The Sahara Forest Project Foundation is currently in Madrid, invited to participate at the UN Climate Summit #COP25 together with 25.000 people from around 200 countries.
Recently, we had a visit from Danish photographers Simon Foskjær & Rikke Westesen at the facility in Aqaba. As their photos are stunningly beautiful, we wanted to share them with you guys! Thanks Simon & Rikke!
For more photos, please see their websites:
http://simonfoskjaer.dk
https://rikkewestesen.com
For the first time guests onboard Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises ships calling at Aqaba, Jordan, will taste vegetables produced by using saltwater and solar power in the desert. The initiative contributes to the revegetation of desert areas in Jordan.
Arendal, Norway, 13 August 2019 – Costa Group, the leading cruise company in Europe, through its Costa Crociere Foundation, joins forces with the Sahara Forest Project Foundation to enlarge the scope of the innovative initiative to revegetate the desert in Jordan with sustainable technologies.
The agreement was signed today by Lars Myren, Chairman of the Sahara Forest Project Foundation, and Michael Thamm, Group CEO Costa Group and Carnival Asia, onboard the historic sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl at Arendalsuka.
The mission of the Sahara Forest Project -inaugurated under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in September 2017 – is to green desert areas and create local green jobs through production of food, freshwater and clean energy, using saltwater and sunlight as the main input factors.
The partnership between the Sahara Forest Project Foundation and Costa Crociere Foundation represents a concrete step forward for the project in Jordan. The support from Costa Group – through its two brands Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises – will strengthen the mission to scale-up the project to 20 hectares commercial facility, realizing the exciting potential where every vegetable produced will suck out CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it in revegetated land. This initiative fits perfectly with Costa Group’s commitment to sustainable innovation and value creation, as well as with the Costa Crociere Foundation’s mission to promote social and environmental improvement.
An important part of the agreement is represented by the involvement of Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises guests: guests cruising on Costa and AIDA ships calling at Aqaba will have the unique chance to taste, for the very first time in the world, at least ten different environmentally friendly vegetables produced by using solar power and saltwater in the Jordan desert, through special recipes created by the Executive Chefs of the two cruise companies to emphasize their taste and quality.
“The Sahara Forest Project is very proud to join forces with a global leader within the tourism industry. The new long-term agreement for the supply of vegetables to Costa and AIDA ships will pave the way for an expansion of our project in Jordan, while raising international awareness for the need to scale-up innovative solutions to combat global warming and create local jobs in desert areas.” – said Mr. Myren of the Sahara Forest Project. “In 2050 there will be almost 10 billion people on the planet who will need sustainably produced food, freshwater and clean energy. It is urgent to prove that it is possible to shift away from current agricultural practices traditionally using 80% of scarce freshwater resources and contributing with 25% of CO2 emissions in many dry countries and scale up concepts that are good for the environment, social development and business.”, said
Mr. Myren.
“We are proud to support this path-breaking project that represents a model for future sustainable farming in desert areas” stated Michael Thamm, Group CEO Costa Group and Carnival Asia. “By supporting the Sahara Forest Project, we serve our guests vegetables grown in a way that fights the spread of deserts and creates a sound livelihood for the local population, in line with our sustainable development strategy and our concrete commitment to creating a greener planet. Costa Group is leading the cruise industry when it comes to sustainability, as demonstrated by the introduction of the first ever LNG powered cruise ship earlier this year and by the significant investments in shore power and innovative technologies for a zero-emission future”.
Currently, the Sahara Forest Project operates 3 hectares-commercial size facility 12 kilometers north of the port of Aqaba, combining saltwater-cooled greenhouses, solar energy panels and different techniques for outdoor revegetation in dry areas. The governments of Jordan and Norway, the European Union Commission and USAID have been crucial in financing and supporting the unique facility.
From October 2019 to October 2020, four Costa ships (Costa Mediterranea, Costa Victoria, Costa Diadema and Costa Deliziosa) and four AIDA ships (AIDAvita, AIDAbella, AIDAprima and AIDAblu) will be visiting Aqaba, for a total of 20 calls, bringing more than 45,000 guests.
