In a major innovative step towards food and energy security, the world’s first-ever facility to produce food and biofuel by irrigating dessert land with seawater has been built in Abu Dhabi.
The facility, which is being funded by major companies such as Etihad Airways, Boeing, and Honeywell UOP, will be operated by Masdar Institute. The groups are all part of the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium, an organization that is working towards reducing the amount of carbon emissions by the aviation industry.
While the methods employed are innovative, the procedure behind how the facility works is fairly simple. Seawater will be pumped into ponds producing fish and shrimp for food consumption. The wastewater that is produced by the ponds will then be used to fertilize a specific type of terrestrial plant that is highly tolerant of saltwater. These plants are known as halophyte plants, and they contain a rich amount of oil in their seeds that can be used to produce biofuel.
Dr. Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, lauded the facility’s opening.
“Research and innovation underpin the UAE’s ability to overcome environmental and social challenges, such as food and water security, while protecting our ecosystems, from our coastlines to our deserts,” he said.
“This project will not only sustainably produce bioenergy but also offer a pathway to grow our aquaculture industry, which supports food independence,” he added.
Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf, Interim Provost at Masdar Institute, speaking at the inauguration of the facility, was equally positive and said that this was another step towards innovation from the UAE.
Richard Hill, Chief Operating Officer, Eithad Airways, labeled the opening of the facility a potential game changer when it comes to sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of the aviation sector. (Gulf News)
Facts and figures
- The size of the facility is 20,000 square meters
- It has six ponds for fish and shrimp
- It has eight fields to grow the plants that contain the oils that can produce biofuel
- It has four mangrove swamps that will absorb carbon dioxide
PHOTO: Masdar opens official facility site that uses desert land and irrigated water to grow food and bioenergy.
CREDIT: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News.