ReSlope Global (RSG) is a nonprofit program founded by Moshe Alamaro, a retired MIT atmospheric scientist and aero/mechanical engineer. The program seeks to alter semiarid terrain worldwide and turn it into arable, cultivable land.

The concept is based on the observations of semiarid natural hilly terrains.  When you travel in the U.S. Southwest, Southern Europe, North Africa or the Middle East, you will see different patterns of vegetation on a hill with a slope to the north and a slope to the south.  The northern slope is usually green and lush since it is partially shaded, and thus evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the plants (the combined term is evapotranspiration) are reduced.  Therefore, rainfall is retained, allowing the growth of vegetation.

ReSlope Global’s agenda is to change the terrain of semiarid non-productive dry land by earthmoving. The creation of north-south slopes will enable cultivation of the northern slope, imitating vegetation patterns on natural hills.

The agenda involves an international collaboration with scientists in Italy, India, Brazil and the United States. All are interested in the implémentation of the new method in their respective countries. Scientists and engineers from Denmark and the Netherlands are providing expertise on earthmoving and agricultural economics.

ReSlope and its international collaborators are raising funds for research and development and for the development of testing pilots to address applications in different regions. It is expected that follow-up funding will be obtained from each respective government and subsequently large-scale funding from world organizations for world-wide implementation.

The agenda requires research and development (R&D, with emphasize on the D) on issues such as climate patterns, soil and geochemistry, agronomics, earthmoving and ecological impacts, to name a few.  RSG will develop a “division of labor” so each research group will concentrate on areas of their competence.

Today, 15% of the earth’s land surface area is semiarid (more than twice the United States’ area).  The RSG agenda has the potential to provide new arable land for food production, new jobs and economic development and also to alleviate the world’s looming food security crisis.