Water, an indispensable element for growth and life span

February 14, 2018

Water is a key element in fruit and grain farming. Morocco has been experiencing a reduction in rainfall for years, with a consequent risk on agricultural yields.

In the 1980s, various Russian and Ukrainian researchers focused on the issue, especially for cotton crops, which consume a lot of water.

The result of this research has led to the development of two techniques to significantly improve irrigation efficiency and crop quality.

The disintegration of the USSR in the 1990s put an end to the commercial development of these discoveries.

Nevertheless, a group of researchers based in Kiev continued efforts to improve inventions and commercialize them.
Gradually, these discoveries are used by farmers, poultry farmers with substantial benefits:

a) Bio-active silicon water, improved with this additive, it is established that the growth is improved as well as the resistance of the plants. This results in less incidence of plant diseases and a significant reduction in pesticide use. The application is suitable for improved resistance to thermal shock, to droughts.

b) REDOX Negative Water processes water through a small reactor (solar powered) that acts on the surface and removes bacteria and rodents. The plant does not suffer from this irrigation to the extent that the electromagnetic potential created is rebalanced by the terrestrial potential.

Positive REDOX potential improves the conservation of products, particularly with a view to exporting long-distance fruit (Europe, Russia & CIS).

November 22, 2017

Soft mobility is a hot topic in all major cities. Oujda is no exception.

The electric cargo bike concept already exists in Europe and is developing. It can be reproduced and built in the Oriental.

The mode of operation is conceived in the form of bicycle-taxi but also of intra-urban deliveries so as to reduce the traffic of trucks, vans, the noise and the pollution.

A central warehouse, located outside the city can receive the goods which are then distributed to the various shops. This organization allows a decongestion of the city centers.

A load of 100 kgs is possible thanks to the electric assistance. The autonomy of the assistance exceeds the 50kms in the current technological state of the batteries.

IMPORTANT: an electric-assisted bike model powered by fuel cells (hydrogen) is marketed in France. See the blog of December 14th. Autonomy 100kms and cooldown in 2 minutes. A revolution!

Corporate Venturing:

- companies distributing fresh produce, small parcels (pharmacy, express delivery), a taxi bike service, bike rental for the weekend.

- Decathlon seeks to develop bicycle components production sites

- Charging stations for e-bikes and other electric vehicles based on solar panels www.powerdale.com

November 27, 2017

The alga is a generic name for multiple species.

Algae production is growing in Europe but faces a major problem with the drying of this raw material. The drying cost is high.

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The drying can be organized on fixed structures, simple but also organized under solar panels to produce electricity and recover about 60% of the heat released by the panels through ventilation.

A Belgian company is interested in the development of this concept for the production and drying of algae for food use.

February 27, 2017

Wastewater treatment is always a thorny issue.

Despite the various treatments that are often expensive, the quality of the water is unsuitable for food use. Under strict conditions of purification, it can conditionally be used for the irrigation of food plants.

This problem does not arise in the case of non-food plants, for example fast-growing plants.

In addition to irrigation and the growth of abundant biomass, useful to the biobased economy. Fast-growing plants deliver various agronomic benefits with the development of a root system conducive to absorbing rainwater, the development of bacterial activity.

Several native plants are conducive to the development of this biomass and water treatment on the Oriental such as atriplex (fairly sober water) or switchgrass.

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The biology department of the UMP (Ouafae Moktari, Hassan El Halouani, Lachrach Abderrahim, 2012) performed this type of test with jatropha, obtaining results significantly above expectations.

The Oujda Ecological Park is another successful example.

Corporate Venturing:

- Valorisation of gray water at WWTPs, resale of biomass

- aquaculture see www.omegabaars.be
 

The ollas

November 22, 2017

The ollas are ceramic pots with micro-porosity that are buried near plants. They are filled with water that allows the necessary moisture to escape "on demand".

- Very gentle watering, which does not wet the leaves (no risk of disease)

- Water does not evaporate, since distributed from below. So we save perhaps 50%, according to some estimates.

- The roots of plants plunge into the soil in search of water, rather than staying on the surface

- Water has time to warm up before reaching the plant: there is no heat shock

- When using tap water, chlorine also has time to evaporate.

- The distribution of water is linked to the consumption by the plants: if the ground is drier than the pot, then the water escapes to irrigate the soil. In comparison, a manual watering allowed me to moisten the first centimeter of soil!

- Total control of water consumption with IoT sensor management

- The solution is proven in market gardening.

Is it applicable to field crops? Presumably, the techniques of precision farming will reconcile the passage of agricultural machinery and the positioning of ollas.

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Corporate venturing: market gardening cooperatives, urban farms, parks and gardens (hotels, golf, ..) that would be strongly interested in reducing water consumption AND the benefit of sustainable irrigation.