From Aqaba to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, the Sahara Forest Project presents its pioneering experience in the field of environmental technologies in new ways to produce sustainable food, water and clean energy at the UN Climate Change Summit “COP27” held in Egypt. The Sahara Forest Project is present at COP27, co-organizing one of the 156 pavilions inside the Blue Zone.  Many
leaders and heads of state from around the world is attending.
The Sahara Forest Project in Aqaba has contributed to producing 220 tons of climate-smart
vegetables, and exporting of about 300 kg to Norway since its opening in 2017, according to the
technology used to re-cultivate arid lands using seawater and solar energy to produce vegetables
that can enhance the Kingdom’s ability to achieve food security.
SFP Media Advisor Jassar Al-Tahat says that the project is located in Aqaba, Jordan
and we will transfer the experience that we have learned during the past five years to all the
influencers in the world through COP27, by presenting the project officials to this idea, which
has proven its efficacy and feasibility, in providing solutions to achieve food security and save
water used for agriculture in addition to increasing the quantities of food production, as the
subsequent experimental period, which lasted for five years, demonstrated that the production of
climate-smart vegetables is a concept that can be developed and applied in Jordan.
The Sahara Forest project represents a unique example of the Jordanian-Norwegian partnership
present in Aqaba, Jordan, since it was inaugurated by His Majesty the King in 2017, and is now
in the stage of upgrading to commercial levels of production, waiting for the sea water pipeline
tender project submitted by the Aqaba Development Corporation at the end of the past year.
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf considered
the project as promising, in which sea water after desalination is used in agriculture and at the
same time increases the green cover in the surrounding areas, noting that the challenge is the cost
of all of this, calling on the banking sector and the private sector to pay attention to this project.
The project targets land cultivation with various types of fruits and crops and the project relies in
all its production stages on clean energy “solar energy”, as many solar power plants will be
established in the region, sea water desalination plants, and water pipes will be laid directly from
the Red Sea to the project area and making use of the water produced by the desalination in
agricultural irrigation and expanding in greening the area subject to further desertification.
The Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said that he remembers very well the first time
he heard about the Sahara Forest Project, as he was present during the very first signing ceremony Jordan in 2011, adding that “I’ve been following this project ever since I visited
Jordan as a foreign minister back in 2011, and I’m so pleased that Norway is announcing that it
will continue supporting the Sahara Forest project in Aqaba.” Støre liked the vegetables that was
served as he ate two whole peppers, three cucumbers and six tomatoes. Norway’s Ambassador to Jordan Espen Lindbæck said that this project provides another example
of the deep cooperation between Jordan and Norway in facing the climate challenges that not
only our countries but the entire world face, stressing that Norway like the rest of the countries is
striving to reach sustainable, alternative and non-traditional solutions for the exploitation of
resources, and the Sahara project is one of these integrated sustainable solutions and practices.
The project focuses on training initiatives for Jordanian youth on modern agricultural
technology, as it has trained 120 graduates from Al-Hussein Technical University two years ago
in the field of agricultural technology to ensure having job opportunities in this field and to help
reach food security and represents a vivid example of agricultural technology solutions that can
be applied in Jordan.
President of Al-Hussein Technical University Ismail Al-Huneiti said that our journey at Al-
Hussein Technical University with this project began two years ago, when we started a training
program in the field of agricultural technology so that the program will be offered by the
university and practical application is actually implemented, and currently we are adding on this
effort with training more than 120 male and female students from the university in different
fields covering agricultural technology, which opens the door for them to get job opportunities in
this field, adding that the agricultural and environmental sectors are empowering female
graduates to find job opportunities for themselves in the labor market, by launching the She Grows Network.
Lilian Haddad from EcoYouth said that we usually work on topics that
contribute to empowering women in the environmental field, stressing that with the efforts of
some women and female graduates, we have worked to establish a network called "She is
Planting" and brought together all the women and female graduates of the Sahara project to work
on connecting between the network and the various environmental and agricultural sectors and
authorities.
The project was mentioned in the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in
one of the most important reports on climate change and the environment, which referred to the
project as a solution for the future in tackling climate change, and water, food and energy
security.

Press release:

The Sahara Forest Project join forces with Bellona Foundation, Aker Horizons, The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several additional partners to establish an arena at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh in November.

