How Electrical Contactors Reduce Power Loss in Modern Energy Systems

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Energy management has become a global priority as both consumers and industries work to reduce costs and improve system efficiency. Much of the conversation focuses on renewable sources or advanced automation platforms, yet some of the most meaningful savings happen at the component level—where electricity is controlled, switched, and distributed. One such device is the electrical contactor, a workhorse of modern power systems that quietly determines how efficiently your equipment uses energy.

a technician working in industrial settings

If you’ve ever wondered why some machines consume power even when idle, or how large facilities minimize unnecessary electrical waste, the answer often begins with understanding how contactors regulate the flow of electricity. In an era of increasing energy awareness, knowing how these devices work—and how they contribute to reducing power loss—can help you design or operate smarter electrical systems.

What an Electrical Contactor Is and How It Works

An electrical contactor is essentially an electromechanical switch capable of controlling high-current loads safely and repeatedly. Unlike simple wall switches or low-power relays, contactors are engineered for resilience, frequent cycling, and heavy-duty operation. Internally, the device contains a coil that generates a magnetic field when energized, pulling a movable armature that closes the main contacts and completes the power circuit. When the coil deactivates, the armature returns to its original position, and the contacts split apart, disconnecting the load.

This relatively simple mechanism enables the contactor to provide fast and reliable switching for large motors, HVAC components, lighting circuits, heaters, and industrial machinery. Because the control circuit uses low voltage while the load circuit handles high power, an electrical contactor also acts as a safeguard, isolating human operators and control systems from dangerous currents. This combination of safety, durability, and repeatable operation is what makes contactors indispensable across modern electrical infrastructures.

Why Contactors Matter in Energy Management

Effective energy management isn’t just about tracking consumption—it’s about controlling when and how electrical loads operate. Contactors help by ensuring equipment draws power only when necessary. Without automated switching, motors, lighting, and other loads often run longer than intended. A properly configured contactor prevents this by fully disconnecting idle equipment instead of leaving it in standby, where it can still consume energy.

Contactors also enhance efficiency through automation. When paired with sensors, timers, or control systems, they switch loads based on real usage patterns, conditions, or occupancy. This reduces unnecessary runtime and keeps energy use aligned with actual demand. Their ability to handle frequent cycles without degrading performance makes the electrical contactor especially valuable in systems requiring precise, timed control.

Minimizing Power Loss Through Better Switching

Power loss often happens in overlooked ways—equipment left energized when idle, switching components that generate excess heat, or worn contacts that increase resistance over time. A properly selected contactor helps prevent many of these issues. By fully opening the circuit when a load is off, it eliminates hidden standby losses that can add up significantly over long periods.

Many modern contactors designs also aim to reduce waste through lower-energy coils or improved contact materials that limit resistive losses. While specific features vary, the core idea remains the same: an efficient switching device lowers the system’s overall energy overhead. When multiplied across many loads, especially in large facilities, the cumulative savings can be substantial.

Where Contactors Are Used in Today’s Systems

Contactors are used across many industries and building systems, often serving as the backbone of load control. In manufacturing, they regulate motors that power conveyors, pumps, and compressors—ensuring these machines run only when needed. In commercial buildings, contactors manage centralized lighting and HVAC equipment, enabling automated schedules that reduce energy waste during off-peak hours.

They also play a key role in automation and control panels, where reliable switching supports remote operation, protection, and coordinated system behavior. As facilities adopt more energy-efficient and smart-building technologies, contactors provide the stable, predictable switching needed to integrate seamlessly with digital controllers, sensors, and building management systems.

Common Mistakes and Their Impact on Energy Loss

Using the wrong type of contactor can limit energy-management performance and create avoidable inefficiencies.

  • Avoid undersized contactors: Selecting a device with insufficient current or voltage capacity can cause overheating, early wear, and increased resistance, all of which reduce efficiency and shorten lifespan.
  • Match the contactor to the duty cycle: Standard models may fail prematurely in systems with frequent start-stop operation. High-cycling loads require contactors designed for repeated switching to prevent arcing and performance issues.
  • Consider coil power consumption: Coils draw energy whenever energized, and older or inefficient designs can add unnecessary overhead—especially in systems with many active contactors.
  • Use proper arc suppression for high-power or DC loads: Inadequate suppression leads to contact erosion, losses, and reduced service life, making proper specification essential.
  • Inspect and maintain regularly: Routine checks ensure reliable operation and help prevent failures that can increase energy waste over time.

Practical Ways to Use Contactors for Better Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency starts with understanding how an electrical contactor can optimize the way your system uses power.

  • Assess your load requirements and usage patterns: Identify equipment that stays energized unnecessarily or operates longer than needed, and determine where controlled switching can reduce idle consumption.
  • Use contactors to automate or manage load control: Integrating contactors into key circuits allows you to disconnect loads completely when not in use, preventing standby power loss.
  • Select a contactor suited to your load: Match the device to your load type, current rating, voltage, and switching frequency. High-cycling or high-power systems require contactors designed for durability and proper insulation.
  • Incorporate automation when possible: Pair contactors with timers, sensors, or load-based controls so circuits activate only when needed, keeping energy use aligned with real demand.
  • Maintain and inspect regularly: Routine checks help ensure reliable switching, extend lifespan, and preserve efficiency over time.

Applications of Contactors in Modern Facilities

Application Area Energy-Efficiency Benefit
Industrial motors Reduces idle runtime; ensures safe, frequent switching
HVAC systems Automates compressors, fans, and pumps to match demand
Lighting banks Centralized control prevents unnecessary nighttime usage
Automated buildings Enables smart load management informed by sensors and schedules

These examples illustrate that the value of an electrical contactor goes beyond switching—it becomes a tool for strategic energy planning.

The Evolving Role of Contactors in Energy-Aware Systems

As facilities move toward smarter, more integrated energy strategies, reliable switching components have become increasingly important. Contactors remain essential because they offer predictable operation and flexible control, and even with advanced digital systems, the physical act of connecting and disconnecting power still relies on robust electromechanical devices. Many modern solutions, including those designed by CHINT, continue to support this need by focusing on durability and consistent performance.

In smart buildings, contactors act as the link between digital commands and real electrical loads, enabling demand response, peak-load reduction, and automated energy mapping. Their ability to withstand harsh industrial environments and frequent cycling makes them a dependable choice for maintaining efficiency in complex electrical networks, especially as manufacturers develop designs suited for evolving energy-management demands.

Conclusion

In the broader journey toward efficient and responsible energy use, the electrical contactor plays a surprisingly influential role. By regulating the flow of electricity to motors, HVAC systems, lighting banks, and other high-power loads, it prevents unnecessary consumption and significantly reduces power loss. When contactors are properly selected, maintained, and integrated into automated systems, they become powerful tools for improving reliability, minimizing waste, and ensuring that equipment operates only when needed.

Whether you are designing a new electrical installation or optimizing an existing one, understanding how contactors support energy management can lead to smarter decisions and more efficient operations. Paying attention to these essential components can deliver long-lasting benefits—both in cost savings and in building a more sustainable electrical system.

إعادة تدوير النفايات في المملكة العربية السعودية

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مؤخرا بدء الإهتمام بمفهوم “إعادة تدوير النفايات” في المملكة العربية السعودية. حيث تنتج المملكة مايقارب ال 15 مليون طن من النفايات البلدية الصلبة سنويا، و بمعدل 1.4 كيلوغرام لكل شخص! ومن المتوقع أن يتضاعف هذا العدد (مع إزدياد التعداد السكاني في المملكة بنسبة 3.4 ) بحلول العام 2033م إلى 30 مليون طن سنويا!  وجدير بالذكر أن معظم مصادر النفايات هي نفايات بقايا الطعام حيث تشكل حوالي 40 إلى51% و تليها النفايات البلاستيكية 5-17% و النفايات الورقية و الورق المقوى  النفايات من بقايا الزجاج 3-5% و بقايا الخشب 2-8% و بقايا الأقمشة 2-6% و بقايا الحديد2-8% وهذا يعتمد على نوع الأنشطة وكثافتها في المناطق التي شملتها الدراسة.

saudi-arabia-recycling

يعتبر التدوير في بداية مراحله في المملكة العربية السعودية، وحاليا تتركز أعمال التدوير حوال إعادة تدوير المعادن والورق المقوى والذي يشمل 10-15% من مجمل النفايات المجمعة من القطاع غير الرسمي، حيث يقوم عمال النظافة بفرز النفايات القابلة للتدوير من حاويات القمامة الموزعة في المدن، التي تصل ذروة التدوير في بعضها إلى حوالي 30% من مجمل النفايات في بعض المدن. وتتم عمليات فرز وتدوير النفايات في  بعض مجمعات النفايات التي تغطي حوالي 40%  من مجمل العمليات الرسمية و غير الرسمية في قطاع تدوير النفايات.  وتشمل  عمليات التدوير قوارير الزجاج، علب الألمنيوم، علب الحديد و الأوراق و قوارير البلاستيك و الورق المقوى و إطارات السيارات التالفة.

التدوير في المملكة العربية السعودية

تخيل أنه بالإمكان تقليل حوالي 45% ألف كيلو جول من إجمالي الطاقة المستهلكة عند تدويرالزجاج و المعادن من المخلفات البلدية! وهذا يعني أن مقدار الطاقة الموفرة يمكن أن تستخدم لإنتاج مواذ قابلة لإعادة التدوير. وفي بحث مشابه آخرذكر أن الفوائد المجنية فقط من تدوير الزجاج والمعادن و الألمنيوم و الورق المقوى في مدينة مكة المكرمكة، وسيتم توفير  5.6 من انبعاثات غاز الميثلن و 140.1 مليون طن من غاز ثاني أكسيد الكربون. علاوة على ذلك أن حوالي 13 مليون ريال سعودي من الموفورات المالية للإقتصاد الوطني في مدينة مكة المكرمة من عمليات إعادة تدوير الزجاج و المعادن و الالمنيوم والورق المقوى.

