How Technology Can Drive the Transition to a Superior Future

According to a report produced by Force for Good, a project of the F4G Foundation, a non-profit limited liability company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, "technology can provide the means to create a sustainable, secure, and superior world. It can help us finish the job of liberating the remaining populations across the world, providing inclusion for all in finance, education, healthcare, housing, dignified work, and a technology enabled world."

The report, entitled Technology Driving the Transition to a Superior Future, includes a letter authored by Ketan Patel, chair of Force for Good's advisory council. Mr. Patel points out that the 2023 "report identified 19 technologies that the largest 100 tech companies were pursuing in a bid to lead the world into a new era. We found that these companies had universally embraced ESG, were actively making their operations across the globe sustainable, and the leaders among them were making a positive impact on society at large." Mr. Patel also notes the "19 technologies identified continue to underpin the efforts of the largest and most resourceful companies. Importantly, what is clear is that a small sub-set of these technologies are the most powerful arbiters of the future, and these are AI, quantum computing, nanotech, genetics, and fusion." 

The 19 technologies include artificial intelligence, big data analytics, quantum computing, internet of things (IoT), robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles, smart grid, renewables, energy storage, next generation nuclear (fusion), eMobility, virtualization (VR, ER, AR, XR, MR), blockchain, material science, 3D printing, nanotechnology, and space technology.

Below are the report's key messages:

• Existing technologies enabled by AI can close nearly 50% of the SDG gap, if scaled and deployed globally, and can help position the world for the transition to the Information Age; this can bridge the otherwise unsurmountable capital of US$175 trillion needed for the SDGs, and a shortfall of US$137 trillion.
• The tech industry is the critical player required to take the lead given its expertise, products, influence and ability to access capital, rolling out technology at scale across the world and driving the world into the next era; three of the ten initiatives identified - universal connectivity, leveraging generative AI across the SDGs, and mass financial inclusion - together contribute to nearly 30% of the SDGs and lay the foundations for levelling up the world.
• 19 core technologies have been identified as the focus of the top 100 tech companies in competing for the future and are also the focus of geopolitical competition between countries and power blocs, and their control is increasingly seen as a key strategic asset for nation states.
• While the US has the clear lead from a macro and technology perspective, China has drawn level with the EU on key macro fronts and built a strong position in many of the core technologies, the EU has the biggest market which positions it as a rule setter for others, and India is now rising to take a position among these power blocs; US internal political divisions and politicization of the transition among other issues represent noteworthy risks to its leadership position and ability to lead the world into the next era.
• The risks of a dangerous transition including global climate, migration and socio-political-economic disasters are heightened unless the two-thirds of the world that were not material beneficiaries of the Industrial Age, predominantly in the Global South and also left behind in advanced nations are included; a post transition world, built on a more inclusive platform, can be powered by the identified core technologies, and a suite of others currently under development including fusion, gene-editing and nano-tech, creating a more secure, sustainable and superior future.

The report also presents AI's impact on each SDG:

SDG #1: No Poverty

• Predictive analytics to identify regions at risk of poverty.
• AI-driven agricultural technologies to increase crop yields for small farmers.
• Automating and improving the efficiency of aid distribution.

SDG #2: Zero Hunger

• Precision agriculture for optimizing food production and reducing waste.
• AI in supply chain management to reduce food spoilage.
• Development of AI-based nutritional planning tools.

SDG #3: Good Health and Well-Being

• AI in diagnostics to improve disease detection and treatment.
• Personalized medicine for tailored healthcare solutions.
• AI-driven research in drug discovery and epidemic tracking.

SDG #4: Quality Education

• Adaptive learning platforms for personalized education.
• AI tools for language translation to overcome education barriers.
• Analyzing educational data to improve teaching methods.

SDG #5: Gender Equality

• AI algorithms to identify and reduce gender biases in hiring.
• AI-driven platforms to support women entrepreneurs.
• Analyzing data to better understand and address gender disparities.

SDG #6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• AI for monitoring and predicting water quality issues.
• Optimization of water distribution systems in urban areas.
• AI in wastewater treatment processes for better efficiency.

SDG #7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• AI in optimizing renewable energy sources.
• Predictive maintenance for energy infrastructure.
• Enhancing energy efficiency in buildings and industries.

SDG #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• AI-driven job market analytics for skill development.
• Automation to increase productivity and create new job opportunities.
• AI tools for small businesses to access markets and finance.

SDG #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• AI in predictive maintenance for industrial machinery.
• Facilitating research and development through AI-driven insights.
• Enhancing logistics and supply chain efficiencies.

SDG #10: Reduced Inequalities

• AI in financial services to provide credit access to the underserved.
• AI-driven educational tools for marginalized communities.
• Enhancing accessibility technologies for people with disabilities.

SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• AI in urban planning for sustainable and efficient cities.
• AI-driven traffic management and public transport optimization.
• Enhancing public safety through smart surveillance systems.

SDG #12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• AI in supply chains to promote ethical sourcing and reduce waste.
• AI tools for lifecycle assessment of products.
• Automation in recycling processes.

SDG #13: Climate Action

• AI in climate modeling and forecasting.
• AI-driven solutions for carbon footprint reduction.
• Enhancing the efficiency of climate change mitigation strategies.

SDG #14: Life Below Water

• AI for monitoring and protecting ocean biodiversity.
• Predictive analytics for sustainable fishing practices.
• AI in studying and mitigating the effects of ocean acidification.

SDG #15: Life On Land

• AI in wildlife tracking and habitat protection.
• Predictive tools for forest fire prevention.
• AI-driven land-use planning for sustainable development.

SDG #16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• AI in crime prediction and prevention.
• Enhancing legal research and access to justice through AI tools.
• AI-driven systems for monitoring and preventing corruption.

SDG #17: Partnerships For the Goals

• AI to analyze and optimize international aid.
• Facilitating cross-border collaboration through AI-driven platforms.
• Enhancing global data sharing and analysis for informed decision-making.

In its conclusion, the report asserts that "Technology is the catalyst for a civilizational shift in the world. As such, competition for technology leadership has become a matter of national security. However, in the absence of raising the Global South, the continued progress of the rich nations of the Global North is at risk." Moreover, "The SDGs can be solved with existing solutions and deliver a more equitable platform from which technology can build a far superior future. In the transition to a new civilization built on information and a new generation of technologies, the world is about to enter a whole new era that has the potential to deliver peace, prosperity, and freedom to all. The tech industry has a critical role to play in building this superior future."

What are you recommendations on how technology can drive to a superior future?

Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of GT Perspectives, an online forum focused on turning perspective into opportunity.

AI Led the Global Conversation at CES 2024

Me, my mom, Lindy Rose, and my
colleague, Patricia Berdejo, attending
CES on Jan. 12, 2024

"AI, AI, AI," was the prominent theme at CES® 2024, which saw over 4,300 exhibitors including a record 1,400+ startups from around the globe in Eureka Park®. As in previous years, this year's CES, which took place from Jan. 9-12, 2024, showcased the innovative trends shaping tomorrow and solving the world's most pressing challenges. This post focuses on a few of observations of attending this year's event in Las Vegas, Nev.

As noted in a press release issued by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organization that produces CES, artificial intelligence "led the global conversation at CES 2024. Companies highlighted the enormous potential of AI to improve our world with cutting-edge applications that will transform how we communicate, do business and take care of one another." Several AI-focused panel sessions took place during the four day event including on that explored the relationship between ethics and AI in academia, AI's impact on the creative process and content businesses, and how generative AI is leading the transformation of hardware and chips.

CTA's announcement also notes that "CES established access to technology as the eighth pillar of the Human Security for All (HS4A) global campaign, which focuses on the critical role technology plays to improve every aspect of the human experience." Tech is a catalyst for tomorrow, powering solutions to pressing global challenges." Attendees saw the release of a new report released Force for Good on tech's influence on human securities. "Aligned with CTA's CES 2024 Tech Trends to Watch, the report proved that universal connectivity and leveraging AI across human securities will improve our world," the Arlington, Va.-based organization said.

More companies are showing their commitment to sustainable solutions "through technologies, products, and services to reduce emissions and waste by streamlining electrification, developing renewable energy sources, and experimenting with new technologies such as battery recycling." As for Accessibility & Innovation for All, the CTA points out that "CES 2024 fostered a platform centered on universal design for the diverse tech industry to come together and converse on the next wave of innovation. CES featured sessions on diversity in the tech industry, a wave of new technologies that will improve lives and advances in accessible gaming. CTA also announced a new investment partnership in TFX Capital, which supports veteran entrepreneurs in tech."

As for digital health, the CTA explains that "Tools and technologies aimed at lowering costs, improving health equity and saving lives were highlighted. Innovations included digital therapeutics, mental wellness, sleep tech, women's health tech and telemedicine. At the CES Digital Health Summit, Mark Cuban and his Cost Plus Drug Company broke news about a new partnership, while capacity crowds joined the Digital Health mixer and programming with officials from the FDA and across the health policy space."

In what continues to be one of my favorite components of CES, Eureka Park grew this year with over 1,400 exhibiting startups including country and territory pavilions representing France, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Taiwan, and Ukraine. As highlighted in the previous post on this forum, I attended an event that preceded CES that featured several European startups. During CES, I had the opportunity to getting better acquainted with the founders at the exhibit booths in Eureka Park.

Among the other exhibitors from around the globe, I was impressed with Brickify, a Nigerian startup that is turning recycled plastic waste into water-, fire-, and heat-resistant paving bricks used to construct roads and low cost homes. Ghostpass is a company based in Korea that created a decentralized remote biometric authentication solution that monitors and controls large amounts of biometric information by storing it individually on users' smart devices rather than storing it in bulk in the cloud.

Midbar, which is another firm based in Korea, created an inflatable farm that enables food production anytime, anywhere. Without heavy and costly steel frames, the AirFarm is designed to be lightweight but sturdy. The AirFarm converts moisture from the air into water in real-time. It recirculates the moisture produced by crops back to the roots, making it the world's first farm that operates without water infrastructure.

Lastly, as mentioned by the CTA, while we are experiencing "a moment of global uncertainty and rapid technology advancement, government leaders shared an optimistic view of regulation to empower tech innovation, including in AI." At the Innovation Policy Summit, over "160 international, federal, state and local government officials and staff participated in the Leaders in Technology Program, which convened top innovators and policymakers to discuss the future of pressing tech policy issues, including privacy, health innovation, trade policy, competition, artificial intelligence and self-driving vehicles."

If you attended CES 2024, what were your key moments and takeaways?​

Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of GT Perspectives, an online forum focused on turning perspective into opportunity.

Helping Policymakers and Stakeholders Understand Risk and Design Effective Policies for Urban Resilience

According to a report developed by Economist Impact and supported by the Tokio Marine Group, "The world is facing unprecedented challenges. Extreme weather events, from hurricanes and wildfires to flooding and heatwaves, are becoming more frequent and their effects more devastating." Furthermore, "Emerging risks like cyber-attacks loom larger as technology dependence deepens. Our cities are exposed to all of these risks and more. Lives and livelihoods depend on our ability to understand and mitigate the evolving threats to our urban centers."

The Resilient Cities Index highlights three phases to resilience. "Preparation and mitigation come first. Understanding the risks, how they are evolving and taking steps to minimize their impact is essential if cities are to avoid the worst. The second phase is response, necessitating swift reactions and timely assistance to save lives and diminish the impact when disasters occur. Last is recovery, emphasizing the need to learn from tragedies and rebuild stronger, better-equipped communities for future shocks and stresses."

Aiming to help policymakers and stakeholders understand risk and design effective policies for urban resilience, Economist Impact developed a benchmark of 25 cities. To gauge the resilience of these cities, the report's authors took measurements across four pillars: critical infrastructure, environment, socio-institutional and economic. This white paper combines index analysis with expert commentary to identify patterns, common strengths, deficits and best practices across index cities.

Key findings from the inaugural edition of the Resilient Cities Index include:

