ing on a greenhouse project that could reduce the reliance on food imports for desert countries such as the UAE. The Sahara Forest Project involves a seawater-cooled greenhouse in which crops can be grown throughout the year despite the harsh climates, said Virginia Corless, science and development manager for the project, which she presented at this week’s Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture in Abu Dhabi.A pilot greenhouse in Qatar produced a crop yield that rivalled greenhouses in cooler climes like Europe, despite “the most challenging condition you could ever put any evaporative system into,” Ms Corless said.
A pilot greenhouse in Qatar produced a crop yield that rivalled greenhouses in cooler climes like Europe, despite “the most challenging condition you could ever put any evaporative system into,” Ms Corless said.
Though the greenhouse relies on evaporation, the heat and humidity didn’t halt growing operations at the Qatar facility, which opened in November 2012.
“The greenhouse was very successful. It grew straight through the summer with great success,” she said.
Based on the crop yields from the 1-hectare greenhouse, Ms Corless claims an 8-hectare facility could produce as many cucumbers as Qatar imports every year. A 60-acre facility could match the cucumber, tomato, aubergine and pepper imports.
