Smart greenhouses as the path towards precision agriculture in the food-energy and water nexus: case study of Qatar

Greenhouse farming is essential in increasing domestic crop production in countries with limited resources and a harsh climate like Qatar. Smart greenhouse development is even more important to overcome these limitations and achieve high levels of food security. While the main aim of greenhouses is to offer an appropriate environment for high-yield production while protecting crops from adverse climate conditions, smart greenhouses provide precise regulation and control of the microclimate variables by utilizing the latest control techniques, advanced metering and communication infrastructures, and smart management systems thus providing the optimal environment for crop development. However, due to the development of information technology, greenhouses are undergoing a big transformation. In fact, the new generation of greenhouses has gone from simple constructions to sophisticated factories that drive agricultural production at the minimum possible cost. The main objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive understanding framework of the actual greenhouse development in Qatar, so as to be able to support the transition to sustainable precision agriculture. Qatar’s greenhouse market is a dynamic sector, and it is expected to mark double-digit growth by 2025. Thus, this study may offer effective supporting information to decision and policy makers, professionals, and end-users in introducing new technologies and taking advantage of monitoring techniques, artificial intelligence, and communication infrastructure in the agriculture sector by adopting smart greenhouses, consequently enhancing the Food-Energy-Water Nexus resilience and sustainable development. Furthermore, an analysis of the actual agriculture situation in Qatar is provided by examining its potential development regarding the existing drivers and barriers. Finally, the study presents the policy measures already implemented in Qatar and analyses the future development of the local greenhouse sector in terms of sustainability and resource-saving perspective and its penetration into Qatar’s economy.Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. The authors are grateful to Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) for funding and supporting the M-NEX Project (Grant No. BFSUGI01-1120-170005) in Qatar. The M-NEX is a project of the Collaborative Research Area Belmont Forum (Grant No. 11314551)

Μελέτη της φυσιολογικής ενηλικίωσης κονδύλων πατάτας Solanum tuberosum L., παραγόμενους in vivo

