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Tomatoes Grown in Australian Desert from Sunshine and Seawater

posted by martyb on Wednesday October 12 2016, @10:33AM   
from the please-pass-the-salt dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

South Australia is at the forefront of sustainable agriculture this month, with the official opening of a tomato farm in Port Augusta. It's not just any tomato farm. Sundrop Farms is a hydroponic greenhouse facility that doesn't use fossil fuels, groundwater, pesticides or soil. The $200 million, 20-hectare farm doesn't even take up valuable arable land. It's located on arid, degraded land that is too barren for traditional agriculture.

Here's how it works. A solar tower standing 115 metres (377 feet) high with 23,000 mirrors pointed at it provides all the power the farm requires, for heating and cooling. It also powers a desalination plant, which converts seawater into freshwater to keep the plants irrigated.

If it works, there is a lot of "arid, degraded land that is too barren for traditional agriculture" in Nevada and eastern California that could be used the same way.

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Original Submission

• Re:Arable land is not a problem Re:Arable land is not a problem (Score: 5, Informative) by Kell on Wednesday October 12 2016, @11:08AM

  by Kell (292) on Wednesday October 12 2016, @11:08AM (#413390)

  My bigger issue with the article is the unstated implication that there is a shortage of arable land. There isn't.

  I see you have never been to Australia.

  --
  Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.

  Parent

  Starting Score:	1		point
  Moderation		+3
  Informative=3, Total=3
  Extra 'Informative' Modifier		0
  Karma-Bonus Modifier		+1
  Total Score:		5

• Re:Arable land is not a problem (Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Wednesday October 12 2016, @11:42AM

  by wonkey_monkey (279) on Wednesday October 12 2016, @11:42AM (#413397) Homepage

  I bet he's never even played knifey-spoony.

  --
  systemd is Roko's Basilisk

  Parent