آفاق المستقبل

تحتاج عمليات تجميع النفايات حاليا في المملكة العربية السعودية إلى نموذج مستدام ومترابط في عمليات تجميع بقايا النفايات و فصل المواد القابلة لإعادة التدوير. وكبداية يمكن للمملكة إعادة تدوير الالمنيوم و قوارير البولي إيثلين تيرفليت لإعادة التدوير في المدن الكبرى مثل جدة والدمام و الرياض و مكة المكرمة و المدينة المنورة حيث يعتبر هذا خيار إستراتيجي للمملكة في طريقها نحو ترشيد إستهلاك المواد الأولية الثمينة مثل الوقود الأحفوري. إضافة لذلك سيتم الاستفادة القصوى من الموادة القابلة لاعادة التدوير كالورق و الزجاج والمعادن و الألمنيوم وخفض النفايات الملقاة في مكبات النفايات وبالتالي خفض الكلفة البيئية الضارة وتعظيم الفائدة للإقتصاد الوطني. 

ترجمة

إيمان عبدالله أمان مختصة في سياسات وتشريعات الطاقة، باحثة ومهتمة في مواضيع مثل أمن الطاقة وتحديات المناخ، الطاقة المتجددة ، التنمية المستدامة وطريق الى تحقيق اقتصاد خالي من الكربون وسياسات ترشيد استهلاك الطاقة وحفظ البيئة

7 Types Of Sustainable Food Packaging

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Most of the food you buy and eat comes in a package. Therefore, packaging is an essential part of the food supply chain. But, a lot of it is made from plastic. Nowadays, people have begun to prioritize making the world greener as they’ve grown more conscious of the necessity of sustainability. This green movement includes making food packaging more environment-friendly through various methods, such as compostable packaging and many other forms listed below.

different types of sustainable food packaging

While some progress is being made in terms of moving away from plastic, the said material is still widely used. There’s a long way to go. Thankfully, there are many environment-friendly packaging options on the market today. Given the increasing pressure from the public to go green, more sustainable packaging options will emerge.

That said, here’s a list of the types of sustainable food packaging manufacturers can use today:

1. Glass

Glass is ubiquitous and is utilized for a wide range of purposes. It’s also recyclable and reusable. Therefore, glass can be a good alternative to plastic for food packaging.

For example, when you buy a glass jar, you may keep it for a long time without worrying about it rusting or contaminating your food. All you need to do is ensure it’s cleaned regularly. Glass water bottles are also an excellent substitute for the usual plastic ones.

However, the biggest issue with glass jars is that glass lids aren’t leak-proof. Therefore, you want to look for glass containers with bamboo lids. Nonetheless, unless the glass cracks, it’ll probably survive for a long time. Once you’re done using it, you may easily recycle it. Therefore, glass is good for the environment.

2. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)

In addition to being often used in adhesives, PVA is also widely utilized in emulsion polymerization, film, and packaging production.

PVA is ideal for film production because it has excellent tensile strength. PVA resins also exhibit great adhesive and bonding properties. The magnitude of hydrolysis influences the film’s water sensitivity. With more hydrolysis, water resistance rises.

If you’re looking for a sustainable packaging material for your products, you can look for reliable PVA suppliers near you and choose the most suitable one for your business.

3. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is an extremely long-lasting material. It’s also rust-free and heat-resistant, which makes it ideal for food storage.

There are several stainless steel packaging types to choose from. For example, you may buy stainless steel lunch boxes, which usually include silicone seals or lids to prevent leaks. Stainless steel is also used to produce lids for glass jars, which are used at home for storing items, such as sugar and flour.

Consider purchasing stainless steel storage containers from reputable manufacturers. Although this material is generally robust, purchasing a container from a random brand or manufacturer may not be a good idea.

4. Bamboo

Bamboo is another biodegradable packaging material that’s strong and resistant to high temperatures. This material may be seen in food packaging lids, breadboxes, and serving bowls.

On the one hand, the downside of using packaging made from bamboo is its lack of durability. The toughness of bamboo and other plant fibers isn’t comparable to that of glass or steel.

5. Rice Husk

This is one of the least-known sustainable packaging alternatives. When most people think of rice, they don’t think of eco-friendly packaging. Yet, rice husk is an excellent material in this regard. It’s a byproduct of rice farming, which makes it quite inexpensive. Rice husk is known to be bio-absorbent, which means it can absorb contaminants from its immediate surroundings.

6. Gelatin Film

Because of its affordability, gelatin is quickly becoming one of the most preferred sustainable packaging materials. It’s a sturdy film-forming substance, making it excellent for food packaging. Furthermore, gelatin is said to contain antimicrobial cellulose, which aids in the prevention of pathogen growth. This reduces the spread of food-borne infections. These properties make gelatin a safer option than plastic.

recycled paper

7. Paper Or Cardboard

This is one of the most used materials for packaging food. Paper boxes are both biodegradable and inexpensive. Food won’t be affected since paper boxes don’t contain harmful substances. They’re also lightweight, making them easy to transport. These features make paper boxes a packaging material of choice for most food suppliers.

You may have observed that most fast-food packaging is composed of paper boxes. They utilize this material because they’re inexpensive and recyclable. They’re also commonly used in shipping and logistics for this reason. If you want to know which shipping method is the best for you, check out this article.

However, one disadvantage to using paper or cardboard boxes are that they’re easier to damage than other materials.

Conclusion

Players in the food supply chain are under pressure to utilize green packaging. Given the mounting evidence against the usage of plastic, this is a positive development. Fortunately, there are several green packaging solutions. All the alternatives mentioned above have their pros and cons. However, for the benefit of the environment, all food manufacturers and suppliers globally should consider embracing these green packaging options.

Such types of eco-friendly food packaging materials will increase in number and become less expensive as technology develops. Perhaps, in the future, people will abandon plastic completely.

Energy Efficiency in the Arab World: Key Findings

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Energy efficiency is the most cost effective means of reducing the energy intensity of the economy and promoting a low-carbon future in the Arab world. Energy efficiency further helps Arab states meet their SDGs on combating climate change and its impacts (SDG13), as it cuts down on GHG emissions resulting from excessive and inefficient consumption of energy.

energy consumption in bahrain

Per capita energy conservation in Bahrain is among the highest worldwide

Energy efficiency improvements can save governments, companies, and citizens billions of dollars in the Arab region from reduced energy bills, while at the same time quickly reducing carbon footprints – a win-win solution. Many countries in the region are now moving ahead with new laws, policies, and regulations to improve energy consumption but much more needs to be done to accelerate results and achieve SDG 7 on sustainable energy.

Arab Future Energy Index

The Arab Future Energy Index provides a detailed overview on the progress of 20 Arab countries in their transition toward an efficient energy market post recent plunges in oil prices and economic turmoil in the region. The 2017 AFEX report uses over 30 indicators to rank Arab countries on progress made to achieve energy efficiency targets based on regulatory and institutional structures, financial innovations, policy frameworks and public and private investments. AFEX rankings show important trends and emerging pathways to a low-carbon, sustainable energy future in the region.

AFEX Energy Efficiency Results 2017

Arab countries’ commitment to increase energy efficiency through their various adopted or planned energy efficiency strategies and National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs) demonstrate their commitment to the UN’s SDG on energy (SDG7) that calls for global affordable, sustainable, and reliable access to clean and modern energy sources.

The 2017 AFEX report monitors Arab countries’ progress in fostering energy efficiency initiatives and strategies in line with established UN SDGs. As of 2017, fifteen out of twenty Arab states studied in the AFEX have developed a national energy efficiency plan that articulates both short term and long term strategies to set state level policy goals for reducing energy consumption as well as to establish and implement effective EE initiatives and programs.

Several Arab countries have spelled out their energy efficiency policies in national plans, such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kuwait, and Tunisia. Many other Arab countries, however, have developed National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs), based on the Arab Energy Efficiency Guideline issued by the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity (AMCE).

RCREEE was mandated by the AMCE to monitor the qualitative progress and quantitative impact of NEEAPs and publish its findings in regular annual reports. Several Arab countries have evaluated their first NEEAP and are currently developing their second NEEAP, building on lessons learned from previous plans. Lebanon, taking a significant step forward, has evaluated its first NEEAP (2011– 2015) and in 2016 adopted its second NEEAP (2016–2020).

Energy Efficiency in Arab Region – Key Findings

In general, electricity and fuel prices in the Arab region remain well below the global average, as most Arab countries have spent significant portions of their GDPs on providing subsidies for electricity and fuel, resulting in a financial burden for these countries, namely after the 2014 drop in oil prices. These low prices of energy have greatly affected the level of energy consumption in the region leading to extremely high energy intensities and electricity consumption per capita.

Furthermore, the high level of energy subsidies implemented in the region, greatly hinders any incentive at the consumer side to reduce their energy consumption and invest in energy efficient technologies. Nonetheless, the recent drops in oil prices has, in part, encouraged Arab countries to undertake various reform actions and make progress in reducing their energy subsidies.

The region witnessed an unprecedented wave of energy subsidy reforms as multiple Arab countries namely, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and the UAE have enacted policies to reduce electricity subsidies and increase fuel prices. Although these reforms were more significant in some countries than others, electricity and fuel prices remain well below the global average in most Arab countries.

The region continues to witness progress in implementing policies to phase out inefficient lighting, which is exigent as lighting is responsible for nearly 34% of electricity consumption in the Arab region. Many countries’ energy efficiency plans have provided financial incentives for end users to switch to more efficient lighting, for example CFL or LED, or enacted bans on the sale of incandescent light bulbs.

Although various Arab countries have adopted legislation and energy efficiency measures relating to appliances’ energy standards and labeling namely for air conditioners and refrigerators, these standards and labels still lack adequate enforcement and diversification to include a wider range of appliances.

