An agricultural endeavor in Aqaba is using saltwater to alleviate Jordan's strain on food, energy and freshwater production

A high-tech farming initiative near the Jordanian port of Aqaba has started, on a 3-hectare stretch (equal to the size of 4 football fields) of barren land.

Led by the 'Sahara Forest Project' (SFP), a public-private consortium whose donors include the Norwegian government and the European Union, it relies on a combination of sustainable technologies to grow crops using the abundant Red Sea saltwater resources nearby.

It’s a complex set-up; designed to minimize water losses, boost crop yields and save energy.