LONGi Presents Dual Pathways to Enhance Food Security via Photovoltaics at UNCCD COP17
At the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to 28, 2026, LONGi, a leading solar technology company, participated in several side events to showcase the potential of photovoltaic (PV) technology in strengthening the resilience of global food supply. The company formally introduced its solutions for PV-powered food security during the conference.
Side Event on Integrated PV-Based Ecological Restoration
One of the side events, titled “From Desert to Asset – Comprehensive Solutions for Integrated PV-Based Ecological Restoration,” was co-hosted by the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University and the China Green Foundation. Li Zhenguo, founder and Chief Technology Officer of LONGi, joined the session via video link.
During his remarks, Li emphasized that traditional food production relies heavily on natural photosynthesis and climatic conditions. He noted that extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, have severely affected agricultural output, and that global climate change is exerting unprecedented pressure on the already fragile global food supply system. However, he argued that declining costs of PV technology could not only help reduce carbon emissions but also provide a novel avenue for boosting the resilience of food supply networks.
Two Technological Pathways Outlined
Li also published a Perspective article titled “Photovoltaics for food security” in the academic journal Nature Sustainability. In it, he detailed two technological pathways with practical application prospects.
The first pathway involves PV-driven artificial synthesis of starch from carbon dioxide. Electricity generated by PV panels is used to electrolyze water, producing green hydrogen. This hydrogen is then combined with captured CO₂ to synthesize green methanol, which is subsequently converted into starch through oxidation and polymerization processes. In comparison to the roughly 2% solar energy utilization efficiency of natural photosynthesis, this method can increase efficiency to between 7% and 10%. Calculations suggest that deploying PV systems over just 3.7% of the Sahara Desert could generate 26 trillion kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually—enough to synthesize 3 billion tonnes of food, a volume matching current global demand.
The second pathway is a PV-driven “energy-water-food” nexus system. It integrates desert shading, PV-powered seawater desalination, and inter-regional water transfer to gradually convert desert land into productive arable farmland.
Pilot Project in the Kubuqi Desert
LONGi has already piloted this integrated approach in the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia, China. The model involves generating electricity on PV panels, planting crops beneath them, and raising livestock between panel rows. According to Li, this practice validates the feasibility of combining PV, ecology, and agriculture in a single development framework and offers a replicable Chinese solution for other desertification-prone regions.
Conference Theme and Broader Context
The COP17 meeting, themed “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” brings together delegates to address desertification, land degradation, and drought. LONGi’s presentations underscore the growing role of solar technology in tackling intertwined challenges of climate change, land degradation, and food security.