Arab country’s still need to further develop and implement energy efficiency regulation, initiatives, and programs to reduce energy consumption in the transportation sector as it is responsible for around 30% of final energy consumption in the region. Although various countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the UAE have ongoing or planned programs to improve public transportation, the national energy strategies of most Arab countries do not include energy reduction targets or reforms for the transportation sector. For example, tax reductions on hybrid cars, the enforcement of vehicle emissions regulations, and the promotion of public transport are notably absent.

Implementing national energy efficiency strategies hinges on stable sources of financing and legislation, and many Arab countries could improve on energy efficiency funding and legislation. Most Arab countries lack a dedicated energy efficiency agency within governmental bodies to regulate and set energy policy.

In many Arab countries energy efficiency agencies are dispersed amongst different ministries and institutions, making it challenging to develop and enforce effective policies. Moreover, some Arab countries lack energy efficiency regulatory bodies all together. The increasing availability of funding for energy efficiency initiatives has seen a positive move in recent years to expand the EE market and develop EE projects in various sectors such as the Green Environment Financing Facility (GEFF) in Egypt, the Jordanian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), the Dubai Green Fund, and the National Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Action (NEEREA) in Lebanon.

Conclusion

By developing and enforcing more effective energy efficiency policies, providing stable sources of finance for initiatives that improve energy efficiency, and taking decisive measures to remove energy subsidies, Arab countries can significantly improve their energy efficiency, and reduce their energy intensities. Such measures will save Arab countries large portions of their GDP and will cut down their energy bills, as well as help the region fight climate change and maintain its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and their Nationally Determined Contributions.

الارادة والتعليم سر الانجازات الاقتصادية

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education-arabiaإقتصادياً؛ ينظر الكثير إلى مياه البحر من زاوية التكاليف الباهضة لمشاريع تحليتها، هذه النظرة تجعل من مياه البحر عقدة بدلاً من كونها حلا لبعض الحاجات الإقتصادية والمشاريع التنموية. قبل أيام أطلقت أستراليا مشروعاً زراعياً يعد الأول من نوعه على مستوى العالم، إذ يستغني عن التربة والمياه الجوفية والوقود الأحفوري، ويكتفى بأشعة الشمس ومياه البحر لإنتاج 17 ألف طن من الطماطم سنوياً. وفي ظل الأزمة التي تواجه العالم في الحصول على المياه العذبة وإنتاج الطاقة فإن المشروع يشكل الوجه الجديد للزراعة المستقبلية حسب تعبير مجلة New Scientist التي ذكرت أن المشروع استغرق ست سنوات فقط، وهي مدة قياسية بالمقارنة بمشاريعنا، بل حتى بالنسبة لحجم الإنجاز ذاته.

التفاصيل على قدر كبيرمن الأهمية لأنها تدفعنا لإدراك إمكانية تطبيق مثل هذا المشروع في المنطقة، بل وابتكار مشاريع أخرى، فطبيعة الصحراء الأسترالية هي نفسها طبيعة صحراء الجزيرة العربية، لذا فإن من المهم معرفة الأساليب العلمية التي لجأ إليها فريق العمل للتغلب على هذه الظروف القاسية، بدلا من الإعتماد على القدرة المالية في الحصول على أدوات مرتفعة التكاليف من أجل تحقيق إنجاز ما.

في التفاصيل، مدّ فريق العمل أنابيب لنقل مياه البحر على طول 2 كلم محطة في الصحراء لتحلية المياه بالطاقة الشمسية تقوم بإنتاج مياه عذبة بكميات تكفي لري 180 ألف نبتة طماطم زرعت في بيوت محمية. وعالج فريق العمل مشكلة التربة بإيجاد بديل لها هو قشور ثمرة جوز الهند.

مشاريع المياه تعتبر من المشاريع المكلفة

مشاريع المياه تعتبر من المشاريع المكلفة

المدهش هو أن هناك مبادرات لتطبيق نموذج المشروع في دول عدة من بينها قطر والإمارات وسلطنة عمان. وهذا يدل على رغبة هذه الدول المجلس في وضع حل لمشكلة شح المياه العذبة والعمل على استغلال الطاقة المتجددة في إنتاج محاصيل زراعية.

مشاريع المياه تعتبر من المشاريع المكلفة، فدول المجلس كانت قد خصصت أكثر من 100 مليار دولار أمريكي للإستثمار في هذا القطاع بين عامي 2011 و2016، وأعلنت عن خطط لاستثمار 300 مليار دولار أمريكي أخرى بحلول عام 2022، وهذا من شأنه إرهاق الموازنات الحكومية خاصة مع انخفاض أسعار الوقود، بينما هناك إمكانية لإيجاد بدائل تساهم في تخفيف العبء.

ينبغي القول أيضاً أن المياه المالحة قد تشكل ثروة كبيرة، حتى دون اللجوء إلى تحليتها، فهناك نباتات مفيدة قادرة على التكيف مع ملوحة مياه البحر، ويمكنها المساهمة في التنمية الإقتصادية، ومن بينها الساليكورنيا (الشمرة البحرية) والسبارتينا (العقربان).

الخلاصة

إن هذا الإنجاز الذي حققته أستراليا يؤكد لنا حقيقتين هما: إن الحاجة ليست أم الإختراع (كما يقال) فقد بقينا عقود في حاجة للمياه العذبة دون نتيجة، بل يأتي الإختراع عبر إرادة التغيير والسعي الحثيث والإخلاص في وضع هذه الحاجة على السكة العملية لتوفيرها.

والحقيقة الأخرى هي أننا يجب أن نولي التعليم والبحث العلمي أهمية كبيرة، فنحن نمتلك الكثير من الإمكانات الطبيعية والبشرية التي يمكنها أن تخلق واقعاً أفضل إذا ما وضعنا التعليم في قمة أولوياتنا والبحث العلمي في صلب اهتمامنا، وهذا ما أثبتته تجارب الدول المتقدمة، وهو ما أكد عليه "لي كوان" مؤسس سنغافورة، في كلمته المشهورة: أنا لم أقم بمعجزة إنما أعطيت المعلم مكانته التي يستحقها وهو من أنتج جيلاً قاد نهضة الوطن.

Environmental Impact of Olive Oil Processing

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More commonly known for its popular culinary and medicinal benefits, olive cultivation, olive oil production and oil packaging are a part of the local heritage and rural economy throughout the North African and Mediterranean regions. In 2012, an estimated 2,903,676 tons of olive oil was produced worldwide, the largest olive oil producers being Spain, Italy, and Greece followed by Turkey and Tunisia and to a lesser extent Portugal, Morocco and Algeria. Within the European Union’s olive sector alone, there are roughly 2.5 million producers, who make up roughly one-third of all EU farmers.

olive-oil-wastes

The olive oil industry offers valuable opportunities to farmers in terms of seasonal employment as well as significant employment to the off-farm milling and processing industry.  While this industry has significant economic benefits in regards to profit and jobs; the downside is it leads to severe environmental harm and degradation.

The Flipside

There are two processes that are used for the extraction of olive oil, the three-phase and the two-phase. Both systems generate large amounts of byproducts.  The two byproducts produced by the three-phase system are a solid residue known as olive press cake (OPC) and large amounts of aqueous liquid known as olive mill wastewater (OMW).  The three-phase process usually yields 20% olive oil, 30% OPC waste, and 50% OMW.  This equates to 80% more waste being produced than actual product.

More contemporary is the two-phase system, in this system “the volume of OMW produced is reduced because less water is used and much of that water and toxic substances are held within the solid olive cake, thus producing a semi-solid residue (SOR).” While the two-phase system produces less OMW, the SOR it produces has a “high organic matter concentration giving an elevated polluting load and it cannot be easily handled by traditional technology which deals with the conventional three-phase olive cake.”

Regardless of system used, the effluents produced from olive oil production exhibit highly phytotoxic and antimicrobial properties, mainly due to phenols.  Phenols are a poisonous caustic crystalline compound.  These effluents unless disposed of properly can result in serious environmental damage.  Troublingly, there is no general policy for disposal of this waste in the olive oil producing nations around the world.  This results in inconsistent monitoring and non-uniform application of guidelines across these regions.

Environmental Concerns

Around 30 million m3 of olive mill wastewater is produced annually in the Mediterranean area.  This wastewater cannot be sent to ordinary wastewater treatment systems, thus, safe disposal of this waste is of serious environmental concern.  Moreover, due to its complex compounds, olive processing waste (OPW) is not easily biodegradable and needs to be detoxified before it can properly be used in agricultural and other industrial processes.

This poses a serious problem when the sophisticated treatment and detoxification solutions needed are too expensive for developing countries in MENA such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia where it is common for OMW to be dumped into rivers and lakes or used for farming irrigation.  This results in the contamination of ground water and eutrophication of lakes, rivers and canals.  Eutrophication results in reductions in aquatic plants, fish and other animal populations as it promotes excessive growth of algae. As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of oxygen, causing aquatic populations to plummet.

Another common tactic for disposal of olive mill wastewater is to collect and retain it in large evaporation basins or ponds.  It is then dried to a semi-solid fraction. In less developed countries where olive processing wastes is disposed of, this waste, as well as olive processing cake and SOR waste is commonly unloaded and spread across the surrounding lands where it sits building up throughout the olive oil production season.  Over time these toxic compounds accumulate in the soil, saturating it, and are often transported by rain water to other nearby areas, causing serious hazardous runoff. Because these effluents are generally untreated it leads to land degradation, soil contamination as well as contamination of groundwater and of the water table itself.

Even a small quantity of olive wastewater in contact with groundwater has the potential to cause significant pollution to drinking water sources. The problem is more serious where chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water. Chlorine in contact with phenol reacts to form chlorophenol which is even more dangerous to human health than phenol alone.

