Adaptation10 - Drought & Tech

Floods are hitting the news right now. We are thinking of the victims in Spain right now.

At the same time droughts are an ever-worsening climate hazard. Countries around the world, including southern parts of Europe, large tracts of the US, Southern Africa, and disaster-prone regions in Central Asia and China have suffered from severe and prolonged dry spells that drain water supplies, deplete agriculture, and hobble local economies. In some cases, droughts have even undermined the supply of renewable energy, by interrupting hydropower generators.

In the US, droughts have persisted and become more intense in recent years. The 2023 National Climate Assessment highlights how droughts have disrupted water resources, food production, and power generation – particularly in the western states. In 2023, 46.3% of the US experienced drought conditions affecting millions of acres of crops and impacting the lives of millions of residents. This long-term drying trend is particularly evident in California and neighboring states where water supplies continue to shrink.

But the US isn’t the only region struggling with this hazard. Europe in 2022 saw some of the most severe droughts in decades. Countries including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal faced water restrictions, drastically reduced agricultural yields, and energy supply issues as river levels fell. The continent of Africa was also blighted by drought in 2022. In the Horn of Africa, more than 20 million children were struck by severe hunger due to consecutive failed rainy seasons.

These challenges illustrate the need for urgent adaptation strategies, such as better water management, improved agricultural practices, and increased investment in sustainable technologies. While these droughts may not always make headlines, they reflect the growing severity of climate-induced water stress across the globe.

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In this month’s Adaptation10, we showcase ten innovative solution providers across the globe that are addressing droughts. Some of these companies are deploying cutting-edge technologies, while others are smaller, local enterprises focused on solving water and agricultural issues in their specific regions. These businesses are shining examples of the growing adaptation economy, and potent allies in the fight against climate change-induced droughts. Explore five of these innovative solutions below, and for the full list – along with previous editions of Adaptation10, become a paying subscriber to Climate Proof HERE.

If you like the Adaptation10 series, you’ll LOVE THE SHIFT conference, taking place virtually and in person in Berlin on November 6th. Register today for this first-of-a-kind corporate climate adaptation conference, which will feature nine exciting startups pitching for the Adaptation Tech Award 2024.

Make sure to use your special 25% voucher: CP_THESHIFT24 (virtual participation possible)

Yours,

Louie & Daniel

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ADAPTATION 10

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Soil Scout, headquartered in Finland, offers cutting-edge soil-monitoring technology designed to enhance land management and optimize irrigation. Their wireless underground sensors provide real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and salinity, helping farmers, sports facilities, and environmental managers to make informed decisions. This not only improves crop yields and resource efficiency but also plays a critical role in adapting to climate change. By enabling precise water use and reducing over-irrigation, Soil Scout supports sustainable practices and helps mitigate the effects of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

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Tal-Ya Agriculture Solutions, based in Israel, offers advanced agricultural technologies designed to help farmers maximize efficiency while conserving natural resources. Their flagship product, reusable trays made from recycled materials, reduces water usage by up to 50% and enhances plant growth by directing water and nutrients to the roots while minimizing evaporation. These innovations enable farmers to maintain productivity despite water scarcity and shifting climate conditions. Tal-Ya’s solutions contribute to sustainable farming, helping agriculture become more resilient in the face of environmental challenges.

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Solar Water Solutions (SWS) specializes in solar-powered water purification systems that convert seawater and brackish water into clean drinking water. Their solutions, powered by reverse osmosis technology, are ideal for drought-prone and off-grid areas, as they require no external electricity or fuel. With modular, scalable, and containerized systems, SWS provides sustainable, low-cost, and eco-friendly solutions to address global water scarcity, improving access to safe, drinkable water in even the most remote and vulnerable regions.

Desolenator, headquartered in London, is a clean technology company that provides sustainable water solutions through solar-powered desalination. Their solution uses thermal solar energy to purify seawater or contaminated freshwater, providing communities with clean drinking water without relying on fossil fuels. The system is designed to work in remote or drought-affected regions where traditional water sources are scarce or polluted.

Seawater Greenhouse, headquartered in London, creates greenhouse systems that use saltwater to grow crops and produce fresh water in arid regions. Their technology captures the humidifying and cooling properties of evaporating seawater to foster ideal growing conditions within their specially made facilities. It also desalinates seawater for irrigation. This approach addresses water scarcity and food insecurity, particularly in desert climates, by reducing reliance on freshwater sources and lowering energy use. Their greenhouses are eco-friendly and cost-effective, providing a sustainable solution for agriculture in water-stressed areas, helping to increase food production while conserving resources and reducing carbon emissions.

(Learn more here), headquartered in Bordeaux, France, is a pioneering company focused on sustainable water solutions. They specialize in technologies that extract moisture from the air to produce clean drinking water, addressing water scarcity issues in various regions. Their flagship product, the xxx-1 Amphore, uses a unique condensation process to produce 30 litres of potable water from the air per day. Its purpose is to promote resilience in communities facing water shortages. Kumulus currently delivers machines to France, Spain, Tunisia, and Morocco.?

