Revolutionizing agriculture with SecondSky, a climate-resilient solution that uses nanotechnology to block heat from entering greenhouses, mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Revolutionizing Agriculture: A Breakthrough in Greenhouse Technology
In a world where climate change is increasingly affecting agriculture, farmers are facing significant challenges in keeping their crops cool. However, a startup founded in the desert of Saudi Arabia has developed a groundbreaking solution that could prove valuable as our planet bakes.
The Solution: SecondSky
SecondSky, developed by Derya Baran and her team at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), uses nanotechnology to block heat from entering greenhouses. This innovative technology allows farmers to control factors such as temperature and humidity, making it an effective tool in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Scaling Up: Global Impact
Iyris, the company behind SecondSky, has sold 4.5 million square meters of its materials to date, with plans to integrate the technology into a wider range of products in 2025. The company’s heat-blocking additive is being manufactured and distributed by partners such as SABIC, Hyma Plastic, and Armando Alvarez.
Local Impact: A Prototype Farm in Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, Iyris has partnered with regenerative tourism developer Red Sea Global to create a prototype farm on unproductive land in Bada. The farm uses SecondSky in polyethylene greenhouse covers manufactured by SABIC, and is growing crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and herbs.
Addressing Desertification
Desertification is a pressing issue worldwide, with at least 100 million hectares of healthy land lost each year. Iyris’s technology can play a crucial role in mitigating or reversing desertification by reducing water requirements for crop cultivation and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
A Sustainable Future
As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, innovations like SecondSky are essential in creating a more sustainable future. By controlling factors such as temperature and humidity, farmers can increase land productivity and reduce environmental stressors, making it possible to utilize marginal land and preserve natural resources.
With sales increasing and plans to expand its product range, Iyris is hopeful that SecondSky will not only help beat the heat inside greenhouses but also contribute to a cooler planet outside them.