Thursday August 18, as part of the Norwegian political conference Arendalsuka, the Sahara Forest Project, Bellona Foundation, Aker Horizons, the Norwegian government, Oslo municipality, SINTEF, Vow ASA, Pathfinder International, Norwegian African Business Association (NABA) and We Play Green  launched the new COP27 initiative for members of the Norwegian press on board the Bellona boat Kallinika.

Sahara Forest Project was launched globally at COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. At COP18 in Doha, Qatar, the very first SFP pilot facility was opened. Since then, SFP staff has been attending most the following COPs, including ambitious efforts at both COP21 in Paris in 2015 and COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

 “Sahara Forest Project looks at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh as an incredibly important milestone to establish if the world community is on track to achieve the UN sustainability goals by 2030. The Sahara Forest Project team is going to Sharm El Sheikh in November to show decision-makers global and climate-smart solutions for how the world can produce food in dry regions, and how to green deserts”, said Managing Director at Sahara Forest Project Kjetil Stake.

Stake in particular mentioned how the demonstration size Launch Station in Aqaba, Jordan was highlighted as a case study and good example of a cross-sector approach to combat global warming in the latest IPCC report from April 2022.

SFP founder & Bellona Founder & President Frederic Hauge also spoke at the event. Bellona was present at the very first COP, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and highlighted the fact that this year will celebrate a 30 year anniversary for travelling to advocate and influence at the world stage.

“Bellona is incredibly proud of having moved from the identification of problems to actively help solving them. I am looking forward to going to Sharm El Sheikh, and we will be bringing solutions together with our cooperative partners. To solve the climate crisis civil society and business must cooperate, and this is exactly what we will be doing in Sharm El Sheikh” said founder of Bellona Frederic Hauge.

The event saw ministerial participation from

“This will be a demanding summit, there is no doubt about that. This is also a COP set in Africa, where there will be an emphasis on loss, damages, and climate financing. An important part of the summit are the activities surrounding the negotiations. In a world facing acute climate and environmental crisis, looking at solutions is key” said Norwegian Minister for Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide at the launch.

The main cooperative partner, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also participated to the launch. State Secretary Bjørg Sandkjær emphasized the following in her engaging remarks:

“Climate affects everything we do, and we are working together with the countries who are feeling the effects of the climate crisis the most. It is good that we can help bring Norwegian stakeholders into the international dialogue taking place at these summits, you actually have to be there and this is work that is urgent. We will unite climate and development policy, and that is the superstructure of everything we do”.

Aker Horizons are contributing with concrete solutions at COP27. They have established companies developing technology-based solutions, and are realizing large projects in offshore wind, solar, carbon capture and clean hydrogen in 18 countries and five continents. In Africa, Aker Horizons, through portfolio company Mainstream Renewable Power, developed renewable projects in South-Africa, Egypt, Senegal and Ghana.

“In light of the ongoing climate and energy crisis, international cooperation and solidarity is more important than ever. If we are to be successful in reaching the set climate targets of net-zero by 2050, closer cooperation between countries and between public and private sector is crucial. Aker Horizons is a driving force in the development of innovative and profitable green solutions for industry, and we are looking forward to contributing to progress in the important work on climate taking place at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, together with Bellona and the Norwegian government” said Marianne Stigset, Communications Director in Aker Horizons.

Warm thanks to HE Ambassador Richard Wood, for his speech on the road from the succesful Glasgow summit COP26 in 2021 onward to COP27 in Egypt this year. It was also a pleasure  having partners from SINTEF, Vow ASA, We Play Green and NABA onboard the boat.

More activities to come.

For any questions on Sahara Forest Project towards COP27:

Magnus Borgen, What’s App: + 47 97728476, email: magnus(at)saharaforestproject.com

 

For COP27 Bellona and Sahara Forest Project have brought together a range of stakeholders including governments, business, academia and civil society.

 

Today, June 13, Sahara Forest Project and Al Hussein Technical University held a graduation ceremony for the third cohort of female engineers who have completed the training through the “Upskilling Programme in Agriculture Technology and Food Security”. In total, 50 Jordanian females have graduated from the program since the first cohort started in 2020.