Current Remedies

The problems associated with olive processing wastes have been extensively studied for the past 50 years. Unfortunately, research has continued to fall short on discovering a technologically feasible, economically viable, and socially acceptable solution to OPW.

The most common solutions to date have been strategies of detoxification, production system modification, and recycling and recovery of valuable components. Because the latter results in reductions in the pollution and transformation of OPW into valuable products, it has gained popularity over the past decade. Weed control is a common example of reusing OPW; due to its plant inhibiting characteristics OPW once properly treated can be used as an alternative to chemical weed control.

Research has also been done on using the semisolid waste generated from olive oil production to absorb oil from hazardous oil spills.  Finally, in terms of health, studies are suggesting that due to OPW containing high amounts of phenolic compounds, which have high in antioxidant rates, OPW may be an affordable source of natural antioxidants. Still, none of these techniques on an individual basis solve the problem of disposal of OMW to a complete and exhaustive extent.

At the present state of olive mill wastewater treatment technology, industry has shown little interest in supporting any traditional process (physical, chemical, thermal or biological) on a wide scale.This is because of the high investment and operational costs, the short duration of the production period (3-5 months) and the small size of the olive mills.

Conclusion

Overall, the problems associated with olive processing wastes are further exemplified by lack of common policy among the olive oil producing regions, funding and infrastructure for proper treatment and disposal, and a general lack of education on the environmental and health effects caused by olive processing wastes.

While some progress has been made with regards to methods of treatment and detoxification of OPW there is still significant scope for further research.  Given the severity of environmental impact of olive processing wastes, it is imperative on policy-makers and industry leaders to undertake more concrete initiatives to develop a sustainable framework to tackle the problem of olive oil waste disposal.

References

Art, H. W. (1995). The Dictionary of Ecology and Environmental Science. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Borja, R., Raposo, F., & Rincón, B. (2006). Treatment technologies of liquid and solid wastes from two-phase olive oil mills. 57, 32-46. http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/2426/1/Borja.pdf

Boz, O., Ogut, D., Kir, K., & Dogan, N. (2009). Olive Processing Waste as a Method of Weed Control for Okra, Fava Bean, and Onion. Weed Technology, 23, 569-573.

Caba, J., Ligero, F., Linares, A., Martınez, J., & De la Rubia, T. (2003). Detoxification of semisolid olive-mill wastes and pine-chip mixtures using Phanerochaete flavido-alba Chemosphere, 51, 887–891. http://hera.ugr.es/doi/14978611.pdf

El Hajjouji, H., Guiresse, M., Hafidi, M., Merlina, G., Pinelli, E., & Revel, J. (2007). Assessment of the genotoxicity of olive mill waste water (OMWW) with the Vicia faba micronucleus test Morocco.

Niaounakis, M., & Halvadakis, C. P. (2006). Olive Processing Waste Management, 2nd Edition (2nd ed.): Pergamon.

Spandre, R., & Dellomonaco, G. (1996). POLYPHENOLS POLLUTION BY OLIVE MILL WASTE WATERS, TUSCANY, ITALY. Journal of Environmental Hydrology, 4, 1-13. http://www.hydroweb.com/jeh/jeh1996/spandre.pdf

The olive oil sector in the European Union (2002).   Retrieved 12/01/2013, from http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/fact/oliveoil/2003_en.pdf

Best Soil Types for Vegetable Gardens

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You’re about to dig into your backyard, but choosing the right soil can feel like deciphering a secret recipe. Loam, sandy loam, or clay loam – each sets the stage for how vibrant your tomatoes and greens will be.

Before hauling bags, remember that soil depth adds up quickly; running the numbers with a simple topsoil calculator prevents over- or under-buying for raised beds and open rows.

organic soil in hand

Soil Composition Essentials

Before planting a single seed, grasp what makes soil thrive: balanced minerals, living organisms, air pockets, and moisture reservoirs working together to nourish dependable, vigorous vegetables.

Mineral Makeup Matters

Sand, silt, and clay combine to form loam – the gold-standard texture that drains well yet retains nutrients. A classic loam contains roughly 40 percent sand, 40 percent silt, and 20 percent clay, giving tender roots exactly what they need for steady growth.

The Living Soil Web

Bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and arthropods constantly break down organic debris, releasing nutrients and improving structure. Encourage them and soil begins to manage itself like a miniature ecosystem.

Air and Water Balance

Healthy garden soil holds about 25 percent air spaces and 25 percent water. That proportion lets oxygen reach roots while still supplying consistent hydration between irrigations.

Organic Matter’s Role

Compost, decomposed leaves, and well-aged manures act like sponges, boosting water retention in sandy beds and loosening heavy clay while feeding microbes for long-term fertility.

Nutrient Cycling

As organisms digest organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients become plant-available. This slashes the need for synthetic inputs and creates a naturally self-replenishing nutrition loop.

Identifying Garden Soil

Pinpointing your soil type prevents costly mistakes; once you know whether it is sand, silt, clay, or loam, tailoring amendments and watering becomes straightforward and reliable.

Simple Hand Test

Moisten a small clump, roll it into a ribbon. Sandy soil falls apart quickly, clay stays sticky, and perfect loam feels gritty yet cohesive in your palm.

Household pH Kit

Use an inexpensive probe or dye test to discover acidity or alkalinity. Most vegetables prosper between pH 6.3 and 7, though blueberries thrive in more acidic conditions around 5.0 to 5.5.

Color and Smell Clues

Darker earth usually signals rich organic matter, while a sour odor can indicate poor drainage. Sweet, earthy smells reveal active microbes busily decomposing previous seasons’ residues.

Mapping the Garden

Test several spots, label samples, and sketch results. Different beds frequently vary, letting you match lime-loving brassicas with alkaline patches and root crops with lighter soil.

Clay Soil Strategies

Dense clay discourages roots by holding water too long and compacting easily; fortunately, repeated organic additions and smart cultural habits gradually transform it into productive ground.

  • Add coarse compost annually to separate tiny clay particles, increase pore space, and invite earthworms that keep channels open even after heavy spring storms.
  • Use raised rows eight inches high so excess moisture drains away faster, preventing seed rot and allowing earlier planting when surrounding paths remain sticky.
  • Avoid tilling wet clay; working it while sticky creates hard clods that bake like bricks, reducing root penetration and increasing erosion risk later.
  • Plant deep-rooted cover crops such as daikon radish; their taproots drill through compact layers, decompose in place, and leave behind airy passageways for vegetables.

Consistency is key. Small yearly improvements accumulate, and within three seasons you will notice spade-friendly texture, fewer puddles, and healthier, more prolific harvests.

Sandy Soil Fixes

Excessively sandy beds drain nutrients swiftly, needing thoughtful management to keep moisture and fertility around long enough for crops to finish strong through hot summers.

  • Blend fine compost and biochar; the porous carbon traps water and minerals, reducing leaching while compost feeds microbes that further glue loose particles together.
  • Mulch thickly with straw or shredded leaves; evaporation slows dramatically, root zones stay cooler, and earthworm populations migrate upward into the protected surface layer.
  • Split fertilization into smaller, frequent doses so plants absorb nutrients before they slip below reach – liquid fish and seaweed blends excel for weekly spoon-feeding.
  • Grow green manure crops like crimson clover in fall; their residue decomposes over winter, adding organic matter and anchoring light soil against wind erosion.

Over time, these tactics convert thirsty, hungry sand into a resilient medium capable of supporting heavy-feeding tomatoes, corn, and squash with far less effort.

Optimal Raised Bed Mix

Building soil from scratch inside frames lets you bypass native problems; a balanced recipe supplies structure, drainage, and fertility for many seasons with minimal upkeep.

Classic Mel’s Mix

Combine one-third peat or coco coir, one-third coarse vermiculite, and one-third diverse compost sources. The result feels fluffy, drains well, and seldom compacts under rain.

Perfect Soil Recipe

Blend 50 percent screened topsoil, 30 percent finished compost, and 20 percent extra organic matter such as worm castings or aged manure for budget-friendly productivity.

All-Bagged Option

When bulk materials are unavailable, mix quality bagged garden soil with fortified blends and topsoil, then enrich with worm castings – handy for balconies or urban lots.

Testing the Mix

Plant identical varieties across beds, track vigor, yield, and disease. Trials like those run by Jill McSheehy at Journey With Jill show how head-to-head comparisons reveal the most cost-effective formula.

Testing pH and Texture

Regular tests prevent guessing games; a small investment in kits or lab analysis guides liming, sulfur additions, and amendment choices that keep vegetables in their comfort zone.

  • Collect representative samples from several spots six inches deep, mix thoroughly, and remove stones or debris to avoid skewing professional laboratory results.
  • Perform jar sediment test; shake soil with water and a drop of dish soap, let layers settle, then measure sand, silt, and clay proportions visually.
  • Use inexpensive dye kits for pH; color charts quickly show whether to raise acidity for potatoes or sweeten beds for broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
  • Retest every three years; weather, irrigation, and cropping cycles steadily change chemistry, so updated numbers ensure amendment rates remain appropriate and efficient.

Interpreting data correctly saves money, prevents over-application of fertilizers, and maintains an environment where roots explore freely without nutrient lockout or toxic imbalances.

introduction to greenhouse gardening

Organic Matter Boosts

Adding decomposed plant and animal materials is the single most powerful action for building resilient soil capable of withstanding drought, deluge, pests, and heavy production cycles.

Compost Choices

Home piles, municipal yard waste, or purchased blends all work; verify materials are herbicide-free and thoroughly finished to avoid introducing weed seeds or damaging residues.

Manure Management

Age or compost animal manures at least six months; fresh material may burn seedlings or harbor pathogens, yet properly cured manure provides slow-release nitrogen and beneficial microbes.

