Young Iranian Talent at the Geneva Inventions Fair

Hossein, an engineering graduate from Mashad, Iran, began inventing at the age of 7. His first idea was a "closed circuit sound camera." But at the Geneva Fair, Hossein was exhibiting his "trickle irrigation micro processor machine," designed to deliver to agricultural crops precisely the amount of water needed by each plant. He recounted how, having spent four years investigating variations in the electromagnetic fields given off by plants according to their water needs, he had produced a sensor, which was able to detect and respond to a plant's "water me!" signals. He cited data gathered from tests on 40,000 trees in Mashad indicating that his system could dramatically decrease water wastage compared to other trickle and timing-based irrigation systems.

Hossein described his factory, employing 21 staff, financed by the sales of his inventions. His best-selling product, the "Mild Wave Machine," removes bacteria from milk using a "cold pasteurization" method. And where do all his ideas come from? "From what I see around me. [For example], my sister suffers from diabetes, which gave me the idea I am working on next for a new diabetes testing method."

Sharing Hossein's passion for problem-solving were other young Iranian inventors exhibiting at the Geneva Fair. 17-year-old student Shima Rezaeian, frustrated by the limitations of conventional printers, showed us her patented printing machine, able to print directly onto any smooth surface. Rather than paper passing through the printer...