The aim of this study was to examine the effect and mechanism of action of some agents inthe physiological age of potato tubers grown from true potato seed (TPS). The measurements conductedwere focused on their effect on dormancy duration and the main qualities of the tubers, likecarbohydrate concentration (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose) and on the expression of genesinvolved in carbohydrate metabolism (GDHG and UGPase) as well as the respiration rate, freshweight loss, changes of specific gravity and the dry matter content of both tubers and sprouts.Abscisic acid (ABA) was applied pre-harvest in potato plants, as well as post-harvest in harvestedtubers. The results of the experiments show that exogenous ABA pre-harvest application haslittle effect on the tuberisation and physiological age of the tubers, and depends on the applicationtime on the plant growth cycle and the harvest period of the tubers. Applications early in the plantgrowth cycle reduce the number and weight of tubers produced, but applications later in the growthcycle increase tuberisation but cause a decrease in tuber weight. This small inhibitory effect of theexogenous ABA application on the growth and the sprouting ability of the harvested tubers indicatesthat it’s quickly metabolised by the plants. Similarly, the post-harvest ABA application on the tubersaffects their sprouting ability and reduces the number of sprouted buds per tuber, when the ABAapplication is carried out after a transverse cut mas made to the tubers at the point of separationfrom the stolon and the cut surface was immersed to the ABA solution compared to the immersionof whole tubers in the solution. This effect of ABA is obvious when the tubers are immersed in thesolution for 24 h, and is mainly observed the first 20 days after the tubers sprouted, and then it dependson the immersion duration. As long as the tubers remain in the ABA solution there is a delayin the sprout development, but after their exit, this effect disappears.The post-harvest coating of tubers with paraffin wax showed that it can effectively prolongtuber dormancy at storage temperatures above 7°C, while storage at 20°C gave inconclusive results.Also, at 7°C, the accumulation of transcripts of GDHG and UGPase decreased while at 2°C they increasedand since these enzymes possess a key role in sugar metabolism, these results are probablydue to physiological processes preceding the visible deployment of potato buds. On the contrary,tuber coating with Teycer Wax DC GL-P S (Shellac and polyethylene) product was not effective in controllingduration of tuber dormancy in all storage temperatures tested (5, 15 and 20°C), since it didnot inhibit tuber germination and resulted in high tuber losses due to rot.The post-harvest tuber treatment of chloroform (CHCl3) and carvone was effective in prolongingthe duration of tuber dormancy only when their application was constant, while their effectwas reversible after the discontinuation of the application. Although they caused increased freshweight loss and respiration activity after long term storage no negative effects on quality characteristicsof the tubers were recorded (concentration of glucose, fructose, sucrose and dry matter content).In addition, CHCl3 caused decreased accumulation of transcripts encoding enzymes important for the sugar metabolism (UGPase and GDHG).Similarly, the post-harvest application of chloroprofam (CIPC) effectively delayed tubersprouting and at the same time improved some main tuber qualities as the dry weight and reducedfresh weight loss of tubers stored at 10°C and 20°C. However, the effectiveness of CIPC was greaterat 10°C storage temperature. Also, CIPC application caused inhibition of the expression of genes encodingUGPase and GLDHG enzymes which are involved in the sugar metabolism and this suppressionof soluble sugar metabolism could result in the tubers sprouting delay after CIPC application. Opposite effect was recorded by carbon disulphide (CS2) application, since it effectively acceleratedthe onset of uniform germination in tubers, which is very important for its use on a commercialscale. The breakage of tuber dormancy with CS2 was associated with changes in tuber metabolism(respiration rate, ethylene emission and sugar concentration), especially during the first few daysafter application, which was probably a reaction of tuber exposure to stress.Finally, the combined application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine hydrochloride (AVG ReTain)with Teycer Wax, Teycer Wax with Paraffin, Teycer Wax with Carvone as well Teycer Wax withCarvone was not effective for the control of potato tuber dormancy because their effectiveness wasnot clear and caused high tuber losses due to rot.It is concluded that the application of plant growth regulators and chemical agents to control theduration of potato tuber dormancy affects the physiological age of the tubers, sometimes positivelyand sometimes negatively on their qualitative characteristics.Τα πειράματα που πραγματοποιήθηκαν στην παρούσα εργασία είχαν σκοπό να μελετηθεί η επίδραση και ο μηχανισμός δράσης χημικών ουσιών στη φυσιολογική ηλικία των κονδύλων πατάτας παραγόμενων από βοτανικό σπόρο. Μελετήθηκε η επίδραση στη διάρκεια του λήθαργου καθώς και σε κύρια ποιοτικά χαρακτηριστικά των κονδύλων, όπως η συγκέντρωση των υδατανθράκων(φρουκτόζη, γλυκόζη, σακχαρόζη, μαλτόζη) κι έκφραση γονιδίων που σχετίζονται με τον μεταβολισμό των υδατανθράκων (GDHG και UGPαση), η αναπνευστική δραστηριότητα τωνκονδύλων, η μεταβολή του νωπού και του ειδικού βάρους των κονδύλων και η περιεκτικότητα σεξηρά ουσία τόσο των κονδύλων όσο και των φύτρων.