Biogas from Animal Wastes

The Middle East and North Africa region has a strong animal population. The livestock sector, in particular sheep, goats and camels, plays an important role in the national economy of regional countries. Millions of animals are imported in MENA each year from around the world. In addition, the region has witnessed very rapid growth in the poultry sector. Animal Waste Management Animal waste is a valuable source of nutrients and renewable energy. However, most of the waste is collected in lagoons or left to decompose in the open which pose a significant environmental hazard. The air pollutants emitted from manure include … Continue reading

السيناريوهات الزراعية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط

الزراعة تلعب دورا هاما في اقتصادات معظم الدول في الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا . مساهمة القطاع الزراعي في الاقتصاد الكلي يختلف اختلافا كبيرا بين الدول في المنطقة، بدءا من حوالي 3.2 في المئة في المملكة العربية السعودية إلى 13.4 في المئة في مصر. يعتبر الري على نطاق واسع هو توسع ، تمكين الإنتاج المكثف من النقد و تصدير المحاصيل عالية القيمة، بما في ذلك الفواكه والخضراوات والحبوب، والسكر . تحتل مصر المركز الرابع عشر كأكبر منتج للأرز  والمركز الثامن كأكبر منتج للقطن  عالميا . أنتجت مصر ما يقارب  5670000 طن من الأرز و635000 طن من القطن في عام  2011 . … Continue reading

Gaza Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Platform (GUPAP): Driving Agriculture in Gaza

The Gaza Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Platform- GUPAP, launched in 2013, consists of a multi-stakeholder, interactive and participatory forum that brings together all key actors involved in the development of a resilient Palestinian agricultural sector in the Gaza Strip. GUPAP is currently made up of about 80 members, including national and local government Institutions; Non-Governmental Civil Institutions; the Private Sector; Research and Educational Institutions; Agricultural Value Chain Platforms and Agricultural Micro-Finance Institutions. Over the past years, GUPAP, by building institutional capacity and collaboration among GUPAP members this resulted in the design and adaptation of 5 policies relating to local market-oriented … Continue reading

Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Gaza: Perspectives

There are multiple constraints which limit the development of more sustainable and resilient urban agriculture in the Gaza Strip (and the West Bank). Current urban development policies, land use classification systems and planning have ignored to recognise urban agriculture as a land use category and urban development strategy. Furthermore, there is still a lack of research on participatory urban agricultural development, improved production techniques, urban policies and strategies related to agricultural land use. Policy and institutional reform initiatives will be significant to enhance the potential of urban agriculture for food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable urbanisation. Agricultural Land Availability and … Continue reading

How Agricultural Sector Can Help the Renewable Energy Sector?

The continuous rise in fossil energy prices, combined with climate change concerns and progress in renewable energy sector, has catalyzed interest in clean energy systems across the MENA region, especially in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean region has abundant renewable resources, such as wind, solar, and biomass, which makes it a fertile zone for renewable energy developments. The agricultural sector has played a key role in the progress of renewable energy sector around the world as it provides large areas where renewable energy projects are built and is also the predominant feedstock source for biomass energy projects. For example, agricultural sector … Continue reading

Bridging the Gap: Empowering Farmers with Accessible Patented Technologies

Mixing cutting-edge technology with good old dirt-under-the-fingernails farming is one of the perfect ways to grow not just plants but the whole industry. We’re talking about bridging the big old gap between high-flying patented tech and the everyday heroes who feed us—our farmers. So, it is only natural for farm enthusiasts to look out for methods to sprinkle some innovation across those fields like it’s fertilizer for progress. The good news is that there are some super cool ways to implement tech upgrades in farming, and here are some of them. Sharing the Tech Wealth with Open Source Imagine if … Continue reading