Leaf Mold Magic

Shredded autumn leaves piled and periodically transform into crumbly leaf mold. Its high lignin content excels at increasing water holding in sandy beds while lightening clay.

Cover-Crop Contribution

Winter rye, vetch, or oats protect bare soil, capture nutrients, and upon incorporation add organic biomass, enhancing tilth without additional hauling or material costs.

Extension Guidance

Oregon State University emphasizes organic matter’s versatility for every texture; explore their detailed recommendations at OSU Extension for region-specific amendment depths and timing.

Solving Common Soil Issues

Even well-tended beds occasionally falter; identifying symptoms early lets you intervene quickly, preserving yields while guiding long-term improvements that prevent future recurrences.

  • Crusted surfaces signal salt buildup from over-fertilizing. Flush thoroughly with plain water, then switch to diluted, targeted feeds instead of blanket applications.
  • Yellowing despite moisture often indicates nutrient tie-up. Side-dress with compost tea or chelated iron and verify pH hasn’t drifted beyond optimal vegetable range.
  • Stunted seedlings may suffer from soil-borne pathogens. Rotate crops, incorporate bio-fungicidal compost, or solarize empty beds during peak summer sunlight.
  • Persistent compaction arises from foot traffic. Confine walking to paths, lay boards for access, and introduce annual broad-forking instead of deep rotor-tilling.

Most problems trace back to imbalance. Balanced organic matter, smart watering, and gentle cultivation restore soil biology, unlocking healthier plants and heavier baskets of produce.

Smart Fertilization Techniques

Fertilizer should supplement – not replace – good soil. Precise timing, accurate amounts, and thoughtful placement keep plants thriving while protecting groundwater and saving money.

Base Decisions on Tests

Soil analyses highlight deficiencies; apply only what is lacking, avoiding the scattergun approach that leads to excessive salts, weak growth, and unnecessary runoff.

Choose Appropriate Forms

Synthetic granules deliver immediate nutrients but can burn roots; organic meals release slowly, feeding microbes first which then feed plants, smoothing growth curves.

Placement Techniques

Band fertilizer two inches beside seedlings or side-dress established rows mid-season; concentrated zones ensure nutrients reach roots before rain can wash them away.

Split Applications

Rather than one heavy dose, deliver smaller amounts every few weeks. Vegetables like corn and tomatoes respond with steady vigor, and leaching losses drop dramatically.

Record and Adjust

Keep a notebook tracking products, rates, and crop response. Over time patterns emerge, letting you fine-tune programs for maximum flavor, size, and disease resistance.

Harvest-Ready Roots

Armed with a clear grasp of composition, texture, nutrients, and moisture, you can read your soil like a map. Amend precisely, balance pH, and layer organic matter for sustained fertility. Observe how crops respond, adjust season by season, and you’ll consistently draw vigorous, flavorful harvests from the ground each year.

Green Home Improvements That Increase the Value of Your Home

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One of the smartest investments any homeowner can make is to upgrade their home with green improvements. Not only does this reduce energy costs and decrease your carbon footprint, but it also increases the value of your property! It’s no wonder that more and more people are looking for sustainable solutions when renovating their homes.

eco-friendly home improvements to increase home value

Green home improvements range from low-cost changes, such as using LED lightbulbs and water-efficient appliances, to larger projects, like investing in energy-efficient windows or replacing an aging HVAC system with a solar-powered one. Estate agents, such as Jerry Pinkas Real Estate, tell us that along with getting better returns at sale time, you’ll also enjoy lower utility bills right away – making it a wise investment for both short and long-term finances.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the things you need to consider before starting your home improvements, along with giving you lots of tips on how to get started.

How to Calculate the ROI of a Green Home Improvement Project?

Eco-friendly home upgrades can be an excellent way to reduce energy costs and help the environment, but making these changes can be expensive. Before investing in green projects, it’s important to accurately calculate their Return On Investment (ROI).

To start this process, homeowners should research the cost of the project materials and labor, as well as any estimated energy savings based on how much energy will be conserved through making the change. Homeowners should also factor in any incentives for taking green measures, such as available tax credits.

The ROI Calculation

Once all of this information is collected, ROI can be calculated by subtracting the project’s project’s total cost from the estimated savings over time; then dividing that number by the total price.

This calculation reveals whether a particular green home improvement project will ultimately provide a net return or operate at a net loss due to its associated investment costs.

Understanding this value helps homeowners make smart decisions when seeking ways to invest in their homes while also protecting the environment.  Buyers who need more confidence working through this equation are advised to seek professional help with their calculations before committing to large-scale green home improvement projects.

Be Prepared

After considering all relevant factors, including total costs and long-term savings potential, calculating ROI yields valuable insights into which projects are financially worthwhile investments in sustainable living.

Taking a few moments to calculate ROI clarifies how different energy conservation projects measure up against each other, as well as what kind of return homeowners can expect for each type of project.

With their ROI calculations calculated in hand, homeowners are better prepared than ever before to enjoy all the benefits that Green Home Improvement Projects have to offer!

Tips for Making Your Home More Energy Efficient

Making your home more energy efficient is every homeowner’s goal. Not only is this a great way to reduce environmental impacts, but it can also save you money on utilities. But how can you make your home more energy-efficient?

eco-friendly-home

The good news is that there are many steps you can take to reduce your energy consumption and maximize efficiency!

  • Start by investing in energy-efficient appliances. Look for Energy Star-certified products that consume less electricity than regular models.
  • For your outdoor space, choose grill islands for your outdoor kitchen made from sustainable and high-quality materials to resist rust and corrosion while reducing your overall carbon footprint.
  • Install LED lightbulbs and use smart power strips – these devices sense when a device isn’t being used and shut them off automatically to conserve electricity.
  • Improve insulation around windows and doors, as well as sealing cracks around the walls, will help to keep cool air from escaping during summer or warm air from escaping during winter.
  • Consider installing solar panels, which can generate renewable energy and help lower electric bills in the long run.
  • Invest in an efficient pellet smoker as it consumes wood pellets which burns cleaner than charcoal.

With a few simple changes and some careful planning, you can make your home more energy efficient and reap the savings for years to come!

How to Choose the Right Green Building Material?

When undertaking a green building project, the materials used play an essential role in achieving sustainable building practices. Material selection should emphasize energy efficiency and a minimal environmental impact while being cost-effective and meeting performance targets.

Factors to consider when selecting building materials include:

1. Durability

Long-term performance evaluation should also be conducted to monitor how the material will interact with the environment, such as its energy consumption or emissions rate over time. For example, metal siding may have higher upfront costs but can reduce energy bills long-term due to increased insulation value; similarly, composite building products created from recycled plastic may be more expensive initially but provide superior durability for a longer lifespan than traditional wood composites.

2. Sourcing renewable materials

Seek certifications to ensure materials are genuinely made with sustainable and environmentally friendly methods

3. Recyclability

When the time does come to replace the materials, will they add to the landfill sites, or can they be recycled? Purchases should be made with the lifetime impact of the material and not just that of its production.

Ultimately, choosing the right green building material depends on understanding both the immediate and lifetime costs associated—factoring in not only purchase price but also future maintenance needs—as well as considering sustainability objectives upfront in order to obtain the best value for your dollar and have a positive impact on our planet.

How to Create an Eco-Friendly Landscaping Design for Your Yard

Creating an eco-friendly landscaping design for your yard is an easy and rewarding way to combine environmental sustainability with a great-looking landscape.

Start by deciding on an overall theme that you’d like to create (country, tropical, modern, etc.) and devise a plan that considers everything from plants, trees, and shrubs, to pathways and garden features.

tips to save water in your backyard

1. Native Species

When choosing plants, try to select native species as they tend to require less maintenance and have fewer pest issues than introduced ones. Plant in organized beds for easy mowing and easier management of pests and weeds. If possible, minimize the number of grassy areas in favor of a mixture of materials such as stone, pebbles, or mulch.

2. Water Reduction

Using materials like decomposed granite or gravel is also a great way to help save water as it reduces evaporation versus lawns. Try using low-water-use plants such as succulents or native ground covers throughout the landscape for attractive color without extra watering costs.

3. Rainwater Harvesting

Finally, consider a rain barrel or other rainwater harvesting system so that you can use natural rainfall instead of city water for irrigation purposes.

Implementing even one of these ideas can help put your yard on course toward creating an eco-friendly landscaping design!  With planning, imagination, diligence and creativity you’re sure to have beautiful landscaping and great satisfaction in knowing your yard is saving resources too!

Bottom Line

With the abundance of options available, there has never been a better time to go green! Whether you’re aiming for minor adjustments or major renovations, taking steps to create a more sustainable living environment not only helps you save money in the present, but will also result in greater benefits down the line. Investing in green upgrades today could yield life-changing rewards tomorrow.

Seawater Reinvented: Inside the Race to Build Cleaner and Smarter Desalination

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Desalination has stopped being an engineering footnote and quietly become one of the most consequential climate-era industries. Once synonymous with enormous power plants, thick plumes of hypersaline waste and prohibitive costs, modern desalination is remaking itself along three intertwined axes: slashing energy needs, turning brine from a waste into a resource, and folding data-driven intelligence into plants and networks. The result is a trajectory that could make seawater an affordable, environmentally acceptable pillar of water security for coastal and island nations ; provided the industry solves the brine and emissions puzzles fast enough. Recent projects and a surge of academic work show that the future of desalination will be less about brute-force evaporation and more about clever chemistry, smarter membranes, circular-economy thinking and digital twins that keep plants humming with minimal waste and cost [1-2].

salto de chira desalination plant

At the center of the energy story is reverse osmosis (RO). Over the last three decades RO’s relentless engineering refinements, more efficient membranes, higher-efficiency high-pressure pumps and sophisticated energy-recovery devices have driven down the electricity needed per cubic meter of produced freshwater and made membrane processes the global leader in seawater desalination. But the race is not over : recent literature and industry roadmaps point to gains not merely incremental but potentially transformative.

