Exploring the power of local halophytes in food production
One of the goals of the project is to advance innovation and sustainability of local food production. Together with ICBA, the project is testing the feasibility of Salicornia and Arthocaulon – halophytes that are present along the UAE coastline which act as strong carbon sinks – and can be harvested as a new food and feed commodity and sold in the market.
These have the potential to be used in food production as super foods, green salt, fodder and other by-products which can be produced by local farming communities, opening the door for new sources of income, economic diversification, small-scale business growth and local entrepreneurship, while benefiting nature and biodiversity.
The cultivation of Salicornia sinus-persica and Arthocaulon macrostachyum is currently being piloted in the Umm Al Quwain coastal lagoon, and a proof of concept is under development, with nutritional and market feasibility studies planned this year.
Halo-what?
A halophyte is a plant that has adapted to thrive in environments with high concentrations of salt. These plants have specialized mechanisms to tolerate or even utilize salt in their growth and metabolism. This is one of the reasons harvesting halophytes has shown great potential for unconventional agriculture in the desert and harsh environments.
Halophytes show enormous potential as a crop that can be used as an ingredient for gourmet cuisine, superfoods, green salt and fodder for animals. Beyond commercial opportunities in food, halophytes provide several other benefits and are considered a key Nature-based Solution.
