Arthur D. Little: 5 techniques to promote green growth in dry areas



The company said in a statement that the release of this report comes at a time when the world is facing a crisis of land degradation, which negatively affects food security, biodiversity and economic stability, especially in dry and extremely arid regions.

The report details the potential of using sustainable technologies to facilitate the growth of green cover in hyper-arid regions, through interventions ranging from AI-enabled resource management and genetic engineering to the application of biochar-based sensors and IoT for land management.

The statement stated that dry and extremely dry areas, including parts of the region The Middle East North Africa suffers from significant challenges due to water scarcity and fragile ecosystems that are disproportionately exposed to the increasing impacts of land degradation and climate change.

According to the dashboard of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) (UNCCD) Regarding the Sustainable Development Goals, dry and extremely dry countries, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, are witnessing a significant increase in the rate of land degradation, almost doubling from 3.78 percent in 2015 to 7.19 percent in 2019 , which requires urgent action and finding innovative ones solutions.

To meet these challenges, a report by Arthur D. Littlea relied on a robust data-driven methodology developed in-house to identify the most promising technologies to make drylands more sustainable. The expert team used a three-stage methodology involving technology research, selection and evaluation as part of the process to identify five key technologies that can transform sustainable land management practices in dry and hyper-arid countries.

  • Artificial intelligence for integrated land management: AI tools can improve the life cycle of land reclamation and reforestation projects and are particularly useful in extremely dry environments.
  • Organic fertilization and vermicomposting. Organic fertilization depends on microbial decomposition; Vermicomposting uses earthworms to speed up the process. Both produce valuable fertilizer that promotes soil health, reduces the need for artificial fertilizers and promotes sustainable waste management.
  • Genetic engineeringGenetic engineering techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas9, provide powerful tools to modify the genetic makeup of plants to improve their ability to withstand the harsh conditions of extremely dry environments.
  • Biochar. Biochar is a stable form of charcoal produced by pyrolysis of biomass (heating in the absence of oxygen). It improves water retention, nutrient availability and soil aeration, promoting plant growth even in difficult conditions.
  • IoT-based sensors for land management. IoT-based sensors provide an effective way to improve land management in hyper-arid regions. By providing real-time data, it enables data-driven decision making for optimal irrigation, optimal resource utilization and improved crop yields.

In addition to identifying these five technologies, the Shaping a Sustainable Future for Arid Countries report presents key recommendations that GCC countries and the MENA region can follow to combat desertification and build a sustainable future.

  • Establish a regional framework for sustainable land management with the aim of leveraging solutions, developing best regulatory practices and preserving indigenous plants in the region.
  • Investing in a regional green future by focusing on research and development to address the challenges of drylands and the transfer of regional technology and key infrastructure.
  • Leveraging existing regional and global initiatives to achieve collective impact by establishing public-private partnerships in existing and new frameworks and empowering local communities through comprehensive partnerships.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Carlo Stella, co-author of the report, partner at Arthur D. Little and a global leader in sustainability, said: “The challenges of land degradation are among the most pressing challenges facing the world, but by adopting these recommendations and the technology outlined in the report, the Middle East can make North Africa, and especially the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, global leaders in fighting desertification and building a sustainable future for extremely arid regions.





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