We are addressing the lack of water efficient, drought tolerant crops available in the American Southwest
Our Strategy: Cactus Pear
ABOUT US:
We are a nonprofit based in Las Vegas, Nevada developing a pilot farm and propagation nursery in the Mojave Desert of Southern Nevada to expand access to this incredible multi-use crop.
PROJECT GOALS:
Education
Research
Propagation
Challenges Facing the American Southwest
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Severe Water Scarcity
Declining Colorado River allocations and shrinking aquifers threaten the long-term viability of traditional crops in the American Southwest.
Longer, more severe droughts and high heat events are projected in arid regions under forecasted climate models.
Overuse of groundwater to support water intensive crops is outpacing the capacity of such underground reservoirs to recharge.
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Extreme Heat Trends
2-7°F temperature increases projected in arid regions by mid century.
Current cash crops such as alfalfa and corn are not adapted to survive such conditions.
Increased evaporation trends making traditional irrigation systems unsustainable.
The rapid desertification and expansion of arid regions will inevitably harm the production of traditional bioenergy crops.
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Economic Pressure
Heightened irrigation costs and declining soil fertility limit profitability and potential for diversification.
Crops without a wide range of uses make revenue streams risky and unsustainable.
Farmers forced to sell water rights and sacrifice multigenerational industries put longstanding agricultural communities and economies at risk of collapse.
Challenges Facing the American Southwest
Severe Water Scarcity
Declining Colorado River allocations and shrinking aquifers threaten the long-term viability of traditional crops in the American Southwest.
Longer, more severe droughts and high heat events are projected in arid regions under forecasted climate models.
Overuse of groundwater to support water intensive crops is outpacing the capacity of such underground reservoirs to recharge.
Extreme Heat Trends
2-7°F temperature increases projected in arid regions by mid century.
Current cash crops such as alfalfa and corn are not adapted to survive such conditions.
Increased evaporation trends making traditional irrigation systems unsustainable.
The rapid desertification and expansion of arid regions will inevitably harm the production of traditional bioenergy crops.
Economic Pressure
Heightened irrigation costs and declining soil fertility limit profitability and potential for diversification.
Crops without a wide range of uses make revenue streams risky and unsustainable.
Farmers forced to sell water rights and sacrifice multigenerational industries put longstanding agricultural communities and economies at risk of collapse.
“Increased food, feed, and biofuel demands of the future will require a greater reliance upon crop production systems in arid and semi-arid regions around the world. Diminishing freshwater resources and hotter and drier climatic conditions will also necessitate the use of highly drought tolerant and water-use efficient crops” (Neupane et al, 2021)