Fuel security or food security, which will be more crucial in the days to come? Of course, we know the vital role plays today in our economy, food included. Without the fuel there is no fertilizer, nor irrigation. But, when it comes to what we can be without, what will the answer be?
No wonder, the Middle East is taking food security seriously. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait are in the midst of a massive project to re-landscape their deserts and transform them into fertile farmland, providing food security for their future. The countries are utilizing a mixture of microbes and soil — called mycorrhiza — that allows plants to absorb more nutrients than they can alone.
By researching areas that have significant amounts of water and soil fertility and harnessing mycorrhiza they have already been able to convert 4,000 square meters of “hyper-saline waste-land” into a vegetable and grain producing farm.
Abu Dhabi hopes to find enough arable land to increase their domestic food production up to 70% higher than current levels. The Gulf won’t be able to find enough land to support 100% of their food needs but no arguing that it is a better choice to grow local as against the growing practice of buying arable land in faraway US to produce food.
Will natural desert ecosystems take kindly to this intervention? Where will water come from? Like in the US southwestern region which is naturally desert and irrigation is slowly draining the Colorado River, will some such scheme be devised? In the short-term they may provide relief, but in the long-term it could end up a disaster. Should natural ecosystems be preserved or geo-engineered? What do you think?
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