• Cities performed well in the critical infrastructure pillar of the index, but there are some weak points that require strategic focus. The cities with the highest scores were Dubai, Shanghai, New York and Singapore. These capital-rich market locations have greater opportunities to develop new infrastructure, compared with European cities constrained by decades- or centuries-old systems. Within this pillar, digital infrastructure and transportation were a drag on cities' resilience.
• Cities that use data and technology to create operational efficiencies and share information with their citizens—i.e., smart cities—are better at dealing with shocks. Patchy internet quality, which can impede access to digital services, pulled down the overall resilience score in the critical infrastructure pillar. Digital technologies and advanced data analytics can help to predict risks, optimize existing systems and keep the public informed. Greater digitalization comes with risks, especially to critical infrastructure, but most cities in the index have built safeguards against this.
• Most emerging economy cities lack adequate regulatory frameworks, strategies and incentives for futureproofing infrastructure. Only a few cities in the index achieved high scores for future-proofing, which involves ensuring infrastructure preparedness for shocks while managing current and future emissions. One way cities can future-proof is by incentivizing sustainable designs for buildings, such as installing green roofs, incorporating modularity and retrofitting for energy efficiency—a practice only found in high-income cities in the index.
• Efforts to achieve environmental resilience are led by innovative solutions. Cities are employing a variety of nature-based solutions to adapt to flooding and heat stress, from planting rooftop vegetation and mangrove forests (green infrastructure) to rehabilitating wetlands (blue infrastructure). Cities are also decarbonizing by adopting renewable energy and negative emission technologies, such as carbon capture, storage and removal. However, the scalability of these technologies is likely to be challenging for resource-constrained emerging market cities.
• Cities demonstrated poorer performance in the socio-institutional pillar, mostly due to income inequality and poor health and well-being metrics. Only nine cities have a single, comprehensive plan to support vulnerable groups. However, one bright spot is that cities are promoting a culture of readiness to act in the event of a disaster. The majority of cities scored highly on this or are working to improve their readiness.
• Cities had the lowest average scores in the economic pillar, dragging down some cities that performed well in other areas. The low penetration of financial safety nets hinders safeguards against threats and undermines a city's ability to recover from shocks. Another aspect of economic resilience is a city’s ability to incubate innovation, which can foster solutions to a range of problems, from congestion to water stress. Unfortunately, most cities scored poorly on the indicator for start-up ecosystems.

The report's conclusion points out that "A resilient city is not only prepared for shocks but has the ability to bounce back and thrive. Recognizing both existing and looming threats will help cities better understand their vulnerabilities and design targeted actions. However, building such cities requires stakeholders from government, businesses and communities, as well as individual city-dwellers, to engage in holistic resilience thinking at community and municipality levels."

Moreover, "While resilience needs to be tackled in myriad ways, a number of critical strategies have been identified in the course of this research and are summarized below."

• Empower the community to be active participants. This is contingent on the democratization of information. All city-dwellers should have equal access to government information, including what to do in an emergency. Some cities, like Singapore, do this very well, using digital channels to disseminate information to everyone simultaneously. Fostering a culture of readiness and the ability to manage hazards will require investment to train and educate people at governing and grassroots levels to be stewards of their city. Recognizing that information is key, municipalities could consider partnering with a digital platform to minimize misinformation and ensure the city moves in one direction, despite disruption.
• Social cohesion efforts need greater advancement across the board. Cities are nothing without the people who inhabit them. Greater attention to social cohesion will help to ensure cities are less fragmented, adaptive and better prepared for shocks. City governments should overlay resilience efforts with initiatives that aim to improve the lives of urban residents. This process should be driven by city leadership and engage civil society. The majority of cities in the index have some way to go to strengthen social cohesion through integration programs for society's most vulnerable.
• Early warning systems (EWS) are vital for safe cities but investment is needed to hit the 2027 target. National governments and municipality leaders will have to collaborate to ensure universal early warning systems coverage by 2027. There are two challenges that need to be met. First, capital is needed to bridge the investment gap for technologies with a greater push for the development and adoption of frontier and horizon tech–from drones to AI. Second, governments need to facilitate the necessary legislation to connect these EWS to emergency and response plans to ensure there are protocols and resources in place to deal with climate extremes and hazards. Community acceptance and responsiveness to early warnings are essential in the effectiveness of EWS. This can be achieved through systematic training and education and awareness programs.

What do you think of the report's findings and conclusions? Do you have additional recommendations on how policymakers and stakeholders understand risk and design effective policies for urban resilience?

​Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of GT Perspectives, an online forum focused on turning perspective into opportunity.

GSMA Report Explores How to Reach and Empower Women in Digital Solutions in the Agriculture Last Mile

"In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the digitization of agricultural value chains is enabling access to markets, assets and services for smallholder farmers," the GSMA says in a report that examines "the limited participation of women in digitized agricultural value chains by identifying the main barriers for women in D4Ag [digital agriculture] initiatives and shedding light on best practices to increase women's participation and empowerment in these value chains."

The report further notes that D4Ag "solutions, such as digital payments and digital procurement, create efficiencies for both agribusinesses and farmers in the last mile. Digital procurement solutions can generate a range of records, including farmers' production data that enable the creation of economic identities and help them access finance. Digital procurement solutions can also be bundled with digital advisory services that provide farmers with vital information on new farming techniques, weather forecasts and crop production."

"Yet," according to the GSMA, "women farmers are being left behind. Although they represent 43 percent of the agricultural labor force, women face social and structural barriers that typically relegate them to traditional, low-value and labor-intensive activities, such as plowing, sowing and harvesting." What is more, "Restrictive social norms, lack of access to resources and the mobile gender gap all make it more challenging for women to participate fully in agricultural value chains and embrace the digital agriculture solutions that can connect them to markets and services and strengthen their decision-making power."

The report identifies the following digital solutions in the agricultural last mile:

1. Digital profiles: Mobile for authentication and verification, and a tool to create economic identities/digital profiles
2. Track-and-trace systems, farm management systems: Product verification services, accountability tools
3. Information services: Agricultural extension, education, certification standards, skills development
4. Digital financial services: Mobile money-enabled transfers, payments and financial service
5. IoT applications for agriculture: Equipment logistics, crop, soil and weather monitoring, smart warehousing
6. Agribusiness analytics: Predictive analytics, precision agriculture

With respect the barriers facing women in digitized agricultural value chains, the report looks at the social norms, lack of access to resources, and mobile gender gap that contribute to these barriers. It also presents steps to increase women's participation in digitized value chains including defining a gender strategy to guide gender-inclusive interventions, creating a gender-inclusive environment through foundational interventions, and addressing women's barriers through gender-inclusive interventions.

The report produces the following conclusions:

• "Women's low participation in digitized agricultural value chains can only be addressed through approaches that purposely consider women as well as men."
• "The early impact of gender-inclusive last-mile digital solutions on women farmers' participation and decision-making power is promising." through the efforts of organizations creating digital agriculture solutions that has "increased yields and incomes, as well as increased decision-making power in the household."
• "A deeper understanding of women's agency and the social norms shaping their lives is needed to bridge the gap in commercial agriculture value chains."
• "Donors and impact investors are uniquely positioned to push gender inclusive interventions forward. They can inject capital in initiatives that purposely include and target women, and ultimately help to create a level playing field in which women smallholder farmers have equitable access to digital solutions."
• "Donors and investors should first apply a gender lens to their own investment strategies to identify and reward new D4Ag investees that already apply, and want to test, approaches that reach both women and men."
• "Donors and investors should also leverage their ongoing investments to encourage investees to adopt best practices, such as consistently collecting and using sex-disaggregated data, or involving women in human-centric design research to inform the design of solutions. Investors can also make investments that strengthen the resilience of women farmers to climate change since they are disproportionately affected as a result of lower input use or weaker safety nets."

