SANDNES, Norway, Dec. 19, 2024 — Desert Control AS (“DSRT” or “the Company”), a leading developer of soil and water conservation technologies, has been chosen for the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) Innovation Accelerator SPRINT Programme. This program will allow us to trial our innovative Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) technology in Iraq, focusing on sustainable food production and effective water management.
Funded by a WFP Innovation Accelerator grant, the six-month pilot project will be a collaboration with Desert Control’s regional partner, Soyl (formerly Mawarid Desert Control, part of Abu Dhabi-based Mawarid Holding), and the WFP Iraq Country Office. The project will focus on enabling agricultural cultivation in challenging desert conditions at a site overseen by the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Forestry and Combating Desertification. The goal is to showcase LNC’s ability to improve soil health, reduce water usage, and transform low-yield farmland into productive land suitable for high-value crops.
“Iraq faces significant environmental hurdles, including drought, desertification, and water scarcity, which threaten food production and livelihoods,” explained Ole Kristian Sivertsen, CEO of Desert Control. “Participation in the WFP Innovation Accelerator Programme lets us create a model for drought response and resilience, using our innovation to turn degraded land into fertile soil. By boosting agricultural output in water-scarce environments, we empower communities to manage their resources responsibly and contribute to global food security.”
Established in 2015, the WFP Innovation Accelerator supports groundbreaking solutions to food insecurity. Its SPRINT Programme (Sustainable Product Innovation & Technology) provides seed funding, hands-on support, and access to WFP’s expert network. Desert Control’s participation supports WFP’s mission to eliminate hunger and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).
“By utilizing innovative solutions like Liquid Natural Clay, we aim to address the root causes of food insecurity while enhancing resilience in areas most impacted by climate change and resource limitations,” stated Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator. “We welcome Desert Control and Soyl to our program to explore this technology’s potential for sustainable food production.”
Kashif Shamsi, Group CEO of Mawarid Holding, Soyl’s parent company, commented: “As a group deeply committed to conserving natural resources, we are proud to collaborate with Desert Control and WFP as the implementation partner for this pioneering initiative. This innovation program has immense potential to create lasting positive change, transforming how communities in arid regions can sustainably cultivate their land and achieve food security—a model that can be replicated globally to fight hunger.”
The project will assess the innovation’s impact on crops, including olive trees, pistachios, and windbreak plants in sandy soils, comparing results with control areas. Key performance indicators include reduced water consumption, improved tree survival rates, and enhanced plant and ecosystem health.
“Through this program, we aim to demonstrate how marginal land and sandy soils can be converted into productive farmland, contributing to food security and sustainable economic growth,” Sivertsen added. “Our goal is clear: healthy soil leads to healthy plants with less pressure on natural resources, supporting healthy food, healthy people, and ultimately, a healthy planet. We aim to make earth greener by delivering innovations that secure the future of humanity and the resources we depend on, and we are proud to partner with the WFP team to make a significant difference.”
For more information, please contact:
Ole Kristian Sivertsen
President and Group CEO
Email:
Mobile (NOR): +47 957 77 777
Mobile (USA): +1 650 643 6136
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