Global Green Industries Needs by Theresa Watt

Philippines

theresafwatt — 2025-06-17 12:08:51 UTC

(Exemplar)

Theresa Watt

The increasing salinity of soil in the Philippines has significantly impacted agriculture, creating an urgent need for salt-tolerant crops. Research efforts are now focused on developing such crops, with particular attention to rice and wheat. These crops are essential staples in the region's diet and economy, and improving their resilience to high salinity conditions could help secure food supply and support local livelihoods amidst changing environmental patterns.

Soil Erosion and Land Degradation in South Africa

2026-07-10 16:44:05 UTC

South Africa is experiencing serious land degradation caused by water and wind erosion, unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, and the loss of protective vegetation. When fertile topsoil is removed, agricultural land loses organic matter, nutrients, and its ability to retain water, which can reduce crop productivity and threaten rural livelihoods. This creates a need for locally appropriate soil conservation practices, including cover crops, reducing tillage, crop-residue retention, rotational grazing, windbreaks, and the restoration of degraded land. South Africa's Department of Agriculture indentifies wind and water erosion as the two main causes of land degradation, together accounting for 84% of degraded areas.

Canadian Prairies

2026-07-10 17:02:49 UTC

The Canadian Prairies regularly experience drought and soil-moisture shortages that can reduce crop growth and leave agriculture soil vulnerable to wind erosion. when dry soil is left bare or heavily disturbed, valuable topsoil, nutrients, and organic matter can be carried away, lowering long-term soil productivity. This creates a need for farming practices that conserve moistuyre and keep the soil protected, including no-till seeding, retaining crop residue, leaving taller stubble to trap snow, planting drought-tolerant cultivars, and converting highly erosion-prone land to perennial forage. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada identifies these practices as useful ways to help dryland cropping systems adapt to drought conditions

Invasive Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades

2026-07-10 17:14:42 UTC

The Florida Everglades are facing a serious invasive-species problem caused by Burmese pythons, Python bivittatus. These large constrictors have established a breeding population and prey on native mammals, birds, and reptiles while also competing with native predators for food. Their spread has been linked to major declines in several mammal populations and has disrupted the natural food web of the everglades. This creates a need for continued research, improved detection methods, coordinated removal programs, population monitoring, public education, and stronger prevention of exotic-pet releases. Because Burmese pythons are difficult to locate and have already spread across a large wetland area, complete eradication may not be realistic, making long-term control and protection of native species especially important.

Feral Swine Damage in East Texas

2026-07-10 17:25:12 UTC

Feral swine, Sus scrofa, are a major invasive-species problem across Texas, particularly in East Texas and Gulf Coast areas with cropland, pasture, forests, wetlands, and waterways. Texas has the largest feral swine population in the United States, and the animals are now established in 253 of the state's 254 counties. Their rooting, trampling, and wallowing damage crops and pasture, disturb soil, reduce forest regeneration, compete with native wildlife, and can contaminate waterways. This creates a need for coordinated population monitoring, trapping and removal, disease surveillance, landowner education, and habitat protection. Because feral swine reproduce quickly and move across property boundaries, long-term cooperation between farmers, landowners, wildlife agencies, and local government is necessary.

Olive Quick Decline in Apulia, Italy

2026-07-10 17:35:39 UTC

Olive groves in Apulia, southern Italy, have been severely affected by the plant bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca. The bacterium is carried between plants by xylem-feeding insects and blocks movement of water though infected olive trees, causing leaf scorch, branching dieback, canopy decline, and eventually tree death. since the outbreak was detected in Lecce province in 2013, millions of olive trees have died or been severely damaged, including many ancient trees that are important to the regions economy, culture, and landscape. This creates a need for continued disease monitoring, insect-vector control, restrictions on plant movement, tolerant olive cultivars, restoration of damaged groves, and financial support for affected farmers

Neom, Saudi Arabia

2026-07-12 14:38:03 UTC

Neom the Line - Greenwashing leads the public to loose trust in green initatives.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-023-00374-4

https://www.neom.com/en-us/regions/nature

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/11/opinion/saudi-arabia-the-line.html

Al Wakra South East, Qatar

2026-07-12 14:53:13 UTC

Freshwater Desalination Plant - Umm Al Houl Power Plant, Qatar

Generates 99% of all drinking water in Qatar.

Problem: In a region with little annual rainfall and unsustainable population, drinking water is a key strategic resource.

Need: Drinking water is needed to keep residents healthy.

This is also an item of national security. There are underground reserviors in case of damage to the facility.

Busan, South Korea

2026-07-12 15:05:34 UTC

Four Rivers Restoration - All of Korea

http://nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr/pages/page_1273.php

Problem: 70% of Korean landmass is mountain or hillside. They have limited arera for growing crops and living spaces. They need to feed roughly 50 million people given past and current politics and war. Because of this, much of this small peninsula (170kmx400km), must be used for argiculture. In the past flooding and water insecurity have reduced argicultarl land mass and crop yield.

Need: Water for irrigation insecurity. Flooding issues during rain events and typhoons.

Solution: Management of the four major rivers with repossession of lands to create a river system proviudes consistent water for irrigation, reduced floods and provides green active space for residents (cycle paths, walkings paths, gardens, boardwalks, parks, etc).

