It began with sunshine and seawater on a desert seacoast in Mexico. Carl Hodges' team pumped seawater onshore, using it to humidify greenhouses, and then to grow shrimp and fish. The research continued on the desert seacoasts of the Middle East & Africa with the crowning touch: oil-seed crops and fast growing trees that thrive on unadulterated seawater. At the same time, the world became alarmed by global warming, atmospheric carbon dioxide and rising sea levels. As if planned from the very beginning, all of these perils --- even sea level rise - are addressed by the onshore system. Sunshine and seawater, providing food and fuel to help solve environmental problems at a profit. (less info)