KAUST Develops Custom Desalination to Address Saudi Arabia’s Agricultural Water Issues
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are partnering with local farmers and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture to tackle Saudi Arabia’s pressing issue of freshwater scarcity in agriculture, according to a recent KAUST press release.
Their efforts are part of a new initiative under the KAUST Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security which aims to boost sustainable agriculture in arid regions by combining controlled environment agriculture (CEA) with advanced desalination of non-conventional water sources.
KAUST
The project focuses on refining desalination and wastewater treatment technologies to provide “clean enough” water for hydroponic farming of high-value crops, addressing both plant health and cost-effectiveness.
Professor Noreddine Ghaffour, a leading researcher in Environmental Science and Engineering at KAUST, explained the innovative approach: “Instead of removing all ions from water, why not tailor desalination to remove only what we need to? This targeted method will be more energy-efficient and cost-effective, specifically designed for the needs of different crops.”
He added that successful implementation could position Saudi Arabia as an exporter of these cutting-edge technologies.
Current desalination practices for brackish water are costly and inefficient, as they strip away all ions, including essential nutrients that are scarce in local soils. This necessitates partial remineralization of the water. Ghaffour’s team is pioneering a selective desalination process that removes only the elements harmful to specific crops, streamlining the process, reducing energy consumption, and cutting costs.
“Different crops have different needs—some require more salt, others more nutrients, and some are sensitive to boron. Our goal is to customize the water treatment to keep costs as low as possible,” Ghaffour emphasized.
Technological Solutions
Launched in September 2024, the two-year research project explores various technological solutions, including nanofiltration, electrodialysis, and brackish water reverse osmosis. One promising method under investigation is “forward osmosis,” which leverages liquid-phase fertilizers to drive the desalination process.
Additionally, the project incorporates anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology paired with ultraviolet disinfection to treat municipal wastewater, improving water quality and nutrient availability for CEA systems.
The initiative aims to map the characteristics of various groundwater sources across the Kingdom, identify crop-specific desalination technologies, and optimize treatment configurations for testing in the KAUST Plant Science Core Lab. The goal is to develop prototypes at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4-5, bringing the solutions closer to practical application.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
This project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s national objectives of promoting sustainable agriculture, reusing wastewater, and reducing reliance on freshwater resources. By fostering resilient farming practices and supporting the Kingdom’s food security strategy, the research highlights KAUST’s role as a key driver of impactful academic innovation.
“This initiative underscores KAUST’s position as one of Saudi Arabia’s most valuable assets, demonstrating how our faculty’s groundbreaking research addresses the nation’s most critical challenges,” the release concluded.
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