Desert Control joins Dubai’s in5’s alumni network after raising Dhs85m in IPO

Norway-headquartered Desert Control is a climate technology company specialised in reclaiming degraded soil and turning desert sand into fertile soil.

The agritech startup is now ready to launch its commercial rollout of liquid natural clay (LNC) – an innovation that turns deserts into fertile land. It has recently been added to the alumni network of in5, a Dubai-based business incubator and enabling platform for entrepreneurs and startups.

Desert Control joined in5 in 2018 and was subsequently named one of the World Economic Forum’s Top 100 Arab startups, has now become a member of the in5 alumni network.

Read: Three startups win Dubai’s in5 contest to strengthen UAE’s response to Covid-19

Desert Control has opened a new office in Dubai and expanded to Abu Dhabi too after raising approximately Dhs85m in its initial public offering (IPO) on Euronext Growth Oslo, a trading facility operated by the Oslo Stock Exchange, in April this year.

Agri-tech startup Desert Control is ready to launch commercial rollout of liquid natural clay (LNC) – an innovation that turns deserts into fertile landhttps://t.co/k51Pmidg1Y #Dubai pic.twitter.com/OtzINL3wxy

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 8, 2021

There is reportedly 12 million hectares of fertile land – an area more than twice the size of Denmark – lost to desertification every year. By spraying LNC directly onto the ground, the company’s technology allows topsoil, sandy soil and desert sand to retain water and nutrients. It has the potential to regreen arid land, sequester tonnes of carbon dioxide, and create thousands of jobs while enhancing food security.

“In5 has been a great arena for the UAE and Dubai establishment of Desert Control activities, and we are grateful for the continuous support we have received throughout our growth stage. We are now moving into a fast scale-up phase where we are recruiting heavily and need more space,” said Atle Idland, managing director at Desert Control Middle East.

“We are especially proud that the gardens adjacent to in5 were treated with LNC and the results were spectacular: 45 per cent less irrigation water was needed to create a lush, healthy green lawn and landscape areas in comparison to traditional methods,” added Idland.

Meanwhile, Ole Kristian Sivertsen, Desert Control CEO, said: “LNC can significantly accelerate the food security strategy of the UAE and other regional countries. Enormous amounts of water are required to maintain green landscapes and forests across the nation, but if we can shift 50 per cent of this water to agriculture and food production, the results will be amazing. Further, by transforming desert into arable land that sequesters carbon and promotes biodiversity, we address water scarcity, food security, and climate action at the same time.”