Το αμπσισικό οξύ (ΑΒΑ) εφαρμόστηκε τόσο προσυλλεκτικά σε φυτά πατάτας όσο και μετασυλλεκτικά σε συγκομισμένους κονδύλους. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα, το συμπέρασμα που εξάγεται είναι ότι η εξωγενής προσυλλεκτική εφαρμογή με ΑΒΑ έχει μικρή επίδραση στην κονδυλοποίηση των φυτών και στη φυσιολογική ηλικία των κονδύλων, ανάλογα με τον χρόνο εφαρμογής του στην πορεία ανάπτυξης των φυτών και τον χρόνο συγκομιδής των κονδύλων. Η εφαρμογή του στα πρώτα στάδια ανάπτυξης των φυτών επιδρά αρνητικά μειώνοντας τον αριθμό και το βάρος των παραγόμενων κονδύλων, ωστόσο στα τελευταία στάδια ανάπτυξης των φυτών αυξάνεται ο σχηματισμός νέων κονδύλων ενώ παρατηρείται μείωση του συνολικού τους βάρους. Η μικρή αυτή παρεμποδιστική δράση στην ανάπτυξη και τη φυτρωτικότητα των κονδύλων της εξωγενούς εφαρμογής ΑΒΑ υποδηλώνει ότι μεταβολίζεται γρήγορα από τα φυτά. Παρόμοια, η μετασυλλεκτική εφαρμογή ΑΒΑ στους κονδύλους επιδρά στη φυτρωτικότητά τους, μειώνοντας την ταχύτητα έκπτυξης των οφθαλμών και τον αριθμό των φυτρωμένων οφθαλμών ανά κόνδυλο όταν η εφαρμογή πραγματοποιείται ύστερα από αφαίρεση επιφανειακού τμήματος του κονδύλου στην περιοχή πρόσφυσης του στόλωνα και εμβάπτιση της τραυματισμένης περιοχής στο διάλυμα σε σχέση με την εμβάπτιση ολόκληρων των κονδύλων στο διάλυμα. Η εμβάπτιση των κονδύλων για 24h είναι αρκετή για να φανεί αυτή η επίδραση του ΑΒΑ, η οποία παρατηρείται κυρίως τις πρώτες 20 ημέρες από το φύτρωμα των κονδύλων, ενώ έπειτα εξαρτάται από τις ημέρες παραμονής των κονδύλων στο διάλυμα. Όσο οι κόνδυλοι παραμένουν στο διάλυμα του ΑΒΑ παρατηρείται καθυστέρηση στην έκπτυξη των οφθαλμών, αλλά μετά από την έξοδό τους, η επίδραση αυτή εξαφανίζεται. Στη συνέχεια των πειραμάτων, η μετασυλλεκτική επικάλυψη των κονδύλων με παραφίνη έδειξε ότι μπορεί αποτελεσματικά να επιμηκύνει τη διάρκεια του λήθαργου σε θερμοκρασίες αποθήκευσης άνω των 7°C, ενώ η θερμοκρασία αποθήκευσης 20°C έδωσε ασαφή αποτελέσματα.Επίσης, στους 7°C, η συσσώρευση των μεταγραφημάτων της GDHG και της UGPase παρουσίασε μείωση ενώ στους 2°C παρουσίασε αύξηση και δεδομένου ότι τα ένζυμα αυτά κατέχουν κομβικό ρόλο στον μεταβολισμό των σακχάρων τα αποτελέσματα πιθανά αποδίδονται στις φυσιολογικές διεργασίες που προηγούνται της ορατής έκπτυξης των οφθαλμών της πατάτας. Σε αντίθεση, η επικάλυψη με το εμπορικό σκεύασμα Teycer Wax DC GL-P S (Shellac και polyethylene) δεν ήταν αποτελεσματική στον έλεγχο της διάρκειας του λήθαργου σε καμία από τις επακόλουθες θερμοκρασίες αποθήκευσης (5, 15 και 20°C), αφού δεν ανέστειλε τη βλάστηση των κονδύλων, ενώ παρουσίασε υψηλές απώλειες κονδύλων λόγω σήψης.Η μετασυλλεκτική εφαρμογή χλωροφορμίου (CHCl3) και καρβόνης ήταν αποτελεσματική για την επιμήκυνση της διάρκειας του λήθαργου των οφθαλμών των κονδύλων μόνο όταν η εφαρμογή τους ήταν συνεχής, ενώ η δράση τους ήταν αναστρέψιμη με τη διακοπή της εφαρμογής τους. Αν και προκάλεσαν αύξηση της απώλειας νωπού βάρους και της αναπνοής στους κονδύλους, μετά από μεγάλης διάρκειας συντήρηση δεν παρατηρήθηκαν αρνητικές επιπτώσεις σε ποιοτικά χαρακτηριστικά των κονδύλων (συγκέντρωση γλυκόζης, φρουκτόζης, σακχαρόζης και ξηράς ουσίας).Επιπρόσθετα, το CHCl3 προκάλεσε μειωμένη συσσώρευση των μεταγραφημάτων που κωδικοποιούντα σημαντικά για τον μεταβολισμό των σακχάρων ένζυμα GDHG και UGPase.Παρόμοια, η μετασυλλεκτική εφαρμογή του χλωροπροφάμ (CIPC) καθυστέρησε αποτελεσματικά τη βλάστηση των οφθαλμών των κονδύλων και συγχρόνως βελτίωσε σημαντικά κάποια κύρια ποιοτικά χαρακτηριστικά όπως την ξηρά ουσία και μείωσε την απώλεια του νωπού βάρους των κονδύλων που αποθηκεύτηκαν στους 10°C και στους 20°C. Ωστόσο, η αποτελεσματικότητα του χλωροπροφάμ ήταν μεγαλύτερη στους 10°C θερμοκρασία αποθήκευσης.Επίσης, η εφαρμογή CIPC πιθανά προκάλεσε παρεμπόδιση της έκφρασης των γονιδίων που κωδικοποιούν τα ένζυμα UGPase και GLDHG που εμπλέκονται στον μεταβολισμό των σακχάρων και η καταστολή αυτή του μεταβολισμού των διαλυτών σακχάρων, θα μπορούσε να συμβάλει στην καθυστέρηση της βλάστησης των κονδύλων με εφαρμογή CIPC.Αντίθετη δράση είχε ο διθειάνθρακας (CS2), αφού η εφαρμογή του επιτάχυνε αποτελεσματικά την έναρξη ομοιόμορφου φυτρώματος των κονδύλων, κάτι που είναι πολύ σημαντικό για τη χρήση του σε εμπορική κλίμακα. Η διακοπή του λήθαργου κονδύλων με CS2 σχετίζονταν με αλλαγές στον μεταβολισμό των κονδύλων (ρυθμός αναπνοής, εκπομπή αιθυλενίου,συγκέντρωση σακχάρων), ιδιαίτερα κατά τις πρώτες ημέρες μετά την εφαρμογή, που ίσως ήταν μια αντίδραση της έκθεσης των κονδύλων σε συνθήκες καταπόνησης.Τέλος, η συνδυαστική χρήση των ουσιών aminoethoxyvinylglycine hydrochloride (AVGReTain) με Teycer Wax, Teycer Wax με Παραφίνη, Teycer Wax με Καρβόνη καθώς και Teycer Wax με Καρβόνη δεν ενδείκνυται για το έλεγχο του λήθαργου των κονδύλων πατάτας, διότι η αποτελεσματικότητα τους δεν ήταν σαφής και προκάλεσε αξιοσημείωτα ποσοστά απώλειας κονδύλων λόγω σήψης.Συμπερασματικά, η εφαρμογή χημικών ουσιών για τον έλεγχο της διάρκειας του λήθαργου των κονδύλων πατάτας επιδρά στη φυσιολογική ηλικία των κονδύλων, άλλοτε θετικά κι άλλοτε αρνητικά στα ποιοτικά χαρακτηριστικά τους

