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Is it possible to turn a desert into an oasis?


Energy and natural resources are linked. Efficient use of energy and resources is the best way to protect the climate. It is therefore important not only to think about the future of energy, but also about the future of natural resources.

The world population is growing, but our natural resource stocks are not. Since 1959 the land devoted to farming has barely increased even though the world population has doubled at the same time. In the developing world there are already particular problems with desertification (productive land becoming desert) affecting food production.

Maximising the efficient use of the natural resources that we have and human ingenuity is part of the answer to the question in the header of this article. The chat that is hosted by Maria Antonia Morales Perez, the President of the International Committee of Plastics in Agriculture, will help students understand some of the techniques that have been developed to reclaim desertified land for the purpose of growing crops.

A technique that both large and small farmers are turning to in the battle to grow food is called plasticulture. Plasticulture is a term that broadly describes the many uses of plastics in farming. For example, in the Asia-Pacific region, where many small-scale growers have less than one hectare of land for their crops, there is an increasing interest in materials and technology that make agriculture more intensive.

One of the leading solutions is the use of simple plastics structures that protect the crops. Not only do they help growers produce more crops each year with higher yields, but vegetables grown under structures are usually of better quality than those grown in an open field. 

There are all sorts of uses for plastics in agriculture:

  • Plastics sheeting: the sheets cover (either partially or totally) a section of land, protecting the soil and fertilisers from the outside world (wind, rain, etc.). It is also better for the crop itself because the sheeting improves irrigation, keeps away weeds and keeps the produce cleaner
  • Plastics mulch: In sheet form, plastic mulch helps conserve water and suppress weeds. Using plastic mulching can also mean that the farmer relies on fewer pesticides
  • Biodegradable mulch: Ploughing-in mulching films after use (instead of collecting them from the field, cleaning off the soil and returning them for recycling), is practical and can help save costs
  • Tunnels: Constructing plastics tunnels above the crops helps the produce grow faster and protects the crops from bad weather
  • Hoophouses and greenhouses: Greenhouses permit control of growing conditions from the start and contribute to quicker growth of the crops. The temperature in a greenhouse is generally hotter than outside temperatures. Like tunnels, hoophouses and greenhouses also offer protection from bad weather

However there is another side to consider, the need to save natural resources by preserving and protecting the food that we grow. In the developing world up to 40% of food goes to waste during its journey from the farm to the dining table. Effective use of packaging is one of the most important ways to combat this waste and get the maximum value from the food we grow. Most plastics used in food packaging are heat resistant so that they can go through high-temperature sterilisation processes, which also maximises the ability to transport food to remote regions.

All this goes to show that together mankind and plastics can create solutions to the question of how to preserve our precious food resources.

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