Did you know that arid deserts in several countries have turned into lush, fertile land?
In countries such as the United Arab Emirates and China, fruits and vegetables now flourish, providing fresh produce for their inhabitants.
But what caused this miraculous transformation? Let’s find out!
What is Nanoclay?
In the 1980s, the Nile Delta in Egypt, known for its reliable farming, suddenly became barren. For decades, the Nile floodwaters had spread minerals, nutrients, and clay particles over the soil.
However, the newly built Aswan Dam prevented clay particles from flowing, reducing the soil’s resilience and fertility. Inspired by the relationship between clay and fertile lands, scientists have been determined to develop a technology that mimics this natural occurrence.
Although clay has been used before, it was previously labor-intensive, often disrupted ecosystems, and could release sequestered carbon into the atmosphere. Now, utilizing soil biology and chemistry, a Norwegian company has produced a product with the potential to bring life back to arid soils- liquid nanoclay (LNC).
LNC is a perfectly proportioned mix of clay and irrigation water and forms a thin formula that seeps below the root zone of standard crops. The negatively charged clay binds to the positively charged sand grains and forms a snowflake-like shape around the grains. This shape increases its surface area, thus improving water and nutrient retention. LNC can be easily spread by different irrigation systems.
Analysis of the Technology
Desertification, caused by climate change, droughts, and many human-led activities, causes severe food insecurities throughout North Africa and the Middle East. The fast-acting LNC has the potential to provide food to millions within these regions. It was recently proven effective after testing by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai.
While LNC can reduce water usage by up to 47%, it isn’t a perfect solution. The treatment currently costs around $2/square meter, a price far too high for many targeted regions. Even more, it will only be effective for the sandy soils of North Africa and the Middle East, leaving the rest of the world to find a solution fit to their landscapes.
LNC can make soil fertile for forest growth, providing more land for wildlife and promoting rainfall. Yet, this would come at the cost of desert-based species and communities that are adapted to their current environment.
Although deserts are known for their inability to support human resources and crops, they are responsible for the formation of minerals and regulation of Earth’s temperature. These minerals serve many purposes for both the environment and humans, so simply “greening deserts” may have unforeseen impacts in the long run.
At the moment, LNC is being used to support the Great Green Wall Project to prevent desertification in North Africa. As these technologies continue to be explored, the environmental consequences and high prices will likely fall. Despite the potential negatives of nanoclay, it can sustain millions of people and serve as an effective solution to food insecurity.
Sources: BBC, CNN, Interesting Engineering, Earth.org