Lastly, I support the report's assertion that "By incentivizing and rewarding D4Ag providers, donors and impact investors can guide them towards gender-inclusive approaches that aim to improve women's influence, leadership roles and decision-making power, and promote sensitive and equal gender norms at all levels. Without this, gender inequalities are not only likely to remain, but become exacerbated."

What are your recommendations for increasing women's participation in digitized value chains? Which digital solutions are you creating in the agricultural last mile?

Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of GT Perspectives, an online forum focused on turning perspective into opportunity.

14th Annual STAR-TIDES Capabilities Demonstration Focused on Converging Approaches to Sustainable Resilience

As noted in a posted entitled "Cheap and Effective Solutions for Humanitarian Emergencies," I had the opportunity to attend the second annual STAR-TIDES demonstration in 2008 at the Pentagon just outside of Washington DC. In outlining the program's background, the STAR-TIDES website says it "is a global knowledge-sharing network that focuses on building sustainable resilience, promoting human security (freedom from want and freedom from fear), and creating life-changing social and economic activities. These roles have evolved from original support by the U.S. Defense Department's TIDES (Transformative Innovation for Development and Emergency Support) program to four defense-related mission areas: (A) Building Partner Capacity, (B) Humanitarian Assistance and Foreign Disaster Relief, (C) Defense Support of Civil Authorities, and (D) Stability and Peace Keeping Operations."

In 2019 George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. established the Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC), a transdisciplinary research center that addresses critical real-world problems through integrated approaches that build resilience. The C-RASC, which is led by Dr. Kathy Laskey, now oversees the global STAR-TIDES knowledge-sharing network. Dr. Linton Wells II, who founded the TIDES program, remains involved with STAR-TIDES as the C-RASC's Executive Advisor.

The knowledge in the STAR-TIDES network is organized into six platforms (technology areas): (1) Energy, Energy Storage; (2) Shelter, Heating/Cooling and Lighting; (3) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); (4) Agriculture and Food Security; (5) Information and Communications Technology (ICT); and (6) Health, Nutrition and Integrated Cooking.

Image: STAR-TIDES

The six platforms are supported by the “keys to success” shown below:

• Narrative (and Story Telling) are essential parts of the "Listening" and "Learning" phases of a project, both to understand community needs in their cultural context and to translate technical analyses into terms that support their engagement. Systems Thinking is needed to link the various platforms together in ways that support the community's needs, and then narrative comes back into play to convey the technical analysis back to the community in ways that are consistent with their needs, cultures, and resources.
• Global Knowledge Sharing is facilitated by the STAR-TIDES network.
• All projects need Resource-Raising Strategies.
• Finance, Transport, and Logistics provide the glue to stand-up and execute real world efforts, and is a core part of "Lasting."
• Education also is a key part of bi-directional learning, and developing modes that can be extended to other circumstances
• Digital Enabling Technologies include geospatial information systems (GIS), identity management, distributed ledger technology (like blockchain) for accountability and transparency, climate science, big data analytics, etc.

I have enjoyed watching the STAR-TIDES program develop over the past several years and seeing its positive impact on distressed communities worldwide. As an e-newsletter produced by Dr. Wells dated Sept. 3rd, 2020 explains:

Over the years STAR-TIDES has made good use of focused teams on several occasions. For example, in late 2012/early 2013 team members helped a medical clinic that had been damaged by fire in Old Fangak, South Sudan. In 2015 nearly 80 members responded to a request to support refugee and IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in Iraq. In 2018 others supported George Mason graduate students in analyzing alternative shelters for use in Appalachia. Currently we have nearly 30 members who have signed up to support various aspects of rural broadband activities, from Native American communities, to dispersed towns in New England, to helping students return to classes in North Carolina. Going forward, I expect there will be many more opportunities, from geographic areas such as Puerto Rico, to STAR-TIDES core technology areas, to projects such as precision agriculture. As always, the teams will support those already working on the ground through our basic premise of Listening (to what they're trying to tell us), Learning (in both directions), and Lasting (to build local capacity).

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the 14th annual STAR-TIDES capabilities demonstration was held virtually from Oct. 20-22, 2020 under the title of "Converging Approaches to Sustainable Resilience." The STAR-TIDES e-newsletter dated Dec. 3rd, 2020 provided the following summary of the event:

22 separate events and 10 parallel breakout tracks focused on diverse areas including technology platforms (energy, shelter, water, etc.) plus key enablers such as narrative & storytelling, systems thinking, ethics, and Defense logistics. There were two sessions on "Puerto Rico Way Ahead." A career track offered students chances to interact with professionals for job search advice, as well as practitioners from areas such as geospatial information, emergency management, global health, development, and sustainable resilience. The conference featured 25 speakers and approximately 70 panelists, including several national and international figures. During his keynote address, Thomas L. Friedman, the distinguished author and New York Times Pulitzer-prize-winning columnist, discussed the fast, fused, deep, and open forces that increasingly affect our lives. Lt. Gen Michael Plehn, USAF, Military Deputy Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, and Claire Melamed, PhD, CEO of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, presented keynotes on October 21st.

Several participants showed how they applied their capabilities in real-world situations. These included perspectives on Navy operational energy, low-cost shelters, power grid cost reduction, and supply chain risk management for open source software, as well as a compelling example of how STAR-TIDES network members helped rebuild a medical clinic in South Sudan.

The sessions generated over 26 hours of content with more than 55 videos that may be viewed via the STAR-TIDES' YouTube page. Moderated by Dr. Wells, Mr. Friedman provided his insights on a variety of topics including U.S.-China relations, the emergence of black/green governments as the left/right binary approach of politics wane, education provided by the private sector including a company's role as an innovator and educator, and scaling community-based approaches.

Dave Warner, a medical neuroscientist with a MD/PhD researching new methods of physiologically based human-computer interaction to identify methods and techniques that optimize information flow between humans and computers, provided great remarks about information and communications technologies (ICTs).

