A Dubai-based company offering sustainable solutions for decentralised rainwater harvesting and desert farming is offering “magic sand” to empower agri-entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa.
Dake Rechsand said its breathable sand technology, which was launched earlier this year and allows it to retain water for extended periods while allowing free air circulation, could encourage the growth of the organic food sector in the region.
The global organic food market surpassed a valuation of $100 billion last year amid an influx of entrepreneurs into the market, particularly in Europe and Oceania.
But climatic, soil fertility and water access limitations have inhibited a similar growth in the MENA region, so far, said Chandra Dake, CEO and founder of Dake Rechsand.
“Acute water scarcity, limited arable land and a generally arid climate in MENA are long-standing barriers to organic farming – which requires conformity to a range of criteria, including little to no chemical input,” added Dake.
“However, breathable sand technology, will now unlock the potential for extensive organic farming, in the region. Dake Rechsand is keen to empower regional entrepreneurs seeking to carve out a stake in a highly lucrative global market, by leveraging the premium attracted by organic produce.”
He said its sand technology enables optimal cultivation of a wide range of crops without chemical fertilizers, while reducing water requirements by nearly 80 percent.
“Since our proprietary magic sand is also devoid of organic material, produce grown using this medium will be eligible for an organic certification from the very first crop cycle, as opposed to the five years, that the process can typically take,” the CEO added.
Chandra Dake, CEO and founder of Dake Rechsand
According to recent statistics, certified organic lands in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are just 1.2 percent and 0.02 percent of the total agricultural land, respectively – reinforcing the magnitude of the untapped potential for expansion within the region.
Dake said he believes that these figures will increase dramatically, as the first generation of agri-entrepreneurs in the region implements the sand technology.
“The pandemic-induced health and wellness imperative, combined with tailwinds from eco-consumerism, make for ideal conditions, for investors and entrepreneurs looking at opportunities within the organic produce segment in MENA… This is also a chance for them to play a part in enhancing localised production and food security in the region, while making inroads into a lucrative global market, which is set to grow in size and value, for years to come,” he added.
Dake Rechsand operates in the US, the UAE, India, China and South Africa and is currently engaged in an ambitious plan to enable farming and greenery for at least 10,000 acres across the UAE or for half a million trees by the first half of 2021.
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