About Costa Group
The Costa Group is the leading cruise company in Europe and China, headquartered in Genoa (Italy). The 28 ships of the brands Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia together have a total capacity of more than 85,000 berths. The fleet will be further strengthened by 5 new vessels by 2023. The company has a global workforce of more than 31,500 employees. It is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
About Costa Crociere Foundation
The Costa Crociere Foundation was established in 2014 and has funded 30 projects since then, costing over 4 million euros, which have benefited over 35,000 people. The Costa Crociere Foundation is an independent organization that aims to guarantee every individual’s right to happiness by improving the social and environmental conditions. The Foundation is involved in many social and environmental projects that make use of the resources made available by the Company and its partners.
About The Sahara Forest Project
The Sahara Forest Project Foundation is a Norwegian non-profit established to enable sustainable and profitable innovation and deployment of environmental technologies within the food-, water- and energy-sectors. Core elements of the SFP technology are a saltwater infrastructure combined with solar energy, greenhouse-based cultivation and outdoor food and biomass production. The Sahara Forest Project is currently operating a small-scale facility in Aqaba, Jordan and is working toward realizing a large commercial-size desert farm.
Media contacts:
Sahara Forest Project Foundation
Mr. Magnus Borgen, Head of Communications, +47 977 28 476, magnus@saharaforestproject.com
Costa Group
Costa Cruises Press Office
Gabriele Baroni – Communication Director – M +39 3497668013 baroni@costa.it
Davide Barbano – Media Relations Manager – M +39 334 6525216 barbano@costa.it
Press Office: T +39 010 5483523 – www.costapressoffice@costa.it
AIDA Cruises Press Office
Hansjörg Kunze – Vice President Communication & Sustainability
Tel. : +49 (0) 381 / 444-8021
Mail: presse@aida.de
The Sahara Forest Project, Bellona Foundation and EY sign a new partnership agreement to boost climate-smart food production and greening the desert in Jordan using sunlight and seawater.
– We are proud to be invited to this important high-level conference in London in order to launch a new milestone agreement for the Sahara Forest Project operations in Aqaba in Jordan, Frederic Hauge, founder of the Sahara Forest Project, said.
The Sahara Forest Project uses sun, saltwater, desert areas and CO2 to produce food, freshwater, biomass and clean energy.
Under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, the Sahara Forest Project Launch Station in Aqaba was opened on September 7th 2017.
As public and private stakeholders went to the London conference, the innovative project launched a new partnership with global firm EY in front of key supporters and financial contributors.
The Norwegian State Secretary Mr. Audun Halvorsen, Dr. Michael Koehler, Director for the neighbourhood South, in the European Commission DG NEAR,and former President of Costa Rica, Mr. José María Figueres attended the signing ceremony.
EY Head of Digitalization and Innovation Mr. Terje Andersen and SFP Founder Frederic Hauge signed the new agreement.
Encouraged by both local and national stakeholders in Jordan, as well as the international community, the new agreement with global firm EY represent an important next step in the commercialization and development of the current 3 hectare Water-Energy-Food-producing demonstration facility close to Aqaba airport.
Creating a regional powerhouse of expertise
EY, the latest collaborator to the realization of the Sahara Forest Project in Jordan was presented by Mr. Terje Andersen in London.
–As a leading global professional services firm, EY has agreed to utilise its competences, experiences, and office network to support the innovative and promising Sahara Forest Project. It is a perfect match with EY’s overall vision of “Building a better working world”. We see a great potential in this partnership and look forward to working with Sahara Forest Project in further scaling up its operations, Mr Andersen said.
The ambitious project is realized with financial support from the Norwegian government and the European Union as the two largest donors.
Mr. Audun Halvorsen, State Secretary of the Minsitry of Foreign Affairs travelled from Oslo to take part. The Norwegian government contributed with approx. 1 million euros in support in 2018.