And during the "Sustaining Cross-Cutting Solutions Across Silos" session, Bob Gourley, co-founder and chief technology officer of OODA LLC, moderated a discussion on sustainable resilience featuring the following panelists: Declan Kirrane, founder and managing director of ISC, Clare Lockhart, Director of the Institute for State Effectiveness, and Mike Tanji, Global Marketing Officer and Chief of Staff at the Global Cyber Alliance. For the purposes of this session, Mr. Gourley said resilience is defined "as an entity's capacity to prepare for disruptions, to recover from shocks and stresses, and to adapt and grow from a disruptive experience."

The STAR-TIDES team announced that the next demonstration is tentatively planned as a mixed physical and virtual event on Oct. 19th and 20th, 2021. The Pentagon Center Court event will immediately follow on Oct. 21st and 22nd.

The Dec. 3rd newsletter further notes: "A new initiative for 2021 will be a series of interactive online events throughout the year. For example, a session might be woven around a case study. STAR-TIDES always has been a community of doers, so this would give people with real-world expertise a chance to talk about what they'd have done differently, or how they might approach such a situation in the future with current or emerging capabilities, plus what persistent capacity gaps and blocks remain to be resolved, and why. We'll provide more info as the schedule solidifies and welcome your suggestions and inputs."

The newsletter concludes by saying "STAR-TIDES has always been about our world-wide network partners and the contributions they are making to uplift individuals and societies, not only to provide basic amenities but also to increase standards of living and build sustainable resilience. If you have anything you think might be of interest or use to the network, please share it via email star.tides.net@gmail.com."

The following words from my 2008 post remain relevant 12 years later: "For any sustainable social and economic development strategy to have a chance of succeeding, it must have the collaboration of the private sector, civil society, and government stakeholders. With adequate financial and logistical support, STAR-TIDES could make a difference to people worldwide facing the challenges of surviving a one-time natural disaster or the daily constraints of poverty." Impressively, the STAR-TIDES network has proven its success in making a positive impact on the lives of millions, if not billions, of people worldwide.

What effective solutions do you propose for addressing humanitarian emergencies or post-war reconstruction?

Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of GT Perspectives, an online forum focused on turning perspective into opportunity.

Solving Key Ocean Challenges Facing the Indian Ocean Rim Countries

Charting the course for ocean sustainability in the Indian Ocean Rim is a whitepaper published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU) highlighting the key ocean challenges facing the Indian Ocean Rim countries and showcases initiatives undertaken by governments and the private sector in the region to address these challenges. Sponsored by Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi, the paper "explores how ocean sustainability can be achieved through the lens of developing nations, taking into consideration the challenges of a low-income population as well as an environmental regulatory framework that has yet to mature."

The EIU's "investigation delves into five key ocean issues in the region—degradation of marine ecosystems, plastics pollution, unsustainable fishing, extraction of non-renewable marine resources and rising salinity from desalination—and highlights key steps that governments and companies in the Indian Ocean Rim need to take on the path to ocean prosperity."

The paper, which is available in English as one document and Arabic in separate chapters (introductory chapter, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, and final chapter), presents the following key findings:

"The Indian Ocean is vital to the global conversation on ocean sustainability but is currently an afterthought among global ocean experts compared with other regions. The Indian Ocean, as the third-largest ocean, houses 30% of the world’s coral reefs, has 40,000 sq km of mangroves, some of the world’s largest estuaries, and nine large marine ecosystems (LMEs). Approximately 13% of the world’s wild-caught fish is from the Indian Ocean. It plays a central role in international trade, carrying 40% of the world’s containerized cargo and 80% of the world’s oil shipments. Mapping the way for the sustainable use of these resources is crucial, particularly for coastal communities dependent on marine resources.

"Governments and organisations recognize that land-based initiatives can address ocean issues. Brine from desalination plants, often discharged into the ocean, is being diverted into aquaculture and agriculture in the UAE and being used for salt production in Somaliland; a waste-insurance clinic in Indonesia is offering healthcare in exchange for garbage that often ends up in the ocean. Ocean sustainability initiatives therefore need to involve a wide range of stakeholders, factoring in wider climate change considerations too.

"Advanced technologies are proving useful in tackling ocean issues. Illegal fishing is being dramatically reduced across Indonesia with opensource satellite data and GPS technology significantly lowered the cost of mapping mangrove forests across Sri Lanka. Information technology also facilitates public engagement: in Zanzibar, Tanzania, dive operators are helping to record coral bleaching events through an online portal; In Kenya, social media galvanized political will for the ban on plastic bags. Understanding emerging technologies and how these can be leveraged can go a long way in accelerating efforts towards ocean sustainability.

"Ocean challenges can be reframed as commercial opportunities for the blue economy. In a southern state in India, plastics in the ocean are being collected and repurposed to build roads; in the Seychelles, a focus on ocean sustainability is creating new opportunities to raise finance for economic development; and in Thailand, seagrass conservation is strengthening conch production in some villages. Thus, ignoring pressing ocean issues such as plastic pollution and unsustainable fishing not only increases the risks to the environment and people, but also means that opportunities for economic diversification and sustained, inclusive growth may be overlooked. This mindset shift is imperative to further engaging the private sector in this space.

"A strong return on sustainable projects is imperative for institutional investors, despite a growing interest in impact investing. To make it worthwhile for institutional investors, projects need to encompass three key characteristics—scalability, leverage and security-—and have an economic model that provides a return on investment and a real sustainability benefit. Within sustainable finance, although ocean projects will have unique considerations, experts we interviewed conclude that blue finance does not need to be treated differently from the "green finance" market.

"Strong political will is the engine for blue economic growth. Setting assertive targets and policies captures the imagination, provides a clear checklist for countries and partners to get behind and creates an enabling environment for the blue economy. Government sources of finance have been the first port of call for sustainable ocean projects too; gaining traction on this front not only requires participation from environment ministries but also the buy-in of finance ministries. Case studies from the Seychelles, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, among others, showcase examples within the Indian Ocean where this leadership is shining through. Beyond national priorities, governments have an important role to play in regional and global coordination, without which the blue economy will not achieve its full potential."

The paper importantly notes: "The Indian Ocean is a vast body of water enclosed on three sides. This not only makes it a compelling scientific study, but an economic one too, given the characteristics of the countries that surround it." As reflected in the image below, "These countries are home to 2.5bn people, the majority of whom fall into the low-income bracket, and many of these countries are poised for rapid economic growth. The ocean industry is an important contributor, and the sustainable use of this resource is crucial."

In its conclusion, the paper says "[t]he global blue economy is set to grow faster than the general economy, possibly doubling by 2030. Yet it is a time-limited opportunity. Without coordinated action it will not achieve its full potential: natural capital will be lost at the expense of future populations and, without future-proofing. ... This paper invites the Indian Ocean Rim countries to grasp the opportunities, scale innovations and approaches already present within the region, and take strategic action against future threats."