مياه الصرف الصحي في لبنان: مضرة ام فرصة؟

من المرجح أن تأثر التغيرات المناخية على إعادة تغذية الأنهار والمياه الجوفية وتوافر المياه خلال الصيف ومواسم الجفاف يشير التقريرالوطني الثاني للأمم المتحدة (وزارة البيئة, 2011) أنه من المتوقع انخفاض إجمالي الموارد المائية في لبنان ، المقدر حاليًا بـ 2800 إلى 4700 مليون متر مكعب ، إلى 2.550 إلى 4400 مليون متر مكعب و 2350 إلى 4100 مليون متر مكعب إذا ارتفعت درجات الحرارة بمقدار 1 درجة مئوية و 2 درجة مئوية على التوالي. مع تزايد الضغط الناجم عن التوسع الحضري والنمو السكاني إلى جانب محدودية توافر موارد المياه والأراضي ، تعد الزراعة أكثر القطاعات ضعفاً مع تعرض المحاصيل الزراعية … Continue reading

Can The UAE Implement a More Localised Food System? Why That Matters Amid COP28.

If you’ve ever been to or lived in the United Arab Emirates, you might be as surprised as those who haven’t to know that the UAE does produce its own crops. Local produce is a rare sight in UAE’s supermarket, as more than 90% of its food products are imported from across the globe. Such a phenomenon is present in numerous other countries- where imports are unreasonably high or even worse, at an equal rate as exports. This begs the question: can a small desert land such as the UAE reduce its reliance on importing if it really tried? And … Continue reading

زراعة الأسطح لمواجهة التغير المناخي في قطاع غزة

نملك مساحة محددة من الأرض لكن النمو السكاني لا يتوقف، حيث يزداد عدد السكان يوماً بعد يوم بصورة جعلت الكثير من الأراضي الزراعية تتحول إلى مبانٍ سكنية لكي تستوعب تلك الزيادة ، يقدر عدد سكان قطاع غزة في عام 2005 ب 1.390 مليون نسمة و حاليا يقدر ب 1.82 مليون نسمة ، و هذا يوضح تزدايد مستمر بدرجة كبيرة في عدد السكان ، مما أثر على توزيعة المساحات السكانية و الزراعية في قطاع غزة بشكل واضح ، ، حيث  تعتبر مساحة قطاع غزة الكلية 365 كم2 و مساحة الاراضي الزراعية 75.2 كم2 ،بنسبة20.6% من مساحة قطاع غزة الكلية لعام 2011 … Continue reading

Boosting Fruit Crop Productivity: A Guide To Irrigation Systems

In agriculture, the health of fruit crops is paramount to a bountiful harvest. For fruit crops, consistent hydration is vital. Irrigation systems supplement natural rainfall and ensure balanced moisture levels, which is key to preventing drought or disease from overwatering. But before you install an irrigation system and discover how to maximize your fruit crop’s potential, read the guide below. What is an Irrigation System? An irrigation system is a man-made installation designed to deliver water to crops or landscapes. Its purpose is to aid in the growth of agricultural crops, maintain landscapes, and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas … Continue reading

Managing Water-Energy Nexus For A Better Tomorrow

Water is an essential part of human existence, green source of energy production and input for thermal power generation. The world’s 7 billion people are dependent on just 3% (called freshwater) of the total volume of water on earth. The MENA region is home to 6.3 percent of world’s population but has access to measly 1.4 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water. Due to burgeoning population and rapid economic growth, the per capita water availability is expected to reduce to alarming proportions in the coming decades. The demand for water is expected to increase significantly in future, which is also … Continue reading

Sustainable Cattle Farming: Is It Possible?

Cattle farming is often linked to climate change and pollution. As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations pointed out in a report from 2013, cattle emit the biggest percent of methane out of all livestock. The most evident solution to this problem is for the population to consume less beef and dairy. However, according to statistics, the per capita meat consumption has gradually increased since 1961 and this tendency is not likely to change. As countries get richer, their population will keep eating more and more meat. So, is sustainable cattle farming a possibility? Regenerative agriculture As … Continue reading