Sahara Forest Project

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Jordanian women trained on modern agricultural technology at SFP

Sahara Forest Project and Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) completed the first phase of the Technical Training Program in Agricultural Technology, where 15 female trainees from seven different universities took part in a field tour of the Sahara Forest Project site in Aqaba.

This program comes to support and empower young women to obtain employment opportunities and the skills required to take leadership positions in the agricultural sector and support the applications of modern agricultural technology in Jordan.

Director of Sahara Forest Project in Jordan, Frank Utsola, expressed his pride in participating in bettering the opportunities of a group of young Jordanian women and widen their horizons to change the future of the agricultural sector in Jordan.

The young women were excited. During the tour, they asked about everything, every tiny detail, which gave me confidence in this group and their ability to find new ideas and applications in the agricultural sector and supports their visions for the future of agriculture in Jordan.

Ms Zein Habjoka, Program Manager at HTU was also positive, saying:

Today we launch a new path for the active female workforce in the agricultural sector. Today we offer students the opportunities, skills, and knowledge required to enable them to assume leadership positions and highly skilled jobs in the agricultural sector.

Yasmine, one of the participants in the program, added:

Participating in this program and interacting with the project managers helped me a lot to understand what I want and how I can achieve it. Here I learned that there are many applications of agricultural technology that may help Jordan make use of its resources better and overcome the food security challenges that it faces.

The female training program is supported by the Norwegian government and Costa Crociere Foundation. The importance of the program stems from the fact that food and water security is one of the most important objectives on the national agenda in Jordan, as it has become imperative to empower the younger generation to support small and large projects that work on the principle of sustainability in energy, water and food.

The training program was designed to utilize partnerships between the academic and industrial sectors, whereby expert Ruba Al-Zoubi and Zeina Fakhreddin guided the trainees throughout the course of the training, in addition to cooperating with the Mira Association to develop irrigation and agricultural methods.

The project harnesses renewable resources such as seawater and solar energy (panels seen on the roof of the building in the picture above) to produce desalinated water and cool greenhouses, which allows the cultivation of all types of crops throughout the year and makes the use of arid lands possible.

Sahara Forest Project was inaugurated in Jordan in 2017 under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.

The current demonstration facility is located 12 kilometres outside the city centre of Aqaba. It uses saltwater, sunlight and desert areas to produce vegetables, freshwater, biomass and clean energy. The ambition of the project is to rapidly scale up- It is the understanding of the parties that the new land will have an area of 200,000 SQM allocated to develop the project, and another 300,000 SQM for further roll-out.

Photos: Asmahan Bkerat

 

Unique Jordanian student training goes from vision to reality

15 female graduates from seven universities in Jordan will take part in a unique training programme to boost modern agricultural practices in the Kingdom.

The training will mainly take place on Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) in Amman and on the ground at the Sahara Forest Project facility in Aqaba. The 12-weeks intensive training will be led by Jordanian and international experts. On Thursday, the new training programme was launched at an event under the patronage of H.E Norwegian Ambassador Ms. Tone Allers.

15 female graduates from different universities will be trained on water management, basics of hydroponics, renewable energy, organic farming as well as agricultural economics. The content in the programme is designed with input from industrial partners such as MIRRA- Methods for Irrigation and Agriculture, Eco Consult, and Mujeb Organic Farm.

As an important part of the training programme, trainees will meet with mentors Ms. Ruba Al Zu’bi, (Sustainability Expert and Communicator) and Zeina Ms. Fakhriddin (Head of Operations of Mujeb Organic Farm) and enjoy their mentorship in group discussions, lectures and one-to-one coaching.

The new training programme follows as a result of meetings on the side-lines of the State Visit by Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway to Jordan in March, and an agreement signed in June by Al Hussein Technical University President Prof. Labib Khadra and Sahara Forest Project Managing Director Mr. Kjetil Stake.

Professor Hinti the Vice President of Al Hussein Technical University appreciated the embassy’s role in sponsoring this program, which aims to improve the skills of young Jordanian women and provide them with the latest available technology skills in the field of agriculture and sustainability.

He added that the university always seeks to develop distinguished partnerships that benefit Jordanian students looking for job opportunities and is constantly working to develop their skills to match the requirements of the labour market and qualify them to compete at the regional and global levels.

Kjetil Stake said he was pleased to start this strategically important training programme.