New membrane materials, including biomimetic and nano-structured polymers, promise higher permeabilities and fouling resistance, while hybrid approaches pairing membranes with low-grade heat drivers or electrochemical stages are attracting serious attention for their potential to halve or better the current energy bills. These trends are visible across specialized scientific journals and technical reviews published in 2024–2025 that place membranes, energy recovery and hybridisation at the heart of next-generation plants [3-4].

One high-visibility example of systems thinking marrying renewable energy and desalination is the Salto de Chira project in Gran Canaria. Built primarily as a pumped-storage hydroelectric complex, its design includes a purpose-built RO plant that will provide water both to operate the storage system and to supply local agricultural and municipal needs. Salto de Chira is emblematic of a new class of integrated infrastructure where desalination is not a stand-alone consumer of electricity, but a flexible load and a value-adding partner to renewable generation and storage. Financial backing from major public lenders for such projects reflects growing investor comfort with coupling desalination to clean energy and storage [5-6].

Beyond energy efficiency, the industry is being forced to confront an environmental Achilles’ heel: brine. Every desalination plant creates a concentrated saline effluent whose disposal can stress coastal ecosystems if not managed with care. But the story of brine is flipping from one of unavoidable waste to one of opportunity. A flurry of recent reviews and projects spotlight brine valorisation extracting salts, magnesium, lithium and other elements, and approaches aiming at Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), where virtually nothing goes to waste. Electrodialysis metathesis, membrane crystallization and a class of electro-driven membranes are being trialled to recover marketable minerals while shrinking brine volumes. This shift has regulatory and economic implications: if brine can be converted into revenue streams, desalination plants move from being cost centers to integrated resource factories. The science is advancing fast: specialist conferences and journals in 2024–2025 have elevated mineral recovery and brine management to top priorities for the sector [7-8].

A second disruptive theme is the arrival of electrochemical and hybrid separation technologies for low-energy desalination. Electrodialysis (ED), membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) and novel electrochemical desalination architectures are drawing attention because they can be exceptionally efficient for brackish waters and industrial streams, and because they open the door to selective ion recovery rather than blunt salt removal. The practical upshot is twofold: first, smaller plants serving coastal cities and industry can use less electricity per unit of freshwater; second, operators can target specific ions for recovery (for example magnesium or lithium), aligning desalination with the emerging market for critical minerals. Recent research papers have mapped these opportunities, stressing that these electro-driven solutions are especially attractive when paired with renewable electricity and when brine valorisation is part of the plant design from day one [9-10].

Artificial intelligence and digitalisation are the third revolution quietly unfolding in desalination. Traditionally, plant design and operations relied on static engineering rules and reactive maintenance. Now, machine learning, digital twins and remote monitoring enable predictive maintenance, fine-grained control of membrane cleaning cycles and optimisation of energy use in real time. The benefits are immediate: fewer unplanned shutdowns, extended membrane life, and operational savings that translate into lower water costs. Several recent analyses and white papers argue that the marriage of AI-driven control systems with desalination can deliver not only incremental operational improvements but also accelerate the rollout of small, distributed desalination units in off-grid and island contexts by reducing the need for expert operators on site [11-12].

Taken together, energy innovation, brine valorisation and digital control paint a future where desalination scales without replicating the ecological and climate costs of the past. However, realising that future requires navigating a thicket of technical, regulatory and socio-economic hurdles. Extraction of valuable minerals from brine, while technically feasible in pilot studies, faces challenges around concentration, selectivity, and economics. Lithium, for example, is present in seawater at very low concentrations; separating it profitably from a complex brine matrix requires new chemistries and economies of scale that are only just being explored in the literature and at demonstration sites. In short, brine is a goldmine in principle but a complex one in practice, and policymakers should be cautious about expecting instant returns [13-14].

For countries like Algeria, where desalination is already expanding rapidly to meet urban demand, the implications are concrete. National investment programs have ramped up the construction of coastal plants, and plans to source a larger share of municipal water from seawater desalination are accelerating. That expansion offers an opening to leapfrog older, fossil-heavy plant designs and adopt renewable-linked, low-waste models from the outset. Local manufacturing of key components, membranes and energy recovery devices also features in national strategies, which could reduce dependence on global supply chains and support a nascent domestic industry.

But such transitions require strong institutional capacity for environmental monitoring and a regulatory framework that incentives brine treatment and resource recovery rather than uncontrolled discharge. Specialist studies on North Africa and the Mediterranean region emphasize that integrated planning linking power, water and coastal environmental management is the only way to avoid shifting the burden from water scarcity to marine degradation [15-16].

Not everything is rosy. While the unit cost of desalinated water has come down substantially, the industry still wrestles with lifecycle carbon emissions when plants are powered by fossil fuel electricity. The comparative life-cycle analyses published recently confirm that thermal processes (MSF, MED) can carry much higher greenhouse gas footprints than RO when powered by hydrocarbons. The choice of electricity supply is therefore as pivotal as equipment choice. Where renewable electricity is cheap and abundant, desalination’s carbon bill plummets; where it is not, the social and climate trade-offs are stark. The policy implication is clear: scaling desalination without a concurrent decarbonisation of power systems risks undermining broader climate goals [17].

seawater desalination project in qatar

Which brings us back to finance and governance. Big desalination projects are capital intensive and typically attract a mix of public finance, export credit and private investment. Multilateral lenders have lately shown more appetite for projects that pair desalination with renewables or storage ; the financing of the Salto de Chira pumped-storage plus desalination complex is one signal that lenders prefer integrated, low-carbon packages. For smaller utilities and municipalities, however, the financing puzzle remains acute: distributed, renewable-powered desalination promises resilience but requires new business models, tariffs and technical skills. Industry analysts are increasingly focused on how regulatory frameworks, subsidies and innovative contracting can align incentives for example, paying for capacity and flexibility rather than for volume to make desalination both affordable and climate-compatible [5].

On the research front, the calendar of specialist conferences and journals shows a pivot from purely process engineering to a multidisciplinary agenda: materials science for superior membranes, electrochemistry for selective ion recovery, marine ecology to monitor and mitigate diffuser impacts, and data science to operate plants as smart assets. That breadth matters, because the problem is not a single technical wrinkle but a systems challenge that cuts across resource recovery, coastal planning and energy policy. Recent reviews and conference proceedings in 2024–2025 emphasize this pluralism and identify the most promising near-term priorities: demonstration of economically viable brine mining at scale, robust digital twin deployments that survive real-world noise, and demonstrated long-term durability of new membrane chemistries under real seawater conditions. These are the bottlenecks that, if cleared, could shift desalination from an expensive last-resort to a mainstream, climate-aware water supply option [18].

Practical timelines matter. The technologies that reduce operational energy by tens of percent ; better energy recovery, improved pumps and incremental membrane gains  are already deployable at scale. Technologies promising order-of-magnitude improvements (true biomimetic membranes, economical lithium extraction from seawater) are further from commercial maturity and will need directed R&D, demonstration funding and patient capital. For policymakers and water managers, that means two complementary strategies: accelerate the deployment of proven efficiency gains and integrated renewable-desalination pilots now, while funding targeted R&D and pilot programs for the riskier but higher-return breakthroughs. In doing so, they should insist on environmental safeguards, mandatory brine impact assessments, and incentives for resource recovery trials [3].

Conclusion

Desalination stands at a hinge moment. The past century treated seawater as a problem to be diluted; the next decade promises to treat it as a managed resource. Where desalination once implied heavy carbon footprints and piled-up brine, the emerging generation of plants aims to be leaner, smarter and circular: driven by renewables, attentive to brine as feedstock rather than waste, and run by algorithms that squeeze performance from every kilowatt and membrane square metre. The path is neither automatic nor inevitable, it requires concerted policy, finance and R&D, but the technical building blocks are falling into place.

If governments, utilities and industry seize the moment, desalination could shift from a late-stage adaptation to climate stress into a powerful tool for equitable, resilient water systems. The next big question will be whether societies can design the regulatory and economic frameworks that ensure the technology’s gains are shared and the ecological costs minimized. The science says the options are now on the table; the choice of which to take is ours.

References :

[1] Prabakar P,   Dyuthi Thampan,   S. Karthika,   Manthiram Karthik Ravichandran,   Aishwarya Subramanian,   Aditya Mosur Nagarajan,   Rayhan Hussain,  Krishanasamy Sivagami. Emerging investigator series: a state-of-the-art review on large-scale desalination technologies and their brine management. Environmental Science : Water Research & Technology. Issue 2, 2025

[2] TRENDS Research & Advisory – The Future of Desalination: Between Financing and Climate Challenges.

[3] Harjot Kaur, Gunjan Chauhan, Samarjeet Singh Siwal, Phil Hart, Vijay Kumar Thakur. Underpinning the Role of Nanofiltration and Other Desalination Technologies for Water Remediation and Brine Valorization: Mechanism and Challenges for Waste-to-Wealth Approach. Advanced Energy & Sustainable Research. Volume5, Issue11, November 2024,2400070.

