An Arizona professor is tackling the problem of food waste by developing a solar powered drying tower designed to preserve surplus produce that would otherwise spoil. With nearly 40% of food in the United States going to waste, a lot of it being fruits and vegetables, University of Arizona professor Goggy Davidowitz created a tall, greenhouse-like structure that uses only sunlight to dehydrate fresh food. The tower works by generating a natural temperature gradient, where hot air rises and accelerates the drying process as produce sits on stacked trays. This energy-free system dramatically extends shelf life and allows excess food to be repurposed, potentially as animal feed and food ingredients. Davidowith hopes the technology can be scaled and installed in regions with large volumes of unused produce, helping divert food from landfills while creating economic and environmental benefits.