Desert Control Joins UN World Food Program Innovation Accelerator to Pilot Liquid Natural Clay in Iraq

Key Takeaways:

• Desert Control AS has been selected to join the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Innovation Accelerator SPRINT Program to pilot its Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) technology in Iraq.
• The six-month project, funded by the WFP Innovation Accelerator, will focus on improving soil health, reducing water consumption, and enabling sustainable agriculture under desert conditions.
• The initiative, in collaboration with Soyl (formerly Mawarid Desert Control) and the WFP Iraq Country Office, targets degraded land managed by Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture.
• The project aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) by promoting solutions to food insecurity and resource scarcity.

Pilot Project Overview

Desert Control, a leader in soil and water conservation technology, will deploy its Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) in a pilot project in Iraq, under the WFP Innovation Accelerator’s SPRINT Program. The initiative will focus on transforming degraded land into fertile soil capable of supporting high-value crops such as olive trees and pistachios, while also serving as a windbreak.

The pilot project, executed with Soyl and the WFP Iraq Country Office, will measure success through:

• Reduced water usage
• Improved tree survival rates
• Enhanced ecosystem health

The results will be compared with control areas to evaluate the technology’s impact on food security and agricultural sustainability.

Leadership Statements

Ole Kristian Sivertsen, CEO of Desert Control, emphasized the importance of addressing environmental challenges in Iraq: “Iraq has been grappling with environmental challenges such as drought, desertification, and water scarcity, which jeopardize food production and community livelihoods. Being part of the WFP Innovation Accelerator Program 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.”

Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator, highlighted the program’s mission: “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. We look forward to Desert Control and Soyl joining our program to explore the potential of this technology to unlock sustainable food production.”

Kashif Shamsi, Group CEO of Mawarid Holding, echoed these sentiments: “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 program 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.”

Addressing Global Food Security

The WFP Innovation Accelerator, launched in 2015, supports innovative technologies and practices aimed at eliminating hunger. Through its SPRINT Program, the WFP provides funding, project management, and access to expert networks for transformative projects.

Desert Control’s LNC technology aims to:

• Rehabilitate degraded soils and make them suitable for agriculture.
• Reduce water consumption for crop production.
• Enhance food security in arid regions.