Desertification is the degradation of land in regions characterized by arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid climates. It frequently leads to the expansion of desert areas, creating a menace for the population in the vicinity by limiting the agricultural viability of the land applicable to them. The UAE faces these problems till date because of water scarcity, sand encroachment, increasing population, etc. In light of this, the gulf dominion had passed a National strategy to combat desertification in 2014 and has taken one too many steps in the right direction. For example, the creation of eco-reserves such as Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Mangrove National Park, etc.
One such effort was made by a Norwegian Agtech start-up known as the desert control.
This was possible because of their hero technology, liquid nano clay. Liquid Nanoclay is a water and clay-based solution that can be applied by spraying onto sandy soil. It effectively penetrates and binds to sand particles, enhancing water retention and enriching the soil with vital nutrients for plant growth. In simple terms, it converts desert sand into fertile soil. As the company puts in its own words, “LNC is hyper disruptive water saving irrigation and soil enriching innovation, due to its efficient adaptation on existing rooted plants and lawn which gives it a competitive advantage.”
According to a news article in 2020, the country imports almost 90% of its food. Hence, The UAE places a significant emphasis on growing crops in the desert as it prioritizes enhancing food security. In 2018, Desert Control collaborated with Dubai’s International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) to initiate laboratory and field tests. Its role in UAE came into picture with a joint venture signed with Mawarid Desert Control LLC in December, 2021. The team entered in Dubai with a plot of desert where it planted watermelon, zucchini and pearl millet. This eventually multiplied into rows and rows of plantation in an arid setting.
Later in March 2023, Desert Control’s Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) obtained official approval and organic farming certification from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technologies (MoIAT), in consultation with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Desert Control secured the top prize in the Sustainability & Environment category at the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) Global Finals, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March 9-12, 2023. Out of 30,000 entrepreneurs worldwide, Desert Control emerged as one of the top 10 finalists.
The company warns that every year, approximately twelve million hectares of productive land are lost due to desertification and drought. This alarming trend has significant implications for global food security and environmental sustainability. Moreover, projections indicate that by 2025, a staggering 1.8 billion people will face absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world’s population will live in water-stressed conditions. The mission of Desert Control is to “make Earth green again”.
UAE deals with some environmental issues like carbon footprints, limited water supply, air pollution, drought like conditions, sand-storms, etc. Desert Control’s success story is a reminder that is never bad time to propel technology in the direction of going green. The scope is plenty.
