Agriculture and Nutrition in the Arid Zones Cluster

Desert sandstorms are the inspiration behind the design of this Cluster, which represents the arid and uninhabitable environment found in various parts of the world. Despite how harsh these environments are, there is still life and resources to be discovered here.

The atmosphere created in the Cluster by this desert storm theme has been made through the use of canes that hang from the ceiling, while the pavilions pose as rocks that stand out in the sandstorm.

Cluster card
EXHIBITION CONTENT: Politecnico di Milano, Italy
SCIENTIFIC RESPONSIBLE: Luisa Collina
CONCEPT AND EXHIBITION LAYOUT: Michele Zini, Alessandro Biamonti,
Barbara Camocini
TOTAL AREA: 4.030 sqm
EXHIBITION AREA: 1.250 sqm
COMMON AREA: 2.715 sqm
EVENTS AREA: 253 sqm

The Cluster structure
On arriving at this Cluster, the visitor is presented with a water fountain that is situated in the public area, giving the impression of a natural oasis in an arid landscape. Also within this area, visitors are provided with information through presentations and performances that highlight the challenges and resources typical of these arid environments.
 
As visitors leave this Cluster, they will have the opportunity to sample and purchase some of the fruits and products that grow in these arid parts of the world.
 
No water
The word aridity immediately conjures up images of dry uninhabitable environments with no water and little chance of anything being able to put down roots and grow. However, whilst it is commonly assumed that all arid zones are the same, they are in fact all quite different from one another. They can have various soil types, flora and fauna, water balance and levels of human activity. It is also a common misconception that these arid places are uninhabited, as a fifth of the world’s population live within these parts of the world that suffer from a distinct lack of water.
 
Whilst these arid lands may vary a lot, they all share one characteristic, and that is dryness. Dryness is measured by weather temperature and rainfall. This index consists of three main categories: super dry, dry and semi-dry. For centuries, man has tried to promote and utilize different techniques in order to find one system for managing hydric sources, such as the collection of rainwater or the attempt to retain water within the land. Despite the challenges, research has enabled farmers to look at their levels of rainfall locally and either use innovations suited to their conditions, or adapt their own traditional methods to ensure that they utilize the water they have available to them to the best of their ability. Although advances have been made to address the difficulties faced by those who grow crops in arid parts of the world, it is still crucial that the lack of water and the impact of climate change are addressed as a matter of urgency, to ensure that people can enjoy a better quality of life in the future and are able to go on growing food for their countries’ economies.
 
COUNTRIES IN THE CLUSTER
Djibouti
Eritrea
Mauritania
Mali
Palestine
Senegal
Somalia