Three years after the inauguration of the Sahara Forest Project in Aqaba, we look forward to welcoming 15 Jordanian female talents to our facility in Aqaba, and we are enthusiastic to work closely with HTU to inspire the trainees to seek careers in climate-smart agriculture. The best way to motivate is “learning by doing”, and we are determined to make this training programme a success, Mr. Kjetil Stake, Managing Director of the Sahara Forest Project said.

The programme is realized with financial support from the Norwegian government and the Italian-based Costa Crociere Foundation.

Her Excellency Ambassador of Norway to Jordan, Ms. Tone Allers:

I am delighted that the cooperation between the HTU and the Sahara Forest Project will now move into action. The first training comes timely, as the pandemic has made clear to us how important it is to use the crisis to implement the shift to a greener economy. Norway is happy to work with Jordan towards this goal, not the least through our support for the SFP. With the mentorship by competent organisations from both sides, I am convinced that these 15 women will be important resources in the future.

Mr. Davide Triacca, Secretary General of the Costa Crociere Foundation said:

Not only the collaboration with Sahara Forest Project made us proud; more importantly it has been a source of inspiration for us, our colleagues in Costa and the many thousands of guests and stakeholders that we made aware of it. Now such an innovative and ambitious project will have the chance to benefit from the talent of 15 young students in this collaboration with HTU . Based on our experience, we know how vital their ideas and capacity can be in contributing to the project success. We will keep a close eye on them.

The training programme will start immediately, and will end with a graduation ceremony in December.

Al Hussein Technical University and SFP Announce Collaboration in Training and Development

Al Hussein Technical University and Sahara Forest Project Foundation Announce Collaboration in Training and Development

Amman/Oslo, June 30 2020

Al Hussein Technical University signed today a memorandum of understanding with the Sahara Forest Project Foundation, with the aim of collaborating in exchanging technical expertise and technical education and applied training for graduates in the fields of energy, water and food security, with aim to engage more females in this sector.

The agreement was signed by Al Hussein Technical University President Prof. Labib Khadra and Sahara Forest Project Managing Director Mr. Kjetil Stake.

Professor Khadra commented on the importance of this cooperation, which stems from the university’s keenness to develop real partnerships with community organizations in order to support the development of a Jordanian talent pool that is well-versed in modern technologies especially in the areas energy, engineering, and computing. Sahara Forest Project represents a unique applied training environment in that it relies on expertise from a diverse set of fields that together enhance Jordan’s position of self-reliance in energy, water, and food.

He added the university believes in the co-creation of advanced curricula through industry partnerships explaining that the dynamic syllabus and practical f high application is the best solution to bridge the gap between the outcomes of higher education and the requirements of the labor market.

Mr. Stake noted that this training programme is strategic important for the Sahara Forest Project Foundation. It allows the SFP team in Aqaba not only to interact with a pool of highly talented young Jordanian professionals, but also to be challenged by the students. Another target of the new training programme is to not only talk about the importance of increased female employment, but to do action-oriented measures to increase the chance of employability and make sure students may be a part of the big shift needed in order to modernize the global agriculture, Mr Stake said. Finally he remarked that the entire Sahara Forest Project team is looking forward to assist HTU in their mission to refresh and advance skills of unemployed young professionals. Trained women will also be highly interesting when making the additional recruiting for the upscaling of the SFP activities in Aqaba in 2021, Mr Stake emphasized.

The first conversations between HTU and SFP in regards to establishing this special training programme started on the sidelines of the State Visit by Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway to Jordan in March 2-4. The majesties were accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Ine Eriksen Søreide and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Iselin Nybø. The visit allowed for an excellent opportunity to explore new prospects for cooperation between Norwegian and Jordanian partners.

H.E. Ambassador of Norway to Jordan, Mrs. Tone Allers, added ” I very much welcome the cooperation between the HTU and Sahara Forest Project. Together, these two institutions can be drivers for innovation in the area of environmentally friendly and water efficient food production. Training of students, with a particular focus on women, is the best way to prepare for the shift that is needed.”

Contact information for the press:

Magnus Borgen

Director of Communications and Institutional Relations

magnus@saharaforestproject.com

Press Release: New saltwater pipeline enables green growth in Aqaba

Date: 2nd/March/2020

Press Release

New saltwater pipeline enables green growth in Aqaba 

Sahara Forest Project (SFP) and Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a pipeline to the project site fulfilling ambitions to scale up to commercial operations for large scale environmentally friendly food production, revegetation and green job creation.

