Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the agriculture industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked desert farming solutions.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Desert Farming Solutions out of 129
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 129 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 desert farming solutions that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 124 desert farming solutions, get in touch.
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Soyl-Gel develops a Hydrogel for Irrigation
Sparse rainfall results in diminishing arable land area, while the global population expands persistently. Conventional farming practices use more water for crops than necessary and apply excessive doses of fertilizers and pesticides – resulting in the pollution of streams and groundwater. Arid deserts, however, do not provide ideal conditions for crop cultivation. To make the land usable nonetheless, startups develop hydrogels that increase water retention capabilities in the soil.
Turkish startup Soyl-Gel develops a multi-functional hydrogel for irrigating crops in arid desert conditions. The startup’s eponymous flagship product is a super absorbent polymer that features natural clay nanotubes filled with necessary active agents that promote crop health. The startup uses nano additives to effectively release the water over a prolonged period of time. This serves multiple purposes including soil nutrition, water-saving, and plant protection.
SolidWater creates a Refilling Water Pocket
Water is already a scarce commodity in desert regions for consumption let alone crop cultivation. Due to a global shortage of arable land, however, farmers are turning towards innovations that make arid land fit for the cultivation of agro products. Nonetheless, higher surface temperatures in desert regions result in a high rate of vaporization of water from the soil – one of the main challenges in this regard. To this end, startups and scaleups develop alternative solutions for conventional irrigation.
Dutch startup SolidWater develops an alternative for irrigation in desert regions. SolidWater, a potassium poly-acrylate, provides plants with a refilling pocket of water that easily transfers water to the roots. Moreover, the design of these granules lets plants survive in deserts and arid conditions. The roots directly extract the water from the product whenever needed and this optimized water flow lets plants grow faster, naturally. The durability of the product ranges from 5 to 10 years in which it absorbs water at the rate of 115 times its own mass.
Desert Control develops a Water Retaining Network in the Soil
Rich and robust topsoil is a primary requirement for the cultivation of crops. Desert regions, however, do not have the necessary soil composition for crop cultivation. Farmers in Egypt for instance transport soil from the Nile to their farms once every 5 years so that their topsoil composition is viable for farming. That is why startups pursue material innovations to provide the necessary environment that enables successful desert farming.
Norwegian startup Desert Control develops Liquid Nanoclay (LNC), a patented formulation that comprises clay and water. Applying LNC to arid soil and desert sand enables and enhances the soil’s ability to retain water and nutrients, and thereby turn deserts into fertile green land. With significant water-retention capabilities, the startup’s product enables farmers in desert regions to cultivate agricultural products without robust irrigation systems.
Edama Organic Solutions recycles Organic Waste into High-Value Inputs for Desert Farming
Both the steady increase in population and consumption rates are factors that drive global food demand. In order to keep up with this demand, agricultural activity is expanding too. What is more, farmers often rely on monocultures to make their work efficient which hurts the soil as well as the environment. This approach also means that limited land is still available for agriculture, which is why deserts are being considered for crop cultivation. Desert farming, however, requires controlled environments, steady nutrient infusions, and growth boosters. In order to meet this need, startups and scaleups develop waste recycling solutions that enable a circular agricultural economy.
Saudi Arabian startup Edama Organic Solutions facilitates a circular economy by recycling organic waste into high-value inputs for desert farming. The startup’s proprietary input feedstock analysis protocols and compost recipes allow users to maintain stable compost properties while allowing for flexibility in waste inputs. Moreover, the startup transforms organic waste into soil booster products that are made available to local farmers, landscapers, and even home gardeners.
DryGro leverages Custom Growing Systems to Cultivate Desert Regions
The soybean is a protein-rich agricultural resource that consumes a significant amount of water. Whereas lemna, also commonly known as duckweed, requires water as a growing medium to grow. Lemna is a good source of protein in animal feed and takes fewer resources to grow in comparison with soybeans. Therefore startups develop AgriTech solutions to make lemna production feasible in arid conditions.
British startup DryGro leverages enclosed custom growing systems to cultivate lemna in desert regions. The startup’s technology conserves water, the main growing medium in lemna cultivation, and allows for radically less water consumption than soy production. Additionally, the unique traits of lemna create an opportunity for DryGro to produce 8 times more protein per hectare compared to conventional methods.
Discover More AgriTech Startups
AgriTech startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on smart and precision farming, irrigation as well as land utilization. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing agriculture, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more AgriTech technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free AgriTech Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
