Desert Control's Soil and Water Conservation Technology Selected for the United Nations World Food Programme's Innovation Accelerator to Enhance Food Security

19 Dec 2024 06:30 CET

Sandnes, Norway, 19 December 2024 -Desert Control AS ("DSRT" or "the Company"),
a leader in soil and water conservation technology, has been selected to join
the United Nations World Food Programme's (WFP) Innovation Accelerator SPRINT
Programme. Our participation in this programme aims to pilot the innovative
Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) technology in Iraq, focusing on sustainable food
production and efficient water resource management.

Funded by a grant from the WFP Innovation Accelerator, the six-month pilot will
be executed in collaboration with Desert Control's regional partner, Soyl
(formerly named Mawarid Desert Control, part of Abu Dhabi-based Mawarid
Holding), and the WFP Iraq Country Office. The project will target the
enablement of agricultural cultivation under harsh desert conditions at a site
managed by the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture's Department of Forestry and
Combating Desertification. The initiative aims to demonstrate LNC's capacity to
improve soil health, reduce water consumption, and convert low-value
agricultural land into fertile areas suitable for high-value crops.

"Iraq has been grappling with environmental challenges such as drought,
desertification, and water scarcity, which jeopardize food production and
community livelihoods," said Ole Kristian Sivertsen, CEO of Desert Control.
"Being part of the WFP Innovation Accelerator Programme enables us to develop a
blueprint for drought response and resilience, utilizing our innovation to
transform degraded land into fertile soil. By enhancing agricultural
productivity under water-limited conditions, we empower communities to manage
their resources sustainably and contribute to global food security."

The WFP Innovation Accelerator, established in 2015, supports bold and
transformative solutions to address food insecurity. Its SPRINT Programme
(Sustainable Product Innovation & Technology) offers seed funding, hands-on
project management, and access to WFP's expert networks. Desert Control's
involvement aligns with WFP's mission to eradicate hunger and achieve
Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).

"By leveraging innovative solutions like Liquid Natural Clay, we aim to tackle
the root causes of food insecurity while building resilience in regions most
affected by climate change and resource scarcity," said Bernhard Kowatsch, Head
of the WFP Innovation Accelerator. "We look forward to Desert Control and Soyl
joining our programme to explore the potential of this technology to unlock
sustainable food production."

Kashif Shamsi, Group CEO of Mawarid Holding, parent company of Soyl, expressed:
"As a group deeply committed to the conservation of natural resources, we are
honored to work with Desert Control and WFP as the implementation partner for
this groundbreaking initiative. This innovation programme holds immense
potential to create lasting impact, transforming how communities in arid regions
can sustainably cultivate their lands and achieve food security, which can
become a global blueprint for solutions to end hunger."

The project plans to demonstrate the innovation's impact on agricultural crops,
including olive trees, pistachio, and windbreak varieties in sandy soils, with
performance monitored against designated control areas. Success metrics
encompass reduced water usage, improved tree survival rates, and observable
plant and ecosystem health enhancements.

"Through participating in this  programme, we aim to demonstrate how marginal
land and sandy soils can be transformed into productive agricultural land,
contributing to food security and sustainable economic development," Sivertsen
added. "Our mission is clear: soil health leads to healthy plants with less
pressure on natural resources, which support healthy food, healthy people, and,
ultimately, a healthy planet. We aim to make earth green again by delivering
innovations that secure the future of humanity and the resources we depend on,
and we are proud to work with the WFP team to drive meaningful impact on this
mission."

For more information, please contact:

Ole Kristian Sivertsen
President and Group CEO
Email: oks@desertcontrol.com
Mobile (NOR): +47 957 77 777
Mobile (USA): +1 650 643 6136

About Desert Control:
Desert Control develops innovative solutions to enhance soil health, conserve
water, and promote ecosystem resilience. The company's mission is to combat
desertification, soil degradation, and water scarcity. Our patented Liquid
Natural Clay (LNC) transforms sandy, fast-draining soils to retain water and
nutrients, improving soil health, crop yields, and ecosystem vitality while
conserving water. Desert Control provides customized solutions to strengthen
sustainability, profitability, and prosperity for agriculture, forests, and
green landscapes. In collaboration with partners and clients, we aim to preserve
natural resources, restore biodiversity, enhance food security, and ensure a
climate-resilient future.

For more information: https://desertcontrol.com

About Soyl:
Soyl, formerly known as Mawarid Desert Control, is a Mawarid Holding Company
powered by Desert Control. Soyl's mission is to Make Earth Green Again by
tackling desertification and soil degradation on a global scale. By restoring
degraded lands, conserving water resources, and improving long-term
sustainability, Soyl empowers communities and businesses worldwide. Through
innovative solutions, Soyl contributes to safeguarding the planet's most vital
resources, ensuring food security and environmental resilience for generations
to come.

For more information: https://soyl.ag

About the WFP Innovation Accelerator:
The WFP Innovation Accelerator was launched by the United Nations (UN) World
Food Programme in 2015 to source new ideas, sprint pilot projects and scale high
-impact innovations by connecting them with WFP's global network in over 120
countries and territories. From its base in Munich, Germany, the WFP Innovation
Accelerator has grown to become one of the world's leading social impact startup
accelerators. Together with the network of WFP regional innovation hubs and
country office innovation teams, portfolio ventures and with the support of our
partners, in 2023 the WFP Innovation Accelerator ran 14 programmes addressing a
wide range of social impact and sustainability issues, including climate change,
primary healthcare, gender equality and emergency response.

For more information: https://innovation.wfp.org


Cautionary Note:
Disclaimer related to forward-looking statements. This release contains forward
-looking information and statements relating to the business, performance, and
items that may be interpreted to impact the results of Desert Control and/or the
industry and markets in which Desert Control operates.

Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may
be identified by words such as "aims," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates,"
"expects," "foresees," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "targets,"
and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations, estimates, and projections, reflect current views concerning
future events, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and may
be subject to change without notice. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of any future performance, and risks, uncertainties, and other
important factors could cause the actual business, performance, results, or the
industry and markets in which Desert Control operates to differ materially from
the statements expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking
statements.

No representation is made that any of these forward-looking statements or
forecasts will come to pass or that any forecasted performance, capacities, or
results will be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place any undue reliance
on any forward-looking statements.

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