On average, 70% of ground water is used for agriculture. In areas where there is little or no ground water, drinking comes first and there is no water left over for agricultural purposes.The Groasis Waterboxx, created by Dutch inventor Pieter Hoff, is a 'water battery' that has the ability to establish plants and trees in incredibly dry climates. In recent experiments at the University of Oujda in Morocco, scientists were able to grow trees in the desert.
The Waterboxx collects condensation from the air and collects it inside the box. The water is then drip irrigated to the roots of the plant it is being used on. The box is kept around the the plant until firm roots are established. Then it can be moved to new plants to get them started. A biodegradable version of the box has been developed as not to create plastic waste.
While the Waterboxx is a simple device, it has quite a bit of potential for people in developing countries in very dry areas. Hoff hopes to create a business model that will allow people in low-income areas to get their own box and start planting trees and crops.
For more technical details or to order a box, visit groasis.com or check out Pieter Hoff's presentation below:
Leave a comment