-The Sahara Forest Project demonstrates a unique model for sustainable production of food, water and energy in the desert, which we hope will inspire other initiatives and create new opportunities for Jordan. This innovative project benefits climate, people and business. Norway remains committed to continue its support to the project by providing approximately 1 million USD for the period 2018-2020, Mr. Halvorsen said.
European Union Commissioner Mr. Johannes Hahn sent the following statement in writing:
-The European Union is pleased to fund together with Norway such an innovative initiative to introduce Green Energy applications and implement the nexus approach that supports in parallel energy, water and food security while creating jobs in Jordan, the EU Commissioner Mr Johannes Hahn reflected in a written statement.
Representing the European Commission at the side event in Lomndon, Mr. Michael Köhler emphasized at the that the support to the Sahara Forest Project was a part of the European Union and Jordan green energy partnership, where the EU has assisted Jordan to lead the green energy development in the Middle East with over 160 million euros since 2009.
Former President of Costa Rica, Mr. José María Figueres is a longtime friend of both the Sahara Forest Project and the Kingdom of Jordan. –Combining ocean water with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and adding sunlight, to produce food, freshwater and clean energy sounds like amiracle. In fact, it is not. That is what the Sahara Forest Project does. With a successful proof of concept in Aqaba, we now need to scale this wonderful invention of the Bellona Foundation, Mr. Figueres said.
Fighting drought and climate change with sustainable and profitable food production in the desert
After 1,5 years of operations in Jordan, the Sahara Forest Project saltwater-cooled greenhouses have demonstrated its capacity to grow high-end vegetables all-year round, sold to the local market and tourism sector in Aqaba.
In order to compare results with the succesful former pilot model in Qatar, the main focus of Sahara Forest Project was to grow snack cucumbers for the first year. Now, different vegetables such as pak choi, cherry tomatoes, herbs and lettuce are trialed out and tested. In addition, outside the greenhouses, more than 90% of the different outdoor crops planted have survived this period of operations.
Founder Frederic Hauge mentioned that the Sahara Forest Project findings combined with the new agreement with EY demonstrates that this concept could be commercialized and deployed both in large scale in Jordan and elsewhere. –For us, failure is not an option. I truly believe the facility in Jordan will serve as an inspiration to other dry areas of the world with freshwater scarcity and proximity to saltwater.
As a Time Magazine Hero of the Environment and a leading environmental expert highly recognized in Europe, the US and Russia, Frederic Hauge is more optimistic than ever:
-I see The Sahara Forest Project as one of the most innovative business-oriented tools in the world today. We need to combat global warming, drought and desertification. And we can do it with business and existing technologies. Is there really any better solution than to start green desert areas in large scale through profitable production of food, freshwater, biomass and clean energy, Mr. Hauge asked rhetorically, emphasizing the social benefits of creating new, green jobs in arid areas.
The Sahara Forest Project is a concept with a system-based approach using only proven technologies. Instead of being a part of the challenges often seen in food production- such as increased freshwater scarcity, fossil fuel consumption and loss of biodiversity – the Sahara Forest Project represents a new tool for decision makers by showing how food is produced in a sustainable matter also when it comes to water and energy use. The infrastructure built around the Sahara Forest Project would also benefit local farmers with access to productive land and by taking part in an industrial ecosystem for modern food production.
Triple Bottom Line approach
The Sahara Forest Project is founded on the idea that deserts once again can be lush and green. And that this can be realized through activities with a triple bottom-line.
-Everything we do on the ground in Jordan is measured against three goals. Our activities need to be good for people, it need to good for the environment, and with this new EY collaboration we take a giant step in making our activities good for business, Mr. Hauge concluded.
Contact information:
Mr. Magnus Borgen, Head of Communications at The Sahara Forest Project
magnus@saharaforestproject.com / Tel: +47 977 28 476.
The Sahara Forest Project was presented to the world at the UN Climate Negotiations COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009. Following the warm reception from global leaders combating climate change, Joakim Hauge was crucial in establishing the Sahara Forest Project Foundation in January 2010 as its first President.