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/routes-and-rides/korea-four-rivers-cycling-route

I would highly recommend cycling it (Seoul to Busan)

http://nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr/pages/page_1273.php

Mandalay, Myanmar

2026-07-12 15:17:09 UTC

Water Management - Seasonal Reservior (Ubein Bridge)

Problem: During the dry season, ground water is reduced. Argiculture stops and the city residents must reduce their use of water. This is a hot location with variable access to electricity and modern conveniences (AC).

Need: Access to freshwater during the dry season.

Solution: This reservoir is filled with riverwater during the rainy serason, then used throughout the dry season. Without this reservior, Mandalay would experience larger than normal issues with water and food insecurity.

FYI: You should go! I lived in this city for two years. It is a beautiful country with amazing people. I hope that their political situation improves.

New Zealand

2026-07-12 15:27:42 UTC

New Zeland Labour costs in Agriculture.

Problem: New Zeland exported foods are becoming less viable when compared to competing markets. Agriculture is a larger component of their GDP when compared to simliar nations.

Needs: A stable labour market for workers. Reduction of living expenses.

Florida, USA

2026-07-16 00:42:38 UTC

Citrus greening disease has had a major impact on Florida's orange industry. The disease spreads through insects and causes orange trees to produce fewer and lower-quality fruit before eventually dying. Because oranges are one of Florida's most important crops, there is a need for disease-resistant trees, better ways to control the insects that spread the disease, and continued research to help growers keep their orchards productive.

Brazil

2026-07-16 00:46:41 UTC

Some tropical plants found in Brazil are collected from the wild to be sold as ornamental plants. This can reduce natural plant populations and damage forest ecosystems. There is a need for more sustainable plant production and stronger efforts to encourage consumers to purchase legally grown plants.

Xochimilco, CDMX, Mexico

2026-07-16 01:02:47 UTC

Xochimilco is famous for its floating gardens. These small artificial islands are actually an ancient Mayan farming practice that is sustainable, naturally irrigated, and highly productive. These are at risk due to rapid urbanization, water scarcity, pollution, and the economic abandonment of traditional farming. There is a need to restore water quality and support farmers who continue using these traditional growing practices to support both Mexico's agricultural industry and its heritage.

Madagascar

2026-07-16 01:23:09 UTC

Madagascar produces most of the world's vanilla, but theft has become a major challenge for vanilla growers. Because vanilla is so valuable, some farmers harvest their beans before they are fully mature to avoid losing their crops, which lowers the quality of the vanilla. There is a need for better crop security and farming practices that allow vanilla to mature fully while protecting growers' livelihoods.

Punjab, India

2026-07-16 01:40:05 UTC

Farmers in Punjab rely heavily on groundwater to irrigate crops such as rice and wheat. Overuse has caused water tables to decline, making irrigation more difficult. There is a need for water-efficient irrigation systems and farming practices that conserve groundwater.

Madrid, Spain

clairephillips417 — 2026-07-22 15:20:12 UTC

Problem: Spain is experiencing prolonged periods of drought throughout the country, with 75% of the country at risk. These prolonged periods of drought and heat could reduce the amount of freshwater available and threaten agricultural yields in the future.

Need: Spain has a large agricultural industry, therefore transitioning to more sustainable agricultural practices that prioritizing water conservation can mitigate the effects of drought periods. It is essential, in particular for small communities on the interior, to develop plans with soil recovery and biodiversity in mind.

Reference: https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/62511/environment-crisis-spain-climate-drought-water-pollution-aerial-photography/

Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia

clairephillips417 — 2026-07-22 15:38:34 UTC

Problem: Land degradation in smaller communities in Mongolia's countryside, "partly due to environmental standards and capacity to enforce environmental laws and regulations". One reason for this is the uncontrolled use of chemicals in mineral processing. Herders living in mining areas face challenges from severe dust, water pollution and pasture damage, which in-turn has an impact on the agricultural sector.

Need: Mongolia is transitioning to a green economy, that prioritizes reducing environmental risk and improving communities. This plan will include increased consultation and environmental laws.

Reference: https://admin.un-page.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2014-mongolia-green-economy-eg-full-nov16-web.pdf

Cayambe, Ecuador

clairephillips417 — 2026-07-23 22:45:16 UTC

Ecuador is the third-largest exporter of flowers in the world, with Cayambe as one of the most important cities for producing roses. However, the heavy use of pesticides has a major impact on workers and neighbouring communities. Many of these flowers are being shipped to Europe where there is no information on where the flowers came from, including the local working conditions or pesticide use.

Need: The hazardous chemicals used as pesticides in Ecuador and other countries in South America should be banned, just as these chemicals were banned for use in the EU. Transition to using biological controls and other alternatives to manage flower crops, in order to minimize health risks.

Reference: https://www.journalismfund.eu/ecuador-flower-trade-poison-pesticides-env12025750

New South Wales, Australia

2026-08-02 20:48:47 UTC

The Murray-Darling Basin in Southeastern Australia faces critical problems around water security for it's agricultural sector. They need to figure out a way to effectively manage the water they have, and to prepare for the impacts climate change will continue to have on their water security.