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A seawater greenhouse is a novel technique involving distilling seawater to use for irrigation of crops inside a greenhouse. The seawater is used both to cool the air inside as well as to irrigate the crops to begin with.

Naturally, the uses for such a structure are immense. Fruits and vegetables can be grown in coastal deserts, as well as those environments by salt lakes. The main issue is that it is uneconomical to grow staple foods (grains, etc.) using the technique.

But what are the implications if this technology comes online earlier? It could be here decades ago, but that would require a WWI-era POD to ensure earlier development of solar technologies which are of relevance to seawater greenhouses. I believe I've read that WWI helped kill earlier developments in solar power. I think a Cold War era invention (no later than the mid-70s or so) has the most potential for this technology.

If that early, maybe by right after WWII, the implications are huge, starting with geoengineering schemes. The Qattara Project in Egypt, flooding the Qattara Sea, might be even more feasible since it would become good for agriculture by allowing tomatoes and other crops to be grown. Israel could do something similar with the Dead Sea, and the Sahara Sea concept proposed by Lesseps of Suez Canal fame and made famous by Jules Verne could be looked at seriously by Algeria/Tunisia. Maybe Australia's Lake Eyre scheme might become (more) viable as well and more pushed for? Or instead just flooding Lake Eyre's southern neighbour, Lake Torrens which seems far more feasible and probably cheaper.

Outside of artificial lakes (a huge interest of mine, sorry), this could be important in a place like Yemen, where much water is used to grow khat, a stimulant. Yemen experiences some of the worst water issues in the world, so with foreign investment and government interest in this tech, wouldn't it follow that Yemen (either North or South Yemen or both) be better off in the current day if seawater greenhouses are helping grow food (or khat). A desert environment in general is good, and as has been noted, could be huge for countries with much coastal desert. And speaking of cash crops, how economical might cash crops be to grow in a seawater greenhouse? Could the Aral Sea be a lot healthier today if instead water was being diverted more from the Caspian Sea instead of the rivers that feed the Aral Sea? Considering other innovative Soviet projects, I'd expect the Soviets to be able to most realise the benefits of this, assuming the right voice can be heard. For the US, more agriculture in Utah? Around the Salton Sea? This might not be totally economical considering other factors, but could or would the government (any level) subsidise this?

Inspired by a recent and relevant article. Australia, as noted in the article, would have the easiest path to benefiting from it considering both local water issues, Australia's role as a major exporter of food, and Australia's status as a developed nation which would make it easier for Australia to invest in this idea.

Other thoughts? Again, the implications seem huge and using my scenario, a very relevant part of earlier and more successful solar power.
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