After almost 9 years of leadership, Joakim Hauge has decided to leave the Sahara Forest Project Foundation.
-Leading the Sahara Forest Project has been a privilege that I am very grateful for. Together with a team of highly talented individuals I have been allowed to see the powerful vision of The Sahara Forest Project become reality on the ground. All the way from a systematic approach to science, innovation and business development to the realization of actual facilities we have demonstrated the potential for Restorative Growth. I am proud and thankful for the opportunity to have spent so many years working to realize such a terrific and unique Water-Energy-Food Nexus project, Joakim Hauge said.
As deserts currently are growing 35 times faster than ever before in human history and with the latest climate report from IPCC, it is established that there is a global need to rethink our production system with a more integrated, system-based approach.
Joakim Hauge mentions the way the Sahara Forest Project has moved the international debate on sustainable Water, Clean Energy and Food production in dry areas over the past nine years as one of his personal highlights.
-When we started Sahara Forest Project, it was a lot of people who thought we were crazy when we told them that we could green the deserts through sustainable production of food, freshwater, biomass and clean energy. The results from the pilot model in Qatar and the results from the first year of operations in Jordan confirm that the Sahara Forest Project concept work. The attention we receive from governments, business and media demonstrates that The Sahara Forest Project is seen as a pioneer inside the world of Water-Energy-Food Nexus solutions today, Hauge says.
-On behalf of the SFP team, I want to thank Joakim for all his hard work and great efforts these past 9 years. It is a great achievement from Joakim and the team that The Sahara Forest Project in this period has developed from a bold vision in a power point presentation to become a reality on the ground both in Qatar and in Jordan, said Kjetil Stake, Managing Director of the Sahara Forest Project Foundation.
The Sahara Forest Project Foundation Board will now start a process to look for Joakim’s predecessor. Kjetil Stake will continue as Managing Director and be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Foundation and lead the staff in Oslo and Jordan.
-For me, Joakim will be the remembered as the person bringing the SFP vision of “Restorative Growth” to the world. That’s still why we go to work every day – to enable revegetation and creation of green jobs through profitable production of food, freshwater and clean energy”, Stake said.
Some of the highlights during the SFP career of Joakim Hauge includes overseeing the establishment of the successful 1 hectare Sahara Forest Project Pilot in Qatar from 2012-2014, and the realization of the 3 hectare Sahara Forest Project Launch Station in Aqaba in southern Jordan. The latter was inaugurated with patronage by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway on September 7th 2017 in front of 250 guests from four different continents and 40 journalists.
For more information, please contact:
Magnus Borgen
Head of Communications Sahara Forest Project
Tel: +47 977 28 476
magnus@saharaforestproject.com,
AQABA, Jordan – February 28th 2018
Jordanian Minister and European Ambassadors to Jordan visit as Sahara Forest Project announces that the project is to deliver clean solar power to the Jordanian grid, and deliver fresh vegetables to the local consumers.
The Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources HE Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh The Ambassador of the European Union to Jordan, HE Mr. Andrea Matteo Fontana, the Ambassador of Norway, HE Mr. Tone Allers and as well as ambassadors and high-ranking diplomats from 10 European countries visited the Sahara Forest Project in Aqaba on February 28th.
The high-ranking delegation was visiting at an international event jointly organized by the European Union delegation to Jordan and the Sahara Forest Project Foundation.
–I am pleased to announce that the Sahara Forest Project now has started delivering clean solar power to the Jordanian grid and selling our fresh vegetables to local consumers here in Aqaba, Mr. Joakim Hauge, President of the Sahara Forest Project said.
At a 3 hectare previously barren land north of Aqaba airport, Mr. Hauge invited H.E. Dr Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, H.E. European Union Ambassador Mr. Andrea Matteo Fontana, H.E. Norwegian Ambassador Ms. Tone Allers to switch the power button, symbolizing a new milestone for the ambitious desert project.
The high-ranking delegation was visiting at an international event jointly organized by the European Union delegation to Jordan and the Sahara Forest Project Foundation.
