Desert Control’s Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) has recently received official approval and certification for organic farming from the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technologies (MoIAT) in consultation with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). This marks a significant milestone for the innovative solution that enables resilient and climate-smart agriculture and desert farming in a world that is becoming increasingly dry. In addition, the organic certification validates the effectiveness and safety of LNC as a solution for organic farming, ensuring that it meets strict standards for the manufacturing process and raw materials, including the absence of synthetic chemicals and harmful substances. The recognition also highlights the importance of sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for agriculture as more people and countries seek to adopt practices that are better for the environment and promote food security.
Mawarid Desert Control LLC, the company behind LNC, was also recently announced as the winner of Research and innovation award winner for the start-up category by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI). This award recognizes the company’s efforts to develop innovative solutions contribute to a more sustainable future, particularly in desert agriculture. With the effects of climate change becoming increasingly apparent, the need for innovative solutions such as LNC has never been greater. By supporting eco-friendly farming practices and helping farmers adapt to the changing climate, LNC is essential for promoting food security and sustainability in the UAE and worldwide.
Organic Farming: A Reality Check?
Over the past few decades, organic farming has grown significantly in popularity and acceptance worldwide. As consumers become more health-conscious and environmentally aware, the demand for organic products has increased, and organic farming has evolved to meet this demand. In many countries, organic farming has become an essential part of the agricultural sector, and governments have developed policies and initiatives to promote the growth of organic farming. For example, the European Union has developed a comprehensive organic farming regulation that sets standards for organic farming practices and products while supporting farmers looking to transition to organic farming.
While organic farming has gained popularity over recent years, it still faces several challenges and issues that farmers must address. One of the main challenges for organic farmers is maintaining the soil’s health and fertility without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This often requires more labor-intensive and time-consuming practices, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and composting, which can be expensive and challenging to implement on a large scale. Organic farmers may also face difficulties marketing their products, as organic food typically commands a premium price, but consumers may not always be willing to pay the higher cost. Additionally, organic farmers may have to contend with a lack of infrastructure for processing and distributing organic products, making it challenging to get their products to market.
Organic farming may also be more vulnerable to weather-related risks, such as droughts or floods, as they cannot rely on conventional farmers’ chemical inputs to combat these issues. This can make organic farming a more unpredictable and riskier endeavor. Finally, there may be challenges with obtaining organic certification, which can be a lengthy and expensive process. Farmers must comply with strict regulations and standards, which may require significant investments in time and money, and farmers may lack understanding about how to meet these standards. Additionally, the different certifications may sometimes only certify the operation, not the entire supply chain. This leads to certain organic farming-certified produce containing significant traces of pesticides or more significant carbon footprints than non-certified organic produce.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
You must log in to post a comment.