Some companies like Tal Ya are making the most of dew in irrigating farmers’ fields. Others like EWA are squeezing water out of thin air. Although this comes at an enormous cost of energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Passive solutions that happen with nature’s help are what we want. Faced with an extremely dry winter last year, Israeli researchers tried collecting water with fishing line.
Tal-Ya collects water from dew
According to the country’s Export Institute where the news was summed up, dew “captured” by simple fishing wire can add up to 10% to irrigation water in desert areas.
Last winter’s study was done by Yehuda Research and Development Center as a means to find more solutions for years where rainfall is quite low. This approach could help farmers use every bit of water for irrigating their fields.
Dew is formed when atmospheric moisture condenses on surfaces as a result of temperature differences. In the study, fishing wire was used because its surface area, when out under vegetables, captures the most moisture than any other material, the researchers said. In the study, the wire increased soil moisture about three times, yet the practical application of using this solution still needs some looking into.
It’s likely that ancient Nabatean farmers and others in the area thousands of years ago used dew for their harvest. In Jewish prayers, which have a distinct connection to the land, there is a prayer for dew. It is also considered “kosher” to make the special Jewish challa bread using dew.
We’d like to see more applications of this dewy phenomenon. It could have a meaningful impact in the dry Middle East.
Nabateans collected flash flood waters, in Petra
More on water technologies:
EWA Squeezes Water Out of Thin Air
Tal Ya Water Trays Make The Most of Dew
Yemen Makes Freshwater Out of Watercone
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
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