Mitigating Desertification Through the Combination of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Cultural Sensitivity
More so, DESERT FOOD is firmly convinced that its farms need to achieve financial autonomy to become truly sustainable. To assure such financial autonomy the thus far high maintenance and repair costs of desalination technologies must be compensated for with highly efficient and profitable agricultural production systems.
This is not as straightforward as in the western world. The establishment of such systems is often complicated by high poverty levels and bad infrastructure, as well as distinct cultural patterns that require close consideration. To tackle such challenges, it is crucial for the DFF to closely collaborate with local experts and to establish strategic knowledge sharing partnerships.
Therefore, DESERT FOOD upholds a multidisciplinary agenda in order to truly advance sustainable, climate resilient development in desert regions: The foundation mobilises the high potential of new innovations, integrates these technologies in optimised agribusiness models, which in turn are strongly oriented according to the socio-cultural and economic context and expertise.
The Africa First Foundation
The Africa First Foundation’s objective is to mitigate the severe consequences of desertification, through the smart, entrepreneurial and culturally appropriate implementation of cutting-edge solar, desalination and agricultural drip irrigation technologies in the world’s deserts:
- Solar panels capitalise the enormous energy potential of the sun
- Desalination technologies transform the vast saltwater resources into fresh water accessible to human consumption
- Agricultural drip irrigation technologies prevent water loss and evaporation
Innovative technologies alone, however, are not in themselves sufficient to assure sustainable development in arid desert regions. Just as important are participatory education programs which train local communities in farming, technological maintenance and agricultural sales.