A KAUST-led study across 25 countries found livestock management as critical as climate in explaining woody species coverage in arid zones. The BIODESERT research network analyzed livestock management, fire, climate, and soil, finding that grazing pressure and herbivore type significantly impact arid ecosystems. Researchers are identifying conditions where grazing pressure can be optimized for sustainable production. Why it matters: The findings enable targeted interventions through livestock management and policies, offering localized solutions for sustainable production in arid regions crucial for 2 billion people.
KAUST researchers are contributing new information about desert and mangrove plants to support Saudi Arabia's Green Initiative. They are creating a soil atlas for Saudi Arabia, studying soil profiles and microbial populations in hyperarid regions. The team has also compiled the world’s largest biobank of desert microbes, sequencing each microbe's genome. Why it matters: This research is crucial for ensuring the success and sustainability of large-scale greening efforts in arid environments like Saudi Arabia.
KAUST Associate Professor Liming Xiong is researching how plants adapt to drought conditions, focusing on reducing water consumption, increasing water uptake, and surviving under stress. His "whole plant" approach aims to identify major genes controlling water uptake, water loss, and cellular detoxification. The research seeks to develop plants that use water more efficiently or can be irrigated with brackish water, important for agriculture in Saudi Arabia. Why it matters: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant drought tolerance can help in breeding stress-tolerant crops suitable for the arid conditions in the region.
Terraxy, a KAUST startup, is providing solutions to transform Saudi deserts into fertile landscapes using CarboSoil, an advanced biochar product. CarboSoil improves soil fertility, conserves water, and enhances plant growth, and is tailored to counteract the alkaline nature of Saudi sandy soils. Terraxy is working with Saudi Aramco and NEOM to implement its technologies, servicing over 60,000 native plants. Why it matters: This innovation directly supports the Saudi Green Initiative and offers a sustainable approach to combat desertification and promote food production in the region.
The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) and KAUST have launched the SAUDINet initiative. The initiative aims to advance terrestrial ecology research in Saudi Arabia, focusing on restoring degraded lands, enhancing carbon sequestration and preserving biodiversity. NCVC’s workforce will receive specialized training in biodiversity monitoring and ecological sampling, with samples analyzed in KAUST’s labs. Why it matters: The partnership aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the study of arid ecosystems and address the lack of data from hyper-arid lands in climate models.