Nopal

Miguel, an engineer, and Rogelio, a farmer and businessman, met over their shared passion for clean energy and an appreciation for the nopal, or prickly pear cactus. Together, they have found unique ways to harness the power of the plant. They created the first filling station in the world to sell emission-free biogas made from cactus, and now they’re taking their vision to a younger generation. We join them as they embark on their newest venture—building a cactus-powered biotechnology system to run parts of the Technological Institute of Iztapalapa in Mexico City.

They rode up through cholla and nopal, a dwarf forest of spined things, through a stone gap in the mountains and down among blooming artemisia and aloe.

Nopal is a prickly pear native to arid areas of North and South America.[…]Nopal is high in fiber, vitamins, protein, and mucilage.