(Learn more here), a Chilean startup, offers a product that reduces water loss due to evaporation by 50% to 80% and controls the proliferation of microalgae by up to 70%. The product, an amphipathic monolayer, is applied to water surfaces and remains on the surface without mixing, thus preserving water quality and availability. It is used in various water bodies for sanitary, agricultural, and mining purposes, contributing to water conservation and ecosystem protection.?

(Learn more here), an Israeli company, is a pioneering precision agriculture company that specializes in advanced irrigation management systems designed for fruit trees and vineyards. Using miniature stem water potential (SWP) sensors embedded directly into the trunks of crop-bearing trees, Saturas provides real-time data on a plant’s water status, enabling farmers to optimize irrigation. This leads to healthier crops, improved yields, and reduced water usage.

(Learn more here), based in the US, is a climate fintech company that serves ag lenders. It boasts a geospatial decision support system to help monitor assets and gauge risks, plus a cutting-edge water security platform, to uncover comprehensive water information about farmland. With location-based mapping, users can unlock key geographical insights, while event alerting helps mitigate risks and support borrowers. (Learn more here) also includes climate stress testing to evaluate risk exposure at various scales, from individual properties to entire portfolios, helping ensure agricultural resilience in an increasingly unpredictable environment.

(Learn more here), based in the US, provides an innovative IoT solution for irrigation systems, helping farmers monitor and control their water use remotely. Their technology is designed to reduce water waste, improve efficiency, and prevent costly issues such as equipment failure or system malfunctions. By connecting to existing irrigation infrastructure, (Learn more here) allows farmers to track real-time data, receive notifications, and adjust systems directly from their smartphones, offering significant time and cost savings. This system enhances water management, making it easier to optimize irrigation processes for both small and large farms.

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Story – Drought solutions in action

In the early morning hours, a father and son set out on an expedition into a seemingly endless expanse of the desert. Their goal is to understand the transformation of this inhospitable region, but the further they venture into the scorching heat and arid landscape, the more hopeless their task seems. The dusty ground beneath the wheels of their SUV seems devoid of life, and the few villages they encounter along the way are struggling to survive. The residents live on the little they can extract from the barren land, and many look toward the future with scepticism.

But after days of driving in a seemingly changeless landscape, suddenly something shifts. The blistering hot sea of sand gives way to an unexpectedly lush oasis, with a thriving city at its heart. It stretches along the coast, where the gentle waves of the ocean meet the golden sand. In the city, the climate is pleasant. Tall trees provide shade, the air is cool and fresh, and life seems to be flourishing.

Father and son enter the city with wide-eyed awe. They wonder how it is possible for it to flourish in the desert, where nothing else seems to thrive. Curious, they seek out the city planner, Jenny, who has overseen the metropolis’ transformation.

“It wasn’t an easy task,” she says, “but by leveraging modern technologies, we managed to achieve the impossible. Here are the ten companies that played a critical role in the development of this oasis.”

She first shows them Soil Scout, the most advanced wireless soil monitoring system. “Thanks to this technology, we can monitor soil moisture at all times, even deep underground. This way, we know exactly when and where to irrigate without wasting a drop of water.”

Next, she highlights the (Learn more here), which provides sustainable water-saving solutions. “Their technologies help us store water more easily, preventing it from being lost to evaporation and algae. That’s crucial here in the desert.”

She continues with Tal-Ya Agriculture Solutions, which developed special trays to promote root growth and help store and distribute water. “These trays ensure we minimize evaporation and give plants just the amount of water they need.”

The city planner points to the solar installations on the outskirts of the city. “These belong to Solar Water Solutions. They use solar energy to convert seawater into drinking water — which helps bolster our water supply.”

Machines from Desolenator are also crucial to the city’s water supply: “These devices distil seawater without using any chemicals, and they’re fully powered by solar energy,” says Jenny.

Facilities by Seawater Greenhouse are the secret to the city’s agricultural transformation. “They use seawater to regulate the microclimate in greenhouses. Thanks to them, we’ve been able to cultivate plants that would never have grown here otherwise,” says Jenny.

Another contributor to the agricultural success of the city is (Learn more here), a retrofittable remote-controlled irrigation system. “With this, we can manage the irrigation of our fields from afar and adjust as we see fit.”

She also praises (Learn more here), a platform that revolutionizes water and ag risk management. “With their data and tools, we can better understand how climate will affect our water supplies and plan accordingly.”

Precision irrigation is of vital performance in a water scarce city. Hence the presence of (Learn more here). “This startup developed a sensor that measures water stress directly in plants, allowing us to use water more efficiently,” says Jenny.

Every city street has its own (Learn more here) device to ensure the water security of residents. “They extract moisture from the air and convert it into drinking water. So, even the dry desert air contributes to our water reserves.”

Father and son are deeply impressed by the innovations that have allowed this city to thrive. They bid farewell to the city planner, fired up by the possibilities that climate adaptation technologies can bring to other arid regions.