irrigates its plantations with desalinated seawater and brackish water, achieved using a reverse osmosis setup (which purifies via a partially permeable membrane that removes unwanted molecules) that runs on solar power. It also uses a drip technique that transports the water directly to a plant’s root system, reducing evaporation and subsequent loss in quantity.

  2. While the start-up’s agroforestry strategy (where trees or shrubs are deliberately grown among crops) optimises production and output, it also creates carbon sinks – environments that absorb and therefore remove CO2 from the atmosphere. It also deliberately cultivates carbon-capturing fruits, nuts, cereals and aromatic fodder herbs on its estates.

  3. Finally, Sand to Green uses agroforestry software to develop plantations designed specifically for arid land. It collects ground and satellite data daily, and closely monitors economic and ecological factors.

One of the start-up’s first projects is the domain of Nzaha, a 20-hectare agricultural farm in Morocco that produces organic fruit and vegetables suited to its environment. It’s also developing hundreds of hectares of fertile deserts in Morocco and elsewhere using its innovative agroforestry techniques.

  1. Sand to Green irrigates its plantations with desalinated seawater and brackish water, achieved using a reverse osmosis setup (which purifies via a partially permeable membrane that removes unwanted molecules) that runs on solar power. It also uses a drip technique that transports the water directly to a plant’s root system, reducing evaporation and subsequent loss in quantity.

  2. While the start-up’s agroforestry strategy (where trees or shrubs are deliberately grown among crops) optimises production and output, it also creates carbon sinks – environments that absorb and therefore remove CO2 from the atmosphere. It also deliberately cultivates carbon-capturing fruits, nuts, cereals and aromatic fodder herbs on its estates.

  3. Finally, Sand to Green uses agroforestry software to develop plantations designed specifically for arid land. It collects ground and satellite data daily, and closely monitors economic and ecological factors.

One of the start-up’s first projects is the domain of Nzaha, a 20-hectare agricultural farm in Morocco that produces organic fruit and vegetables suited to its environment. It’s also developing hundreds of hectares of fertile deserts in Morocco and elsewhere using its innovative agroforestry techniques.

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This article is an example of Stylus' expert research into how Food & Beverage trends are evolving. Get in touch so someone from the Stylus team can explain how your business can harness the power of trends and insights like these – and more.

Want to know more?

This article is an example of Stylus' expert research into how Food & Beverage trends are evolving. Get in touch so someone from the Stylus team can explain how your business can harness the power of trends and insights like these – and more.