When innovation works with constraint, the Mediterranean serves as a good laboratory. In Al-Khader, an annual grape market supports Palestinian agriculture under constraints. In Israel, in the heart of the Negev desert, experiments are underway to grow strawberries irrigated with seawater. The Balkans are betting on solar energy to face droughts and dependency. Meanwhile, architects are questioning their practices and confronting the concrete challenges of tomorrow's architecture every day.
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Valuable, the annual market of Palestinian grape producers
The grape market in Al-Khader is a market like any other yet different in its purpose. Organized once a year, it is part of a series of local initiatives aimed at supporting Palestinian farmers. Born from a partnership with the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture, this temporary event allows producers to sell their harvests directly and to maintain agricultural activity that has been weakened by political and economic constraints.
Strawberries grown in the desert thanks to seawater
For over fifteen years, Israeli researchers and producers have been pursuing a bold bet: to grow high-quality strawberries in the heart of the Negev desert. And above all, to obtain them as early as possible in the season. The stakes are not only agricultural but also economic. The goal is to synchronize production with the period of high demand, between November and February, when prices peak. To achieve this, researchers have turned to... seawater.
Energy stability: the photovoltaic bet of the Balkans
The creation of the Karavasta photovoltaic park, the largest in the Balkans, marks a turning point for the country. Built by the French company Voltalia, it diversifies electricity production that has so far been almost exclusively hydraulic. In a context of repeated droughts and rising imports, Karavasta stands out as a lever for energy independence, economic development, and regional cooperation.
The architect facing the daily challenge
On the occasion of the 10th National Days of Architecture in France (October 16 to 19), themed "Architectures of the Everyday," the profession is questioning its role in a world constrained by the climate crisis and resource sobriety. Architect and teacher at the architecture school in Marseille, Matthieu Place advocates for a responsible approach to the profession: build less, transform more, and revive the existing without giving up on creativity or collective ambition. Journalist Paul Molga continues the reflection with this generation of builders who are tackling new solutions drawing from the qualities of ancient desert cities.