–I am pleased to announce that the Sahara Forest Project now has started delivering clean solar power to the Jordanian grid and selling our fresh vegetables to local consumers here in Aqaba, Mr. Joakim Hauge, President of the Sahara Forest Project said.
At a 3 hectare previously barren land north of Aqaba airport, Mr. Hauge invited H.E. Dr Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, H.E. European Union Ambassador Mr. Andrea Matteo Fontana, H.E. Norwegian Ambassador Ms. Tone Allers to switch the power button, symbolizing a new milestone for the ambitious desert project.
Celebrating the sucessful first five months of operations, the project with Norwegian government and the European Union as its two largest funders, is ready to deliver clean energy and healthy food to the local market in Aqaba.
Food, Water and Energy production
The Sahara Forest Project in Aqaba only uses proven technologies, put together in a new system. The synergies between the different technologies allow for climate-smart food, energy and water production in a patch of Jordanian desert that has not yielded crops for hundreds of years.
Inaugurated with patronage by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway on September 7th 2017, the Sahara Forest Project is a way to roll back the rapid desertification while addressing food, water and energy production.
-The food-energy-water nexus is closely connected to climate change, and in order to address these challenges, we believe you need to take an integrated approach to tackle them, Mr. Hauge said.
The idea came from a simple perception: The Sahara Forest Project wants to use what Jordan has enough of: Sunlight, saltwater, deserts and CO2.
Ever since 2015, the European Union has been a vital supporter and leading financial contributor to realize the Sahara Forest Project activities in Jordan.
H.E. EU Ambassador Mr. Andrea Matteo Fontana planted the first symbolic tree during a ceremony at the then deserted land in October 2016, and was excited to be back and connect the solar power produced to the Jordanian grid.
–When I first came to this land in October 2016, there was nothing here. It is exciting to see the developments, and I am proud that the European Union supports this important innovative project for Jordan, H.E. Ambassador Fontana said.
H.E. Ambassador Fontana emphasized that this project is a part of the EU support to green energy in Jordan that exceeds 160 Million Euros at this moment, and stated he looked forward to further enhanced cooperation, particularly when it comes to synergies such as creating jobs, fighting poverty and opening up for further research.
Green jobs creation
-The ambition of the Sahara Forest Project is revegetation of desert areas and contributing to social development in Jordan by creation of green jobs. We want to achieve this through profitable production of food, freshwater, biofuels and clean energy, Mr. Hauge said.
Collaboration to establish Jordan as a hub for green growth systems
Norway, EU and Jordan has for years been the largest supporters of the journey of greening the deserts and combat climate change and desertification through a new way of producing food, freshwater and clean energy.
–I am very grateful for the valuable support of EU and the Jordanian government in this public-private consortium. Our goal is to continue to collaborate in establishing Jordan as a regional power house for new way of using arid landscape, and we hope that even more partners will take part in this unique project as it continues to develop. Mr. Hauge said.
The objective of the Launch Station now is to pave the way for large scale expansion of restorative farming in Jordan. The Launch Station is the first step towards to realization of the full-scale “Sahara Forest Project Jordan Center” of 20 hectares.
-It is important for me to emphasize that this is only the beginning for Sahara Forest Project in Jordan. I see this country as a hub for green growth systems and we now look forward to interact with a wide range of regional, national and international stakeholders in ensuring that this vision turns into reality, Mr. Hauge concluded.
The event was co-funded and co-organized between the EU REEEII-TA and Sahara Forest Project Foundation.
The Sahara Forest Project Foundation would like to thank Mr. Omar Abu Eid of the EU delegation to Jordan and Mr. Emil Alasis (REEEII-TA Team Leader) for the good cooperation in realizing the February 28th event.
Contact information for the media
Mr. Magnus Borgen, Head of Communications at the SAHARA FOREST PROJECT
magnus@saharaforestproject.com / Tel: +47 977 28 476.
Ms. Reem Al-Jazi, Press Officer at the EU Delegation to Jordan
Reem.AL-JAZI@eeas.europa.eu / Tel: +962-6-460-7000 (ext 108
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