Amid water scarcity and shrinking arable land, some smallholders in Egypt are switching to soilless farming.
The technique uses substrates like sand or foam, which significantly reduce the amount of water plants need.
It also cuts the amount of fertiliser needed, which is one of the most expensive agricultural inputs.
However, experts warn high startup costs and certain crop limitations could limit widespread use in the African nation.
What is soilless farming?
Soilless agriculture - also known as hydroponics - means growing plants using nutrient-rich water without soil and inside highly controlled greenhouses.
Soilless substrates such as sand, gravel, clay, foam or sponge are used to support plant roots.
In some cases, fish tanks are hooked up to the system in order to transfer nutritious animal waste to the plants.
A 2020 WWF report found that hydroponics uses only 10 per cent of the water needed for traditional cultivation. It also reduces deforestation and minimises the use of pesticides.