What solutions do you propose to solve the key ocean challenges facing the Indian Ocean Rim countries?

Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of Solutions for a Sustainable World.

Program to Use Solar Cookers to Eliminate Breathing Toxins While Cooking Does Not Produce Intended Results

Image: http://ow.ly/EOvJ30lieMO

In 2009, I published a post on this blog about solar cookers, which offer a simple, safe, and convenient way to cook food without consuming fuels. Solar cookers provide a number of value propositions including a solution of cooking without breathing toxins that are generated when cooking with fires fueled by wood or dung. For people in developing countries, using solar cookers also eliminate the need to walk long distances to collect wood or spend their limited income on fuel. Having traveled to developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean throughout my career, I have long advocated governments or nongovernmental organizations to financially support programs that help deliver solar cookers to the world's most vulnerable populations.

Given my enthusiasm for this wonderful device that seemed to help millions of people, mostly women and girls, in developing countries worldwide, an article by ProPublica captured my attention. Eight years after the formation of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a Washington, DC-based public-private partnership hosted by the UN Foundation, and $75 million spent by the organization that "was formed to help mount a sustained effort at tackling the threats posed by household pollution" including a pledge "to help engineer the distribution of 100 million cookstoves," the article says "the Alliance has fallen well short of its ambitious health and climate goals."

The article's author, Sara Morrison, notes, "An array of studies, including some financed by the Alliance itself, have shown that the millions of biomass cookstoves of the kind sold or distributed in the effort do not perform well enough in the field to reduce users' risk of deadly illnesses like heart disease and pneumonia."

What is more, "The stoves also have not delivered much in the way of climate benefits. It turns out emissions from cooking fires were less of a warming threat than feared, and that — outside of some de-forestation hot spots — the harvesting of wood for cooking fires only modestly reduces the sustainability of forests."

Ms. Morrison importantly explains that "[t]he Alliance's top officials do not dispute that they have met with an array of disappointments. For one thing, they said, some of the countries and companies that pledged tens of millions of dollars early on failed to deliver, which they blamed on shifting priorities and agendas, not the Alliance's struggles."

Going forward, "The Alliance's plans for the future come with something of an ironic twist: It will now make greater efforts to promote and distribute stoves that use propane, a fossil fuel, the same blue-flamed byproduct of gas drilling contained in cylinders under countless American backyard grills. (Outside of the U.S. propane is most commonly called liquefied petroleum gas, or lpg.) These stoves, it turns out, burn much more cleanly and efficiently than nearly all biomass stoves, reducing the harmful smoke given off during cooking while having a negligible impact on the climate."

While I am disappointed by the article's findings that the Alliance's solar cookers program did not produce the intended results, it is encouraging to see a shift take place with the aim to achieve a benefit to those in developing countries whom are tasked with cooking. Initiatives of these nature carry a high risk of failure. The problem of breathing toxins while cooking has not disappeared and it is essential to evaluate lessons learned and proceed with the knowledge gained to creating a long-term sustainable solution that will benefit billions of people worldwide.

What are your thoughts utilizing solar cookers for clean and efficient household cooking solutions?

Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of Solutions for a Sustainable World.

2010 Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition Presents Innovative Solutions

I had the pleasure to serve as a judge in the 2010 Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) organized by the University of Washington's Global Business Center at the Michael G. Foster School of Business. The purpose of GSEC is to engage “creative minds around the world to encourage bolder and less conventional business solutions to global poverty.” US$18,000 in prize money was available for the sixth annual competition. (Photo: Nuru Light)

GSEC plans are judged on three criteria: (1) effect on the quality of life and poverty alleviation in the developing economies, (2) financial sustainability, and (3) feasibility of implementation. 161 applications were submitted from 36 countries and this year’s five finalist teams traveled from Bangladesh, Canada, China, India, Rwanda, and the United States. Unlike my role of judging the semi-final round in 2009, I participated in this year’s GSEC as a judge in the Investor’s Choice Award, evaluating each team’s brief elevator-pitch and trade show exhibit.

The Grand Prize of $10,000, sponsored by Microsoft, was awarded to Nuru Light, which provides a solution to the lighting crisis in Rwanda. Through the POWERCycle, the Nuru Light (Nuro means light in Swahili) provides an affordable, safe, and clean lighting solution to replace kerosene in households without electricity. Nuru lights can be recharged quickly via the world’s first pedal generator. In addition to the Grand Prize, Nuru Light was the winner of the Investor’s Choice Award of $500, People’s Choice Award, and the second place Global Health prize of $2,000 for the health benefits of POD lights including decreased exposure to particulate matter and lowering the risk of kerosene burning. Team Nuru was represented by Charles Ishimwe from Adventist University of Central Africa in Rwanda and Max Fraden of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. (Photo: University of Washington)

The University of Washington’s Department of Global Health sponsored the Global Health Prize of $5,000, which was awarded to TouchHb, an affordable, prick-less anemia scanner used by low-skilled village health workers in rural India that measures, helps diagnose, monitors and screens for anemia. Team TouchHb consists of two doctors, Yogesh Patil and Abhishek Sen, from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in India. (Photo: University of Washington)

For this year's GSEC, judges spontaneous created an award and personally donated a total of $3,000 for the Judges’ Choice Award, which Malo Traders received for their business plan that provides technological consultation that minimizes risks of post-harvest losses for small-scale rice farmers in the West Africa nation of Mali. Team Malo consists of two brothers who grew up in Africa and are now studying in the United States: Mohamed Ali Niang is a student at Temple University Fox School of Business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Salif Romano Niang, a doctorate student in political science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo: University of Washington)

Aaron Rose is a board member, corporate advisor, and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of GT Perspectives, an online forum focused on turning perspective into opportunity.

The Peepoo: A Biogradable Single-Use Toilet for Urban Slums

The New York Times published an article written by Sindya N. Bhanoo about the Peepoo, “a biodegradable plastic bag that acts as a single-use toilet for urban slums in the developing world. Once used, the bag can be knotted and buried, and a layer of urea crystals breaks down the waste into fertilizer, killing off disease-producing pathogens found in feces.” (Photo: Peepoople)

Developed, produced, and distributed by Stockholm, Sweden-based Peepoople AB, “The Peepoo is in the form of a slim elongated bag size 14 x 38 cm,” explains the company’s website. “Within the bag there is a thinner gauze that measures 26 x 24 cm. The inside of the Peepoo bags is coated with a thin film of urea. Without sacrificing ergonomic function the bag’s design is adapted in every way so that it might be manufactured at as low a price as possible and sold to the groups with [the] weakest purchasing power in the world.” After successfully testing in Kenya and India, the Peepoo toilet is scheduled to be mass produced and available for delivery in summer 2010 with a price point of 2 or 3 cents each, which is comparable to the cost of an ordinary plastic bag.

