Seawater and solar power grow crops in the desert

By Daisy Carrington, for CNN

Updated 0948 GMT (1748 HKT) July 22, 2013

Joakim Hauge says skeptics have been won over after seeing the produce, like with these cucumbers.
Photos: Greening the desert
Green growth – Joakim Hauge says skeptics have been won over after seeing the produce, like with these cucumbers.
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A worker collects the first barley harvested at the facility.
Photos: Greening the desert
Securing food – A worker collects the first barley harvested at the facility.
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The violet plant, Limonium axillare, takes salt up from the soil and excretes it through its leaves, a process that could be used to desalinate soil.
Photos: Greening the desert
Desert bloom – The violet plant, Limonium axillare, takes salt up from the soil and excretes it through its leaves, a process that could be used to desalinate soil.
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The facility uses concentrated solar power plant, which is a system that focuses sunlight onto a small area with mirrors.
Photos: Greening the desert
Hope beacon – The facility uses concentrated solar power plant, which is a system that focuses sunlight onto a small area with mirrors.
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Virginia Corless, the science and development manager, working in the greenhouse. She says Qatar's environment acts as a harsh testing ground for the technologies.
Photos: Greening the desert
Transplanting nature – Virginia Corless, the science and development manager, working in the greenhouse. She says Qatar's environment acts as a harsh testing ground for the technologies.
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With the algae pond, researchers are finding ways to cultivate the organisms without the usual high costs and geographic constraints.
Photos: Greening the desert
Liquid assets – With the algae pond, researchers are finding ways to cultivate the organisms without the usual high costs and geographic constraints.
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The design of the project is to have several technologies working together to address many issues at once.
Photos: Greening the desert
Model system – The design of the project is to have several technologies working together to address many issues at once.
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