I saw this on BBC World (the only news source I can bring myself to watch most the time anymore) last week.
Syrian refugees at the Zaatari camp in Jordan are working with scientists at University of Sheffield and UNHCR to grow food on old mattresses.
Piles of used foam mattresses had built up at the camp and no one knew quite how to dispose of them.
Zaatari houses ~80,000 refugees. With less than 20 inches of rainfall/year the ground is dry and infertile and people are dependent on humanitarian aid to survive.
Sheffield chemist Tony Ryan was visiting the camp and was taken to see the mountains of mattresses, the disposal of which at the time was considered an environmental problem. Ryan was excited to discover that the mattresses were made of polyurethane. He knew from his research that polyurethane makes a good support for plants.
The Desert Garden Project was born. Using recycled mattress foam as synthetic soil and liquid nutrients, people are able to grow crops with far less water than would other wise be needed in the arid climate.
So far 1000 residents, many of whom were farmers before they were displaced, have been trained in hydroponic techniques. They have been able to combine the scientists’ techniques with their own farming know how to produce crops of lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, and eggplant.
Besides providing food for the residents of the camp, there is the psychological benefit of growing things.
The Desert Garden appeal is currently seeking donations to help support the project. £10 will provide plants and nutrient solution for one family, while £25 provides enough fertiliser to grow 300kg of tomatoes. If the team can raise £250,000, they’ll be able to train and equip 3000 refugees and make the project self-sustaining within three years.
www.chemistryworld.com/…