Backyard Urban Agriculture in Qatar: Challenges & Recommendations

The last decade witnessed a return to traditional ways of farming that were, for decades, braced by technological advancement. Along with many countries around the world, Qatar manifests an interest in urban farming, encouraged by a strong political will to achieve food security. The plans set and implemented by the Qatari government, on both micro and macro levels, raised awareness around urban farming and inspired many urban households. In this study, a survey of 70 households practising backyard farming was performed to explore their particular challenges. A thorough literature review winds up with national scale challenges, raising issues common to urban farming in hot-arid regions. The research design follows a mixed qualitative method, which includes a literature review and semi-structured interviews. The synthesized data, shaped by an understanding of the national scale challenges and drawn from the interviews and surveys’ conclusions, is categorized into 4 themes: environmental, economic, regulative and social. The results showed that many macro-level challenges cascade down to the household/micro level. Under the environmental category, key findings include climatic challenges, non-viable organic farming problems, soil scarcity, and pollution. Economic challenges include the low return on investment in rent and labour, soil, fertilizers, and water costs. The public policy appeared to lag in areas of urban-farming subsidy, land-use policy, and food safety. Recommendations to abate challenges include national strategies to mitigate water and soil scarcity, land use policy upgrades, public health policies, suitable selections of agricultural systems, and farmers’ support.Theodora Karanisa is grateful to the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) for funding and supporting the M-NEX Project (grant no. BFSUGI01-1120-170005) in Qatar. The M-NEX is a project of the Collaborative Research Area Belmont Forum (no. 11314551)

