Dutch team is pioneering development of crops fed by sea waterIn a small army field-hut Dr Arjen de Vos shows off his irrigation machine with pride. Pipes lead out to several acres of muddy field,where only a few stragglers from the autumn harvest of potatoes, salads, or carrots and onions are left. The tubes are lined with copper to stop corrosion because – in a hasten that defies everything we judge we know approximately farming – de Vos is watering his plants with diluted sea water.
Last week the project beat 560 competitors from 90 countries to win the prestigious USAid grand challenge award for its salt-tolerant potato. “It’s a game changer,” said de Vos. “We dont see salination as a problem, we see it as an opportunity.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com