One benefit of the Peepoo toilet is its portability and small size, weighing less than ten grams. Peepoo bags are odor free for at least 24 hours after use and can thus be stored in the immediate environment. Moreover, the Peepoo is one of few sanitation solutions which require no water and the only water required is to wash the hands after use. This means that the traditional link between water and sanitation has been cut. A used Peepoo bag is clean to handle. It has become a waste that neither smell nor is dirty to handle and collect.

The bag is made of a high performance degradable bioplastic which meets European Union standards. This means that the plastic not only disintegrates, but also that the molecules are broken down into carbon dioxide, water and bio-mass. 45 percent of the plastic used in the Peepoo is produced using renewable materials and through research and development, the company intends to find a solution that is 100 percent renewable. The bioplastic comprises a mixture of aromatic co-polyesters and polylactone acid (PLA), with small additives of wax and lime. PHB represent alternative bioplastics. (Photo: Peepoople)

This innovative product does not require infrastructural solutions for implementation (i.e., the construction of buildings or pipes), therefore reducing investment costs. The company explains that the “Peepoo can be simply distributed and can thus meet the enormous demand in a highly efficient manner.” Comparing investment costs for different sanitation solutions are listed below to illustrate the product’s financial value.

Local costs for installation (not including use, maintenance costs, water costs and emptying):

• Flush toilet connected to sewer or septic tank, 400-1,500 USD
• Urban dry or wet Eco San, 675-1,500 USD
• Condominal sewers, 75-600 USD
• Dry vault urine diversion, 35-400 USD
• Improved pit latrine or pour flush toilet, 40-260 USD
• Basic pit latrine, 10-50 USD
• Soil composting ecosan, 10-40 USD
• Communal toilet/latrine (50 persons per seat), 12-40 USD
• Peepoo bag, 0 USD

The need for proper sanitation is greatly needed in the developing world where, according to United Nations figures, an estimated 2.6 billion people, or about 40 percent of the earth’s population, do not have access to a toilet. This creates a public health crisis where open defecation contaminates drinking water, “and an estimated 1.5 million children worldwide die yearly from diarrhea, largely because of poor sanitation and hygiene,” explains The New York Times article. “To mitigate this, the United Nations has a goal to reduce by half the number of people without access to toilets by 2015.”

The World’s First Bio-Sourced SIM Cards

Gemalto, a digital security company, announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the launching of a pilot of bio-sourced SIM (subscriber identity module) cards for SFR, a French mobile phone company with 20 million clients. Gemalto’s press release dated February 16, 2010, explains, “The bio-sourced SIM card is made from a new renewable material derived from corn, sugarcane or potato starch. This material is easily recyclable and compostable through small scale industrial units and reduces the global ecological footprint of the production process.”

The recyclable and compostable card body is made from plant-based bioplastics, which can be incinerated without emission of toxic fumes. The Amsterdam-based company says it also supplied SFR with packaging made from recycled paper and plant-based inks and SFR will begin distribution of the bio-sourced SIM cards to its customers this spring. This program is the first trial of bio-sourced cards in the world.

Worth noting is Gemalto’s effective tactics of incorporating environmental sustainability into the product’s value proposition. From the company’s website, here is a list of the product’s Operator Benefits and End-User Value:

Operator Benefits

• Security: Ensuring SIM card safety
• Eco-friendly: Fully committed to environmental protection
• Brand: the perfect company brand and image booster
• Competitive: Improving cost saving packaging solutions
• Peace of mind: Gemalto manages complex logistic processes

End-User Value

• Security guaranteed to the access of the PIN and PUK code
• Simplified end user access and understanding to maximize the use of mobile services
• 2nd life for your product with re-usable packaging and card body: the gift concept!

Cleaning Up Haïti: Converting Human Waste to Fertilizer through Innovation

On January 4, 2010, CNN posted an article on its website written by Eliott C. McLaughlin, "Group seeks answers to Haiti's woes in its toilets," about an organization that is implementing a sustainable solution of proper sanitation by composting human waste through public dry toilets. Founded by Sasha Kramer and Sarah Brownell in 2006 and based in Cap-Haïtien, Haïti, Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting soil resources, empowering communities and transforming wastes into resources in Haïti. By facilitating the construction of dry toilets that compost human waste to be used as fertilizer, the results include greater access to clean water, greater agricultural output, and reduction of human mortality by preventable diseases.

During my visits to Haïti during the past few years, I have witnessed the impact poor or nonexistent sanitation in the urban areas has on the natural environment and local population. Traveling through Haïti's rural areas, I observed low agricultural output caused by poor soil fertility, soil erosion and lack of fertilizers, which are often cost prohibitive to the impoverished farmer. In identifying the problem further, according to SOIL's website, "16% of rural Haitians and 50% of those in cities have access to adequate sanitation facilities, by far the lowest coverage in the Western Hemisphere. People are forced to find other ways to dispose of their wastes, often in the ocean, rivers, ravines, plastic bags, or abandoned houses."

Why soil? The nonprofit organization explains, "Maintaining soil is the essence of sustainability from both environmental and social perspectives. The basic elements that make up living matter all come from, and return to, the soil. Nutrients from the soil are constantly flowing through all living organisms. Healthy soil retains and cleanses water resources and protects communities from natural disasters. All of humanity is dependant on soil, biologically, economically, socially, and spiritually. Human health, livelihood, and wellbeing are inextricably linked to the soil."

Here is a video that provides additional details about the workings of the dry toilets:


"Toilets are one example of SOIL's outreach," writes Mr. McLaughlin. "The group also holds contests urging children to recycle garbage into something useful and Brownell's husband, Kevin Foos, spearheads a photo empowerment project called 'Looking Through Their Eyes,' which allows children to capture what they love and hate about their communities on film. SOIL also supports special centers in Shada, Milot and Le Borgne where Haïtians can present and test technologies for improving their health, environment and economic independence."

Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times posted a video, "American Ingenuity in Haiti," on his YouTube channel about SOIL's worthwhile efforts to resolve a problem that each individual contributes: human waste.