Food, Energy and Water management innovation in Doha: a design-led nexus approach

Urban communities are affected by population growth, urbanization and climate change, thus being vulnerable to food, energy and water demand. According to the United Nations, the world's population is expected to increase by 2 billion people in the next 30 years and 68% of them are projected to live in urban areas by then. At the same time, 1/3 of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets lost or wasted and still, 795 million people worldwide are malnourished. A sustainable Food, Energy, Water and Waste Nexus is urgent. The Moveable Nexus Project is aiming to give a solution to the FEW Nexus through urban design methods and agricultural practices by practicing the design method, the evaluation effect and the participation. The design method will be practiced through design charrettes and international workshops and the evaluation will be realized by a Food, Energy & Water consumption environmental footprint calculator. Finally, the participation phase will engage the stakeholders and the community at the Doha Living Lab. The Doha Living Lab will quantify the urban FEWW-fluxes through urban agriculture and will try to achieve sustainability in terms of food production, new crops and new production technology, water management, organic waste management, reuse and recycle. The Living Lab will also assess the needs of the community and the involved stakeholders, by engaging them in every process thus enhancing resilience among people and agri-food systems

Smart greenhouses as the path towards precision agriculture in the food-energy and water nexus: case study of Qatar

Greenhouse farming is essential in increasing domestic crop production in countries with limited resources and a harsh climate like Qatar. Smart greenhouse development is even more important to overcome these limitations and achieve high levels of food security. While the main aim of greenhouses is to offer an appropriate environment for high-yield production while protecting crops from adverse climate conditions, smart greenhouses provide precise regulation and control of the microclimate variables by utilizing the latest control techniques, advanced metering and communication infrastructures, and smart management systems thus providing the optimal environment for crop development. However, due to the development of information technology, greenhouses are undergoing a big transformation. In fact, the new generation of greenhouses has gone from simple constructions to sophisticated factories that drive agricultural production at the minimum possible cost. The main objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive understanding framework of the actual greenhouse development in Qatar, so as to be able to support the transition to sustainable precision agriculture. Qatar’s greenhouse market is a dynamic sector, and it is expected to mark double-digit growth by 2025. Thus, this study may offer effective supporting information to decision and policy makers, professionals, and end-users in introducing new technologies and taking advantage of monitoring techniques, artificial intelligence, and communication infrastructure in the agriculture sector by adopting smart greenhouses, consequently enhancing the Food-Energy-Water Nexus resilience and sustainable development. Furthermore, an analysis of the actual agriculture situation in Qatar is provided by examining its potential development regarding the existing drivers and barriers. Finally, the study presents the policy measures already implemented in Qatar and analyses the future development of the local greenhouse sector in terms of sustainability and resource-saving perspective and its penetration into Qatar’s economy.Other Information Published in: Environment Systems and Decisions License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10669-022-09862-2</p

Towards fossil free cities – Emission assessment of food and resources consumption with the FEWprint carbon accounting platform

Current urbanization rates concentrate the ever growing demand for food, energy and water (FEW) resources particularly in cities, making them one of the main drivers of greenhouse gas emissions. The FEW nexus integrative approach offers a potential framework for sustainable resource management in cities. However, existing nexus evaluation tools are limited in application and often inadequate. This is primarily due to the FEW nexus intricacy, the tools’ operational complexity and/or the need to input comprehensive data that is often unavailable to users. Having outlined these current gaps, this paper introduces the FEWprint, an integrated carbon accounting platform that provides an accessible process for FEW nexus-based evaluations of urban areas. This spreadsheet-based framework is employed to calculate a consumption-based footprint derived from food consumption, thermal/electrical energy use, car fuel demand, water management, and domestic waste processing. A comparative assessment between six different communities reveals significant differences in total annual emissions. The food sector impact shows emissions ranging between 993Kg/cap∗yr and 1366Kg/cap∗yr in Amsterdam and Tokyo respectively, but is also the least deviating from all considered resource sectors. This holistic carbon footprint and considered food inventory will serve as a baseline for future integrated urban farming strategies and urban design proposals to be tested.Climate Design and SustainabilityBuilding PhysicsLandscape Architectur