[4] Andrew Jales Schunke, German Alberto Hernandez Herrera, Lokesh Padhye, Terri-Ann Berry. Energy Recovery in SWRO Desalination: Current Status and New Possibilities. Front. Sustain. Cities, 03 April 2020 Sec. Urban Resource ManagementVolume 2 – 2020  https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2020.00009

[5] https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2024-403-eib-approves-a-eur300-million-loan-to-red-electrica-for-the-construction-of-salto-de-chira-hydroelectric-power-plant-in-the-canary-islands

[6] Lozano Medina, J.C.; León Zerpa, F.A.; Pérez Báez, S.O.; Sánchez Morales, C.; Pino, C.A.M. A Study of Energy Production in Gran Canaria with a Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage Plant (PHES). Sustainability 2025, 17, 435. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/su17020435

[7] Ojo,O.E.; Oludolapo,O.A. Innovative Recovery Methods for Metals and Salts from Rejected Brine and Advanced Extraction Processes—A Pathway to Commercial Viability and Sustainability in Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination. Water 2025, 17, 3141. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213141

[8] Aljohani, N.S.; Kavil, Y.N.; Shanas, P.R.; Al-Farawati, R.K.; Shabbaj, I.I.; Aljohani, N.H.; Turki, A.J.; Abdel Salam, M. Environmental Impacts of Thermal and Brine Dispersion Using Hydrodynamic Modelling for Yanbu Desalination Plant, on the Eastern Coast of the Red Sea. Sustainability 2022, 14, 4389. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084389

[9] Kang,Z.; Zhao,G.; Xiong, H.; Zhang,K.; Su,P. Research Progress on the Application of Electrodialysis Technology for Clean Discharge Water Treatment from Power Plants. Water 2025, 17, 2701. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/w17182701

[10] Elawadi, G.A. Low-Energy Desalination Techniques, Development of Capacitive Deionization Systems, and Utilization of Activated Carbon. Materials 2024, 17, 5130. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ma17205130

[11] Alenezi, A.; Alabaiadly, Y. Artificial Intelligence Applications in Water Treatment and Desalination: A Comprehensive Review. Water 2025, 17, 1169. https://doi.org/10.3390/ w17081169

[12] Anwur Alenezi, Yousef Alabaiadly. Emerging technologies in water desalination: A review and future outlook. Energy Nexus. Volume 17, March 2025, 100373

[13] Ramato Ashu Tufa, Sergio Santoro, Cherie Flores-Fernández, Roviel Berhane Zegeye, Diego Fuentealba, Marco Aquino, Belén Barraza, Bruno Marco Inzillo, Shahriyar Nasirov, Giuseppe D’Andrea, Elizabeth Troncoso, Salvatore Straface, Humberto Estay, Efrem Curcio. Advances in integrated membrane processes for sustainable lithium extraction. Desalination Volume 610, 1 September 2025, 118899

[14] Backer, S.N.; Bouaziz, I.; Kallayi, N.; Thomas, R.T.; Preethikumar, G.; Takriff, M.S.; Laoui, T.; Atieh, M.A. Review: Brine Solution: Current Status, Future Management and Technology Development. Sustainability 2022, 14, 6752. https:// doi.org/10.3390/su14116752

[15] Oussama Naimi, Lousdad Abdelkader, Fidjah Abdelkader, Hassiba Bouabdesselam, Mohammed Chemsedine Ezzine, Belatoui Abdelmalek, Mokhtari Mohamed , Smain Nour Elhouda. Studies in Engineering and Exact Sciences. Vol. 5 No. 1 (2024): Studies in Engineering and Exact Sciences, Curitiba, v.5, n.1, 2024

[16] https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/downArticle/109/9/2/274700

[17] Prabakar P.,  Dyuthi Thampan, S. Karthika,   Manthiram Karthik Ravichandran,  Aishwarya Subramanian,  Aditya Mosur Nagarajan,   Rayhan Hussain,  Krishanasamy Sivagami. Emerging investigator series: a state-of-the-art review on large-scale desalination technologies and their brine management. Environmental Science : Water Research & Technology. Issue 2, 2025.

[18] Elodie du Fornel, Elodie Le Cadre Loret, Jan Mertens, Jean-Pierre Keustermans, Céline Denis, Olivier Sala. Emerging Sustainable Technologies Edition 2024

Role of Algerian Matorrals in Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Adaptation

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Matorrals, Mediterranean shrublands including maquis and garrigue form a key component of Algeria’s ecological landscapes. Stretching from coastal zones to foothills and lower mountain belts, they serve as transitional ecosystems between humid northern forests and southern semi-arid steppes. Despite their limited spatial coverage, they host rich biodiversity, including many endemic and xerophytic species, and provide crucial ecosystem services such as soil protection, carbon storage, and hydrological regulation. Their structural diversity and adaptive traits make them among the most resilient vegetation types under Mediterranean climatic stress. Recent national studies and international assessments (IUCN, Plan Bleu) highlight their essential role in land management, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation [1-2].

a mattoral

Ecologically, Algerian matorrals display strong heterogeneity shaped by geology, topography, altitude, and human disturbance. Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) dominates xeric, south-facing slopes, while green oak (Quercus ilex) thrives in cooler montane settings. Calcareous garrigues host aromatic and sclerophyllous species, whereas pre-Saharan shrublands exhibit advanced xeromorphic adaptations. Though often viewed as secondary succession stages, matorrals maintain essential ecological functions such as soil stabilization, erosion control, and facilitation of natural regeneration [3-4].

Their biodiversity is equally notable: matorrals contain diverse Mediterranean floras, many with ethnobotanical value, and support characteristic fauna including reptiles, small mammals, specialized invertebrates, and varied avifauna. Their structural layering creates multiple ecological niches, and their landscape position makes them vital biological corridors that maintain connectivity amid growing fragmentation, especially along the Algerian coast [5-6].

Matorrals deliver significant ecosystem services. Their root systems limit erosion in highly fragile mid-mountain environments and improve infiltration while moderating runoff. They act as moderate but meaningful carbon sinks and contribute to rural livelihoods through forage, aromatic plants, fuelwood, beekeeping resources, and other non-timber goods. They also hold deep cultural significance, being linked to longstanding pastoral and agro-silvo-pastoral practices [7-8].

However, these ecosystems face mounting pressures from climate change and human activities. Algeria is already affected by reduced rainfall, recurrent drought, rising temperatures, and increased wildfire severity. These factors disrupt regeneration, promote opportunistic species, and can drive long-term vegetation simplification. Anthropogenic drivers, urbanization, infrastructure expansion, agricultural conversion, and overgrazing further amplify fragmentation and reduce ecological resilience [9-10].

Despite these challenges, matorrals are increasingly recognized as strategic assets for climate adaptation and mitigation. Their tolerance to drought and degraded soils, combined with their role in stabilizing fragile terrains, makes them effective components of nature-based solutions. In restoration contexts, they often serve as pioneer vegetation facilitating soil recovery and the eventual return of tree species. Their importance is emphasized by the IUCN and other international frameworks [11-12].

Regional patterns confirm these trends. In western Algeria (Tlemcen, Tessala), green oak stands have transitioned into compact but impoverished matorrals due to overgrazing and drought. In Chlef and parts of central Algeria, repeated cutting and fires have produced heterogeneous mosaics dominated by pioneer taxa. Coastal maquis are increasingly fragmented by urban and tourism development, reducing ecological connectivity. Red lists and habitat diagnostics provide essential guidance to prioritize conservation and restoration [13].

Sustainable management requires an integrated, multi-scale strategy: detailed mapping of degradation, involvement of herders and local authorities, promotion of alternative energy sources, regulation of pastoral pressure, and establishment of buffer zones. Fire prevention must rely on strengthened monitoring, firebreaks, and fuel management. In heavily degraded areas, restoration may require reintroducing native species, controlling invasives, and rehabilitating soils. Aligning matorral conservation with Algeria’s NDCs would also enhance institutional support and funding.

Research gaps persist, carbon stock measurements, climate trajectory modeling, fire-risk analysis, landscape connectivity metrics, and ecosystem service valuation. Collaboration with Mediterranean scientific networks and international institutions (IUCN, UNEP, Plan Bleu) would strengthen knowledge and management frameworks.

Recognizing matorrals as full-fledged ecosystems rather than degraded forest remnants is essential. They are highly functional, resilient plant formations that support biodiversity, stabilize soils, and regulate hydrology. Their preservation and restoration are strategic priorities for Algeria’s ecological and climate adaptation.

References

[1] Mohamed Ali Bouzidi, Ali Latrèche, Ilhem Attaoui, Zoheir Mehdadi, Mohamed Benyahia. Caractérisation des matorrals et des garrigues à Urginea pancration Phil. dans le Djebel Tessala (Algérie occidentale). Géographie Physique et Environnement.Volume 3 (2009), p. 131-149.https://doi.org/10.4000/physio-geo.892.

[2] Belhacini Fatima, Anteur Djamel, Bouazza Mohamed. Impact of climatic variations on matorrals in the southern of Tlemcen (western Algeria). Plant Archives, Volume 20 No. 2, 2020 pp. 4981-4991. e-ISSN:2581-6063 (online),ISSN:0972-5210.

[3] Belhacini Fatima, Meziane Hassiba, Anteur Djame,t Bouazza Mohamed. Characterization of Groups to Matorral in the South-slope of Tlemcen (Western Algeria). J. Appl. Environ. Biol. Sci., 7(1)1-1, 2017. ISSN: 2090-4274

[4] José S.Carrión, Juan Ochando, Fabrizio Michelangeli, Francisco Jiménez-Espejo, Fernando Ojeda, Gabriela Amorós, Manuel Munuera, Ana B. Marín-Arroyo, Penélope González-Sampériz, Joaquín Rodríguez-Vidal, Federico Di Rita, Donatella Magri.Tracing 40,000 years of vegetation change in the Baetic-Rifan biodiversity hotspot. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology.Volume 331, December 2024, 105202.

[5] Chebli, Y.; Chentouf, M.; Cabaraux, J.-F.; El Otmani, S. Floristic Composition, Diversity, Palatability, and Forage Availability of Forest Rangelands in the Southern Mediterranean Region of Northern Morocco. Land 2023, 12, 215. https:// doi.org/10.3390/land12010215

[6] Valderrábano, M., Gil, T., Heywood, V., and de Montmollin, B. (eds.) (2018). Conserving wild plants in the south and east Mediterranean region. Gland, Switzerland and Málaga, Spain: IUCN. xiii +146 pp.