The Upskilling Program falls within the SFP’s “She Grows” strategic pillar and is now one of SFP and HTU’s strategic partnership programs to empower women and youth in agritech and food security. The program intended to increase employment opportunities for the participants by focusing on the skills required in the labor market, such as specialized technical skills in the areas of climate-smart agriculture, English language, research, technical writing, and communication skills.

Experienced practitioners and specialists designed and delivered the training. Besides, selected female leaders served as volunteer mentors to guide the graduates through their self-development and market entry journey. 

Speaking directly to the female graduates, Managing Director Kjetil Stake of SFP said:

“Dear students, we appreciate that you want to play your part in modernizing the agriculture sector in Jordan. You may have learned a lot, but so have we through your questions, ideas, and curiosity. You have challenged us, motivated us, and inspired us. It has been a meaningful privilege to have you on board with all your talent.”

Stake also emphasized that the long-term ambition is that some of the female graduates can start work at the upscaled, fully commercial SFP facility, whilst also recognizing the fact that an important achievement is the inclusion of SFP activities in Aqaba in the latest UN climate report, IPPC report, where Sahara Forest Project is brought forward by world-leading Climate Scientists as a 1-page case study.

The Norwegian Ambassador H.E. Espen Lindbæck said “To our wonderful graduates, I hope this program has energized and inspired you to work towards food security and greener agricultural technology, and that it has given you some new tools for making this vision a reality. I am very excited to see where this program takes you, and look forward to hearing about your ideas and experiences. Rethinking how we produce food is a crucial task in the face of climate change, energy crises, rising food prices, and water scarcity.”

Furthermore, Prof. Ismael Al Hinti stated that “with the graduation of the third cohort of this amazing program, we are proud that after two years of collaboration and all of the accomplishments we’ve shared with SFP, we’ve created such a high-quality program that empowers young females to be active players in Jordan’s food security and to be independent enough to start their own projects based on their own ideas and to contribute to the growth of their communities”.

Picture from one of the training at the Sahara Forest Project Launch Station in Aqaba, Jordan. 

-Moving one step closer to green growth in the Kingdom of Jordan-

AMMAN – The Sahara Forest Project (SFP) held a National Stakeholders Roundtable in Amman on Tuesday on how to enable green growth in Jordan through new partnerships. Together with academic and industry partners, diplomats and other stakeholders, new cooperations between SFP and Jordanian universities are now launched. The project’s three pillars focus on large-scale development of the Sahara forest project farm in Aqaba, the SHE GROWS initiative for training of young professional females in climate smart agriculture, and to ultimately develop a green tech and innovative hub in Aqaba for climate smart agriculture.

The roundtable was kicked off by notes from the Norwegian Ambassador to Amman, Espen Lindbæck, who highlighted that “SFP presents yet another example of the deep cooperation between Jordan and Norway to face climate challenges that are not only facing the Kingdom but the entire world.”

Mohammad Al-Sakran, Executive Director of Transport and Logistics at the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) announced the much-anticipated water pipe to be extended from the red sea to the project’s site in Aqaba. This will enable SFP to grow in scale and operations to reach commercial levels, and use arid lands, solar energy, and seawater to produce fresh and high quality vegetables.

“We have been working with our partners on the Sahara Forest Project since 2010. One of the most important things is that it is environmental friendly, and that it utilizes renewable energy as the core of the project,” said Sakran

On the sidelines of the event, SFP signed multiple agreements with Hussein Technical University (HTU) and Aqaba University of Technology as part of the SHE GROWS technical training program provided to female students.

The program aims to enable female university students to better understand and apply the latest technology in sustainable agriculture. During the pilot phase of the SHE GROWS program that took place between October 2020 – October 2021, 30 female Engineers were targeted through the partnership between Al Hussein Technical University and the SFP in Aqaba. The program intended to increase employment opportunities for the participants by focusing on the skills required in the labor market, such as specialized technical skills in the areas of climate smart agriculture, English language, research, technical writing, and presentation/communication skills.

Ruba Al-Zubi, SFP’s Country Director, underlined the importance of the event and lauded Jordan’s commitment to SFP.

