 Solar Power!First and foremost, there is more sunshine in the desert! Plants need sunshine to grow, and as long as they are well-watered they can grow more quickly with more sunshine. |  Sinking CarbonCurrent Palm Oil agriculture releases lots of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Growing in the desert will allow us to begin making a new carbon sink - a place where dead leaves and trees can accumulate and store carbon in the ground. |
|---|---|
 Slowing DesertificationIn many places, deserts are growing and expanding making farming more difficult. Planting a row of trees just before land turns to sand can slow this process and create a "green wall" which can help other farms to flourish. |  Reduced BioviersityCurrent palm oil production takes place in rain forests - places with hyper-biodiversity. Deserts by contrast have very few endemic species. Therefore, relocating palm oil plantations to the deserts will reduce extinctions. |
 Cheaper LandLand is cheaper in the desert! There are also very few people or animals living and no trees that need to be removed before farming. |
Why Grow in the Desert?
It may seem counter-intuitive to produce a tropical crop that loves rain the desert, but there are a lot of benefits to doing so! To the left are what we think are some great reasons to move palm oil production into arid regions.