The unique Namib desert-coastal region and its opportunities for climate smart agriculture: A review

Mupambwa, Hupenyu Allan; Hausiku, Martha K.; Nciizah, Adornis D.; Dube, Ernest

doi:10.1080/23311932.2019.1645258

Cited by 26 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…76 Most of the water collected in the coastal area of the Namib Desert is advective fog rather than normal precipitation rainfall, which is a peculiar feature of the desert. 77 Fog brings water in the form of tiny droplets that can deposit up to a liter of water per square meter on the mesh of an artificial fog screen during a day in the Namib Desert . 78 There are other coastal foggy deserts, for example, the Atacama , Baja California , Omani , and Yemeni Deserts .…”

Section: The Water Management Adaptations Of Desert Creaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival in desert: Extreme water adaptations and bioinspired structural designs

He¹,

Zhang²,

Dong³

2023

iScience

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Section: The Water Management Adaptations Of Desert Creaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival in desert: Extreme water adaptations and bioinspired structural designs

He¹,

Zhang²,

Dong³

2023

iScience

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“…The Namib Desert in southern Africa is the world's oldest desert and lies on the western coast at the tip of the continent [39]. Rainfall is sparse and highly unpredictable, ranging from 5 mm in the west to 85 mm on the eastern flank.…”

Section: Potential Areas For Mass Algal Production For Global Biofuels Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production

et al. 2021

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A number of technological challenges need to be overcome if algae are to be utilized for commercial fuel production. Current economic assessment is largely based on laboratory scale up or commercial systems geared to the production of high value products, since no industrial scale plant exits that are dedicated to algal biofuel. For macroalgae (‘seaweeds’), the most promising processes are anaerobic digestion for biomethane production and fermentation for bioethanol, the latter with levels exceeding those from sugar cane. Currently, both processes could be enhanced by increasing the rate of degradation of the complex polysaccharide cell walls to generate fermentable sugars using specifically tailored hydrolytic enzymes. For microalgal biofuel production, open raceway ponds are more cost-effective than photobioreactors, with CO2 and harvesting/dewatering costs estimated to be ~50% and up to 15% of total costs, respectively. These costs need to be reduced by an order of magnitude if algal biodiesel is to compete with petroleum. Improved economics could be achieved by using a low-cost water supply supplemented with high glucose and nutrients from food grade industrial wastewater and using more efficient flocculation methods and CO2 from power plants. Solar radiation of not <3000 h·yr−1 favours production sites 30° north or south of the equator and should use marginal land with flat topography near oceans. Possible geographical sites are discussed. In terms of biomass conversion, advances in wet technologies such as hydrothermal liquefaction, anaerobic digestion, and transesterification for algal biodiesel are presented and how these can be integrated into a biorefinery are discussed.

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“…The success of hydroponic systems and the possibility of implementing it in the future are questionable as it involves significant trade-offs (Johanson, 2009;Vermeulen, 2015;Caputo, 2020). Nevertheless, with the evolution of the system through the development of technology and availability of input materials, such as seeds, water and nutrients, the possibility to implement the system can be affordable (K€ onig et al, 2018) in an urban complex environment (Nerantzis et al, 2018), mountain regions (Pant et al, 2018) and desert areas (Jensen, 2001;Mupambwa et al, 2019).…”

Section: Brief Literature Review 21 Hydroponic Systems and Global Acceptabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Business valuation strategy for new hydroponic farm development – a proposal towards sustainable agriculture development in United Arab Emirates

Sisodia

Alshamsi

Sergi

2020

BFJ

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PurposeThis study aims to evaluate a hydroponic farm (through nutrient film technique) while considering uncertainty, sustainability and the system's utility in the dominant desert geography. The idea of the hydroponic farm is to allow individuals/businesses to grow plants. Given the geographical condition, the hydroponic system may be useful in the Gulf context and may lead to food security and sustainability. Additionally, the UAE government has initiated several support schemes that can be availed for investing in such businesses that can contribute to the nation's food security.Design/methodology/approachThe hydroponic farm is evaluated using the net present value and real options approach. The authors studied five scenarios: 1. business as usual, 2. 50% subsidy on initial investment through Khalifa funding, 3. 4% premium, 4. Subsidy plus premium and 5. solar panel installation with bore well.FindingsAs per the assumptions and data usage, all the scenarios shows a positive net present value (NPV); Nevertheless, scenarios 4 and 5 report the significant highest net present and delay value.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has environmental, economic and social implications. Lower imports indirectly lead to lower carbon footprints. The local production of food ensures higher employability in the sector and increase in local consumption. Additionally, fresh food consumption is directly associated to good health.Practical implicationsSupportive policies such as subsidies through Khalifa funding may accelerate the expansion of such projects through domestic and foreign investments. One of the important takeaway from the study is to invest in the training of the workforce.Social implicationsGiven the geographical condition, the UAE usually depends on food imports. If the hydroponic farms become popular, the residents will have access to fresh vegetables and fruits. Higher engagement in agriculture activities also ensures a significant increase in agriculture-related businesses and higher employability.Originality/valueThe study adds novelty to the literature because the effect of Khalifa funding and investment analysis on solar (wells) has not been evaluated in any hydroponic studies. We presented the results with tornado graphs using NPV risk and real options approach in the Gulf context. The study represents functional scenarios that were previously not found in the literature.

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The unique Namib desert-coastal region and its opportunities for climate smart agriculture: A review

Cited by 26 publications

References 76 publications

Survival in desert: Extreme water adaptations and bioinspired structural designs

Survival in desert: Extreme water adaptations and bioinspired structural designs

Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production

Business valuation strategy for new hydroponic farm development – a proposal towards sustainable agriculture development in United Arab Emirates

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