“We are very proud at the Sahara Forest Project that the upskilling program implemented as part of our She Grows strategic pillar is gaining momentum and is being institutionalized by local partners. The leadership from Al Hussein Technical University team and the interest from several other actors is key for making a sustainable impact. Today we celebrate – with our strategic partner (HTU) – the launch of another Cohort that would include 20 Jordanian females passionate to develop their skills in the agritech sector. This agreement is very special as it sets a mutual goal for ensuring more applications are submitted by Jordanian young females from Aqaba and the Southern parts of Jordan. Moreover, a trilateral MoU is signed whereby SFP, HTU, Aqaba University of Technology (AUT) jointly commit to collaborate on various aspects including the upskilling program, applied research, and awareness raising within the context of agritech and climate smart food production. “said Al-Zubi.

President of Aqaba University of Technology, Mohammad Abu-Darweesh said “this memorandum of understanding comes in line with a joint vision with SFP and HTU aiming to provide training opportunities for young women and youth to help them unleash the opportunities in smart and sustainable agriculture which is driving the Kingdom towards achieving food security and boosting green economy while driving us closer to sustainable development which encompasses the individual, community, and the environment. This partnership also cements the role of Jordanian universities as a collective mechanism to build capacity to serve society and humanity.”

The President of Al Hussein Technical University, Ismael Al-Hinti, emphasized that, “our partnership with SFP builds on our previous cooperation and our efforts to contribute to the readiness of our youth to enter the job market. This program is not limited to building technical capacity but exceeds it to include life skills and English language skills.

We are optimistic in the next phase which will include the training of 20 additional female students in the agriculture sector, as we believe that more partnerships will enrich this program.”

Hiba Al-Momani, a graduate of the second co-hort and founder of eco-use expressed how empowering the program was. “You don’t believe how this program has built us step by step. They empowered us. This is different than other universities that give us an education, it’s both technical and practical. Eco-use Jordan is a small non profit that focuses in sustainability, and my team is fully female and they hold the same message to teach communities, how we can help the environment. We focus on country sides and local communities and teach them how they can Make a real impact.” Said Al-momani.

The event also featured keynotes from environmental experts, most notably Professor Dan Kammen. Kammen was the former US Science envoy during president Obama’s term ,and one of the Lead Authors on the IPCC report in 2007 who won the Nobel Peace Prize, and is currently sharing his time between USAID and being Director of Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory University of California Berkeley.

“This idea of moving from a world where fossil fuels were cheaper than renewable energy to the new world we’re in, where renewable energy is cheaper than fossil fuels, for many of us felt like the mission. But as we get closer and closer, now we have seen that basically everywhere, clean energy is cheaper than dirty energy.

“So the idea that looking at this food-energy-water nexus, is precisely the point of getting to a clean energy world. Replacing fossil fuels with green energy is great but that does nothing if we don’t also shift the gender inequalities, the social inequalities, and the under emphasis on food for people who don’t have today,” said Kammen.

Dan Kammen

Professor Kammen emphasized the need for bankable, pro-green, pro-energy, and pro-agricultural projects highlighting that clean energy is only the starting point, not the goal for what is needed to turn the global economy green.

“As sustainable agriculture goes here, so does the story in much of the Middle East. So it’s critical locally, and it’s critical to spread the model. I want to highlight with my USAID hat, that this is the Jordan prototype of the Sahara forest project and I am looking forward eagerly to seeing projects in Egypt in Tunisia, in Mauritania, in Senegal, and in many other places where this technological model is the start but it’s the human capacity building it. It’s  why having female engineers up front in the story is so critical.” said Kammen

Bellona President and Founder, acclaimed environmentalist Frederic Hauge, attended the event online. Hauge underlined the importance of utilizing biomass, and other elements to achieve sustainable green growth and face challenges imposed by climate change.

“Bellona has for several years been advocating for the great importance of producing biomass as a crucial tool in the global fight against climate change. Bellona is proud to partner with Sahara Forest Project to develop concrete solutions in Jordan together with Norwegian and international partners at the Sahara Forest Project Launch Station in Aqaba. The goal is to make a scalable concept where we turn waste streams into resources in combination with desalinated seawater and solar power,” said Hauge.

SFP facility in Aqaba Jordan was inaugurated by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in 2017, following 3-year trial period. The project is ready for commercial scale-up for production both for the export of vegetables to Europe and for the domestic vegetable market in Amman to replace the import of vegetables from Europe with vegetables produced at the SFP facility in Aqaba.