A Time to Reflect

2009 served as the first full year of this blog and I want to thank all of you for taking the time visit. I appreciate your comments, whether they are made publicly and privately, and your suggestions for future blog topics. Starting with the first entry posted on August 10, 2008 about creating sustainable solutions in resolving the crisis in Sudan, this blog continues to serve a resource for understanding the problems people and companies face, both manmade or naturally occurring, and formulating solutions through innovative products and services. (Photo of the Space Needle in Seattle courtesy of Jim Bates/The Seattle Times)

Over the past year, we have witnessed great advancements in information and communications technology, renewable energy, and clean technology. Mobile phones and inexpensive portable computers are bridging the digital divide in industrialized and developing nations alike. We are seeing great advancements in mobile applications in education, telemedicine, and agriculture, and the improvement of renewable energy technologies that will provide the energy needs for millions, or perhaps billions, of people.

Several events will take place in 2010 that will focus on the intrinsic value of the individual and highlight the power of collaboration. Sports often bring together individuals with start physical or ideological differences to focus on a common element. Vancouver, Canada will host the Winter Olympic Games from February 12-28, 2010 and South Africa will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which I hope the latter will highlight the positive attributes of the host country and the entire African continent. Furthermore, Shanghai, China will host Expo 2010 from May 1 through October 31, focusing on the theme “Better City, Better Life.”

Lastly, according to a United Nations press release dated December 21, 2009, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "called on world leaders to attend a summit next September to boost efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills, ranging from extreme poverty and hunger to maternal and infant mortality to lack of access to education and health care, all by 2015." The MDG summit will take place at the UN headquarters in New York. And the world will look for tangible results at the next annual climate conference to be held in Mexico City in November 2010.

Lest we forget the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Myanmar, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen. As you read this entry, millions of innocent people continue to suffer as the result of armed conflict or environmental strife. We should remain optimistic, however, that as technology has enabled people to connect in ways unimaginable just a few years ago, we can continue to develop innovative ways to educate and empower the most vulnerable populations.

May 2010 bring peace and prosperity to all people worldwide.

Solar Cookers: An Essential Tool for Better Health and Economic Benefits

During my travels to developing nations such as Haiti, Peru and Uganda, I witness the challenges and negative impact of cooking with fires fueled by wood or dung. The impact also applies to people who walk long distances to collect wood or spend their limited income on fuel. A solution to satisfying the need for cooking without breathing toxins or wasting time searching for cooking fuel lies within solar cookers. This entry provides a summary of this amazing tool.

"Solar cooking is the simplest, safest, most convenient way to cook food without consuming fuels or heating up the kitchen," according to Solar Cookers International, a nonprofit organization based in Sacramento, California and with an office in Nairobi, Kenya. "For millions of people who lack access to safe drinking water and become sick or die each year from preventable waterborne illnesses, solar water pasteurization is a life-saving skill. There are numerous reasons to cook the natural way — with the sun."

Solar Cooker International explains, "The three most common types of solar cookers are heat-trap boxes, curved concentrators (parabolics) and panel cookers. Hundreds — if not thousands — of variations on these basic types exist. Additionally, several large-scale solar cooking systems have been developed to meet the needs of institutions worldwide."

Box cookers, the most common solar cooker used worldwide, are made of cardboard, metal or plastic, with glass lids and aluminum foil or metal reflectors that trap heat from sunlight inside a sealed, insulated box and cook food in 2-3 hours at 250-350 F. Some box cookers can accommodate multiple pots. There are several thousand box cookers used in India and all solar cookers work with varying degrees of efficiency in hot or cool weather as long as the sun is shining. (Photos courtesy of Solar Cooker International)

Panel cookers incorporate elements of box and curved concentrator cookers. They are small, lightweight, foldable, portable and relatively inexpensive to purchase or manufacture by hand. They work like a crock-pot, with temperatures ranging between 225 and 275 F. Most panel cookers are made from cardboard and aluminum foil and they require a lightweight cooking pot painted black with non-toxic paint. Raw food is placed in the pot, which is put inside a heat resistant plastic bag and placed in the cooker. Panel cookers can cook food in 2-3 hours.

Curved concentrator cookers or "parabolic cookers," cook fast at high temperatures and are excellent for boiling and drying. Especially useful for large-scale institutional cooking, they require frequent adjustment and supervision for safe operation. Curved cookers may be used for indoor cooking by focusing sunlight through a hole in the wall.

Solar Cooker International provides a comprehensive list of health and nutritional benefits of using solar cookers:

• Moderate cooking temperatures in simple solar cookers help preserve nutrients;
• Those who otherwise could not afford the fuel to do so can cook nutritious foods — such as legumes and many whole grains — that require hours of cooking;
• At times many families must trade scarce food for cooking fuel. Solar cooking helps them to keep more food and improve their nutrition;
• Smoky cooking fires irritate lungs and eyes and can cause diseases. Solar cookers are smoke-free;
• Cooking fires are dangerous, especially for children, and can readily get out of control — causing damage to buildings, gardens, etc. Solar cookers are fire-free;
• Millions of women routinely walk for miles to collect fuel wood for cooking. Burdensome fuel-gathering trips can cause injuries, and expose women to danger from animals and criminals. Solar cooking reduces these risks and burdens, and frees time for other activities; and
• With good sunlight, solar cookers can be used to cook food or pasteurize water during emergencies when other fuels and power sources may not be available.

In addition to the health and nutritional benefits, solar cookers provide a variety of economic benefits. Many poverty-stricken families worldwide spend 25 percent or more of their income on cooking fuel. Sunlight — solar cooker "fuel" — is free and abundant. Money saved from purchasing cooking fuel may be used for food, education, health care, etc. Furthermore, solar cooker businesses can provide extra income. Business opportunities include cooker manufacturing, sales and repair, as well as solar food businesses like restaurants and bakeries.

Benefits to developing governments include reducing imports of — and subsidies on — biomass and fossil fuels. Where forests are disappearing and many people suffer from fuel shortages, solar cookers reduce families' fuel wood needs by 30-50 percent. Electric companies that have trouble meeting peak hour demand because of heavy use of stoves and air conditioners can reduce that demand by promoting use of solar cookers.

I support funding by industrialized governments or nongovernmental organizations to programs that help deliver solar cookers to the world's most vulnerable populations. Not only is delivering solar cookers important, but providing the necessary training to manufacture, use, and repair the devices is essential.

Aaron Rose is an advisor to talented entrepreneurs and co-founder of great companies. He also serves as the editor of Solutions for a Sustainable World.