EARTH’S HEAT FOR A HUNGRY WORLD

New opportunities in geothermal energy for developing countries

April 7, 2015 (PennEnergy)

“Geothermal energy, the flow of heat energy radiating from the earth's core, provides unique opportunities for cost efficient, sustainable food production and processing in developing countries…In some developing economies, as much as half of all food produced is lost post-harvest – that's due in part to a lack of affordable energy for food processing, according to Uses of Geothermal Energy in Food and Agriculture [from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]…This makes the use of heat energy for drying foods, pasteurizing milk and sterilizing produce especially interesting for developing countries, where increased food processing can give a boost to food security…Food drying can prolong the shelf life of nutritious foods like fish and vegetables and make them available year-round, including in times of drought…Geothermal energy is also a prime source for heating greenhouses, soils, and water for fish farming…Developing countries that have much to gain from harnessing heat energy for agriculture include those in the so-called Ring of Fire along the Pacific Plate, such as Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines and various countries along the Pacific Coast of South America. So do Ethiopia and Kenya in Africa's Rift Valley, and transitioning economies in Eastern Europe, including Romania and Macedonia…” click here for more

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