[7] Qiang Feng, Wenwu Zhao, Xiangping Hu, Liu Yue, Stefani Daryanto, Francesco Cherubini. Trading-off ecosystem services for better ecological restoration: A case study in the Loess Plateau of China. Journal of Cleaner Production.257(2020):120469.DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120469

[8] Balková, M.; Kubalíková, L.; Prokopová, M.; Sedlák, P.; Bajer, A. Ecosystem Services of Vegetation Features as the Multifunction Anti-Erosion Measures in the Czech Republic in 2019 and Its 30-Year Prediction. Agriculture 2021, 11, 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agriculture11020105

[9] Balzan MV, Hassoun AER, Aroua N, Baldy V, Bou Dagher M, Branquinho C, Dutay J-C, El Bour M, Médail F, Mojtahid M, Morán-Ordóñez A, Roggero PP, Rossi Heras S, Schatz B, Vogiatzakis IN, Zaimes GN, Ziveri P 2020 Ecosystems. In: Climate and Environmental Change in the Mediterranean Basin – Current Situation and Risks for the Future. First Mediterranean Assessment Report [Cramer W, Guiot J, Marini K (eds.)] Union for the Mediterranean, Plan Bleu, UNEP/MAP, Marseille, France, 151pp, in press

[10] Bright Danso Appiagyei. Degradation of the South Mediterranean forest ecosystem. A perspective on fire regime, land cover change and carbon stock dynamics: the case of Tlemcen, North-West Algeria. Doctoral Thesis in Forestry. University Abou Bakr Belkaid Tlemcim, Faculty of Natural, Life, Earth and Universe Sciences Department of Forest Resources. 2023.

[11] Artemi Cerdà, A. Giménez-Morera, Merche B. Bodí. Soil and water losses from new citrus orchards growing on sloped soils in the western Mediterranean basin. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 34(13)( 2009):1822 – 1830. DOI:10.1002/esp.1889

[12] Marios Andreou, Costas A. Thanos. Book of abstracts. 5th Mediterranean plant conservation week. Building alliances for plant diversity conservation in the Mediterranean April 07-11, 2025 • Limassol, Cyprus.

[13] Mezouar Khadidja, Benabadji Noury, Aouadj Sid Ahmed , Merzouk Abdessamad, Benabdelmoumene Fatna, Zouidi. Mohamed Some Edaphic Aspects of the Matorrals of Sidi-Djilali (South-West of Tlemcen). Advanced Research In Life Sciences 7, 2023, 54 -67. DOI: 10.2478/arls-2023-0007

6 Ways Tutoring Can Help Your Child’s Confidence

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When it comes to helping your child succeed in school, tutoring can be a huge help. But did you know that tutoring can also help boost your child’s confidence? In this blog post, we will discuss how tutoring can help improve your child’s confidence.

How Tutoring Can Help Your Child’s Confidence

1. When a child is struggling in school, it can be hard for them to feel confident

School can be a tough place for kids who are struggling. They may feel like they’re not as smart as their classmates, and they might start to doubt themselves. This can lead to a lack of confidence, which can make it even harder to succeed in school.

If your child is struggling, it’s important to talk to them about their feelings and help them develop a positive attitude. Encourage them to set small goals and celebrate their accomplishments. Help them to see that they are capable of succeeding, even if it takes a little longer than some of their peers. With your support, your child will soon regain the confidence they need to succeed in school and in life.

2. Tutoring can help your child understand the material and improve their grades

Tutoring can be extremely beneficial for students who are struggling in school. A tutor can provide one-on-one attention that can help a child to better understand their material. Additionally, tutors can identify areas where a child may need extra help and target those areas specifically. As a result, tutoring can lead to improved grades and a better understanding of the material.

In addition, tutoring can also help to build confidence and give students the tools they need to succeed in school. For these reasons, tutoring can be an excellent investment for any parent who wants their child to succeed in school.

3. With improved grades comes increased confidence

There’s nothing like the feeling of acing a test or getting a good grade on a project. That sense of accomplishment can give your confidence level a boost, making you feel like you can take on anything. When it comes to school, confidence is important.

Students who believe in themselves are more likely to put forth the effort needed to succeed. They’re also less likely to give up when faced with challenging material. So, if you’re looking to give your child a leg up in school, help them develop their confidence. Encourage them to see mistakes as learning opportunities and praise their efforts, rather than their results. In time, they’ll start to see the benefits in the form of improved grades. And who knows? They might just surprise themselves with what they’re capable of achieving.

how tutoring can increase self-confidence

4. Tutoring can also help your child develop better study habits that they can take with them throughout their academic career

While good study habits are important for all students, they are especially critical for those who struggle with academic subjects. Tutoring can help your child develop the organizational and time management skills necessary to succeed in school.

In addition, a tutor can work with your child to create a personalized study plan that takes into account their unique learning style. As a result, tutoring can not only improve your child’s grades in the short-term, but it can also help them develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

5. A tutor can provide one-on-one attention that your child may not receive in a large classroom setting

One of the benefits of working with a tutor is that your child will receive targeted attention. In a large classroom, it can be difficult for a teacher to give each student the individual attention they need. However, a tutor can work with your child one-on-one to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This enables the tutor to focus on areas that need improvement while also celebrating your child’s successes. As a result, your child will have a more well-rounded educational experience and will be better prepared for future success.

6. This individualized attention can help your child feel more comfortable asking questions and participating in class

One of the key benefits of homeschooling is the individualized attention that your child will receive. This can help your child feel more comfortable asking questions and participating in class. When kids are in a traditional classroom setting, they may feel like they have to compete with their classmates for the teacher’s attention. But when you homeschool your child, you can tailor the lesson plans to your child’s specific needs and learning style. This way, your child will get the customized attention that he or she needs to thrive academically.

Better study habits and tutoring

In addition, homeschooling can also provide your child with a more supportive and nurturing environment. This can further boost your child’s confidence and willingness to participate in class. ultimately, homeschooling can provide numerous benefits for both you and your child.

Conclusion

If your child is struggling in school, it can be hard for them to feel confident. Tutoring can help improve their grades and with that comes increased confidence. Tutoring can also help your child develop better study habits that they can take with them throughout their academic career. A tutor provides one-on-one attention which helps the child feel more comfortable asking questions and participating in class.

Soil as the Foundation of a Healthy Earth

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A special day, a day to reflect on how critical and important the soil is for everyone on the planet. Soil is a life-giving and a life-sustaining component of all our environmental ecosystems. Yet most people look at soil with disgust, thinking it is just dirt, acting as if it’s the dirtiest component of the natural world.  I beg to differ and will set out information to inform our readers of just how crucial soil is to our very existence.

importance of soil

Soil is so critical in our survival. It controls the food security of the planet. It ensures the sustainability of the earth. All food sources begin in our soil. Therefore, it is critical that humans protect, care and improve soil ecosystems. First, there is the need to raise awareness of just how critical soil is to our existence and our total dependence on the soil. Then there is an urgent need to manage the soil and improve the quality of soil. Finally, there is the need to protect the soil from being inundated and buried beneath urban sprawl and expansion.

There are 18 nutrients, both macro- and micro-nutrients essential for a healthy soil to ensure robust, healthy plant growth, and subsequently healthy human beings.  But soil degradation leads to a loss of these macro- and micro- nutrients. The result is that nutrient-deficient soil produces nutrient-deficient plants which results in nutrient-deficient human beings. That is you and me. At present, the UN estimates that 2 billion people suffer from micro-deficient nutrition.

food security in lebanon

The photosynthesis cycle requires atmospheric carbon, oxygen and hydrogen for the process of photosynthesis to occur within the plants. But within the soil, there is also need for significant quantities of the macro-nutrients: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous, along with carbon. These nutrients are key for all plant production. In addition, there are also micro-nutrients required but in much lower quantities that vary depending on the crops being grown. These micronutrients include boron, calcium, chlorine and copper, iron, magnesium, molybdenum and manganese, sodium, silicon and sulfur and lastly zinc.

This is quite an array of chemical elements. The environment has to promote plant growth. This is achieved through photosynthesis which in turns,  enable plant growth. This process involves the metabolism of carbohydrates and the movement of starches. The photosynthates formed in the leaves then need to move to fruiting portions of the plant and to the reproductive organs.

As well as promoting plant growth above the ground, the plant has to establish strong and robust root formation and growth. This can also include the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the root infrastructure of legumes. In addition, the plant root structure stimulates soil microbial activity. All the while, the plant develops the ability to fight disease, as well as build resistance to disease.

Enzyme activities are critical in the growth processes. They require nutrients to achieve this functionality. Such nutrients such as magnesium aid the plant in using iron and potassium. Sulfur and molybdenum are also responsible for various enzyme activity. Magnesium increases the availability of phosphorous and calcium.  In addition, the plant needs to keep respiration at the lowest possible levels for sustained growth while increasing water-use efficiency so as to combat drier periods.

The actual process of fruit formation is critical. The state of maturity needs to be reached efficiently and quickly, while achieving good quality of flesh and flavor, and adequate juice quantities. Accompanying all this is seed formation of good quality and number for future plant production.

lebanon-food-security

The nutritious foods then pass to the human and complete the various health pathways within the human body to ensure fit and healthy persons.

The question is what can we do to ensure healthy soils are producing healthy food products? There are a number of steps, we as caretakers of the natural environment can act upon. First and foremost, we need to revert to a traditional farming technique of crop rotation while ensuring that we reduce all potential forms of soil erosion. The agricultural industry needs to increase and maintain the organic content of the soils while reducing the dependence on artificial fertilizers.

The aggressive practice of deep tillage of soils is also harmful. Farming practice needs to move towards a shallower tillage approach, and also strive to keep soils under various forms of coverage so that wind erosion is minimised. The final step is to protect agricultural lands from being absorbed into urban development. Now that you understand just how complex and critical the soil ecosystem is, you can now start to take action to protect the soils while they carry out such essential work on our planet.