“It is with great excitement that today we enter this agreement with ADC. A saltwater pipeline leading to our facility is crucial to future scale up of SFP. In addition this pipeline will also allow for other business to develop along side it and contribute to meeting the ambition to creating more green jobs and business in Aqaba”, Kjetil Stake, Managing Director SFP said.

The current demonstration facility is located 12 kilometers outside the city center of Aqaba. It uses saltwater, sunlight and desert areas to produce vegetables, freshwater, biomass and clean energy. The ambition of the project is to rapidly scale up- It is the understanding of the parties that the new land will have an area of 200,000 Square metres allocated to develop the project, and another 300,000 Square metres for further roll-out.

Norway has been a crucial partner for this project ever since 2010. The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide said in a statement that “the agreement between the Sahara Forest Project and the Jordanian authorities on building a pipeline for saltwater to their facility in Aqaba is an important step. The Norwegian Government has decided to continue our support to the project. Jordan needs more freshwater, and this project utilises sun and saltwater to achieve sustainable agriculture in Jordan”.

Chief Commissioner Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Nayef Bakheet said “It is with great pleasure and utmost honour that I welcome their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway to Jordan. As we gather in the spirit of partnership between our beloved countries, the Sahara project, has and continues to be a symbol of the special ties between Jordan and Norway. This is a project that we are particularly proud to host in Aqaba. Since the inauguration of ASEZA in 2001, we maintained and applied the highest of environmental standards and we practiced Sustainable development at its best as well as utilization of solar energy and sea water deem SFP in order to create ideal launching point for projects utilizing green technology in the region. Therefore, the partnership evolved between ASEZA and SFP’s project and will continue to be a platform showcasing Norwegian technology, advocating green technology and demonstrating international collaboration at its best.”

Bashar Abu Rumman the CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) praised the project stating that he is “proud to say that this Project very much goes hand in hand with the Aqaba Development Zone’s vision. His Majesty King Abdullah II’s vision for Aqaba has and continues to emphasize sustainable development, putting the welfare of the community and preserving Aqaba’s natural heritage at the heart of the development process”.

“As we sign this MOU today, ADC, is further enabling the existing SFP to expand and insure its success, continuity and sustainability. This partnership, upon which we embark today, marks the launch of a new phase of the project and commemorates the special relationship between Jordan and Norway. We remain grateful for the investment SFP has put in this project and look forward to furthering means of cooperation between both countries. This partnership is also about promoting green technology for sustainable agriculture in Aqaba, Jordan and the region, as a way to protect the environment and empower agricultural communities struggling with water shortage. Our cooperation will indeed place Aqaba on the map as the host of a pioneering project that will have countless benefits on communities as well as the Environment”.

Abu Rumman stressed that “ADC will work hand in hand with SFP and ASEZA to collaborate to insure the saltwater supply to the Project, avail additional land areas, attract other entities and industries to develop within and/or alongside the project”.

The facility was opened by His Majesty King Abdullah II and HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in September 2017. Since 2017 the project has successfully shown that it is possible to produce vegetables in Aqaba using saltwater and renewable energy.

Press contacts for further info:

Mr.Magnus Borgen, Head of Communications SAHARA FOREST PROJECT, magnus@saharaforestproject.com / +47 977 28 476

Ms. Oula Ayyouub, Investor Relations Manager ADC, oayyoub@adc.jo / +962 799 060 807

Mr. Peter Marji, Investor Relations ASEZA, Pmarji@aseza.jo / + 962 799 000 933

About SAHARA FOREST PROJECT (SFP): A Norwegian Foundation established in 2010 to enable sustainable and profitable innovation and deployment of environmental technologies within food-, water- and energy sectors. Core elements of the SFP concept for dry areas are a saltwater infrastructure combined with solar energy, greenhouse-based cultivation and outdoor food and biomass production. SFP is currently operating a demonstration scale facility in Aqaba, Jordan and is working toward realizing a large commercial-size desert farm.

About ADC: ADC, is the central development arm for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. It is a private shareholding company that is owned by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). ADC is mandated to develop Aqaba Zone’s infrastructure, provide business enablers and attract new investments to Aqaba while maximizing the role of the private sector through creating public-private partnerships.

Sahara Forest Project and Costa Crociere Foundation join forces for sustainable farming in the desert of Jordan

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.

Mr Lars Myren, Chairman of the Sahara Forest Project speaking. Mr. Michael Thamm to the left.

“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

http://www.aida.de/

 

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