Desert Control

What Desert Control does

Desert Control AS is a Norwegian-domiciled, publicly traded climate technology company that has developed and patented Liquid Natural Clay (LNC), a soil restoration technology that improves water and nutrient retention in sandy, arid soils. LNC is created on-site by mixing clay with water (with no chemical additives) and applied through standard irrigation methods, forming a 1.5 nanometer thick clay coating on individual sand particles that allows moisture and nutrients to remain in the root zone (typically 30-60 cm depth) rather than percolating below. The technology is protected by a patent registered in approximately 50 countries and demonstrates durability of 3-5 years in tilled soils and 15-20+ years in non-tilled applications. Reported field outcomes include 25-50%+ reductions in irrigation water needs, yield increases of up to 62%, and surface temperature reductions of up to 15°C. The company serves two primary commercial segments in the American Southwest — permanent crops (almonds, dates, grapes, pistachios, avocados) and golf courses/turf management — with secondary applications in landscaping, reforestation, and urban greening.

Desert Control generates revenue primarily through Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) outcomes-based contracts that produce monthly recurring revenue tied directly to verified water savings, plus licensing fees from two international operators: Saudi Desert Control (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Soyl (UAE/Middle East, formerly Mawarid Desert Control). The company commercializes directly in the United States through enterprise field sales, while relying on licensed operators for international expansion into markets aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE food security initiatives. Q4 2025 unaudited revenue was NOK 2.7 million, and management has guided to USD 2-3 million for full-year 2026 based on an accelerating pilot pipeline (26-30 pilots expected in H1 2026 versus 7 in all of 2025). Named customers include Berkeley Country Club, Woodland Hills Country Club (first PAYS client), Limoneira, Oasis Date (world's largest organic Medjool date grower), Coyote Wash Golf Course, and Masdar City.

The company was founded in Sandnes, Norway (R&D began in 2007, company formally established in 2017) and is listed on Euronext Growth Oslo (OSE: DSRT). Its U.S. operational headquarters is in Yuma, Arizona. As of year-end 2025, the company held NOK 62.5 million in cash with no debt, supported CEO James Thomas (joined 2023, ~8.5% owner via Woods End Interests LLC), CFO David Borah, and incoming CSO Dr. Michael Canady (April 2026). R&D operations were relocated from Norway to the American Southwest in April 2025 to concentrate commercial execution on the $5B+ addressable market in California and Arizona.

Name

Desert Control

Legal name

Desert Control AS

Website

https://desertcontrol.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Desert Control develops and commercializes Liquid Natural Clay (LNC), a patented soil restoration technology that improves water and nutrient retention in sandy, arid soils for agricultural producers, golf courses, and landscaping operators in drought-prone regions including the American Southwest and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Soil Restoration & Water Conservation

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Soil Stabilization & Ground Improvement (Lime/Cement, Deep Mixing) (IMAFAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Soil Testing, pH Adjustment & Soil Amendments (Lime/Gypsum/Organic Matter) (HSAIAGAC)

Keywords

• Soil restoration technology
• Water conservation solutions
• Agricultural soil treatment
• Golf course turf management
• Sandy soil remediation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandnes

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Outcomes-Based Recurring Revenue: Commercial agreements with golf courses and agricultural operations generate monthly recurring revenue tied directly to verified water savings. The Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) model aligns customer payment with actual water conservation outcomes, creating predictable recurring revenue streams from successful LNC applications.
2. Licensing Revenue: Revenue generated from licensed operators (Saudi Desert Control, Soyl) who pay for rights to deploy LNC technology in their respective territories. These partnerships contribute to commercial momentum in Middle East markets with government relationships.
3. Pilot Program Revenue: Initial pilot programs with prospective commercial customers to demonstrate LNC efficacy before converting to full commercial agreements. 26 pilots expected in H1 2026, compared to 7 completed in all of 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Desert Control develops and applies Liquid Natural Clay (LNC), a patented soil restoration technology that mixes clay and water on-site to coat sand particles with a 1.5 nanometer clay layer, dramatically improving water retention and nutrient availability in sandy soils. The technology is applied through traditional irrigation or injection methods across agriculture, landscaping, golf/turf management, and reforestation use cases, with commercial deployment structured as outcomes-based Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) contracts tied to verified water savings.

Product overview

Desert Control offers a single unified core product: Liquid Natural Clay (LNC), a patented soil restoration technology. LNC is applied to sandy soils through traditional irrigation methods to improve water retention and nutrient availability, reducing water consumption by up to 50% and increasing crop yields. The company operates across four solution areas (Agriculture, Landscaping, Golf/Turf Management, and Forests/Reforestation) using an outcomes-based commercial model (Pay-As-You-Save) where revenue is tied to verified water savings. The technology is commercialized directly in the U.S. and through licensed operators in the Middle East (Saudi Desert Control and Soyl in the UAE).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) Patented soil restoration technology created by mixing clay and water on-site, applied through traditional irrigation to coat sand particles with a 1.5 nanometer clay layer. Reduces irrigation water needs by 25-50% or more while increasing crop yields by up to 62%. Patented in approximately 50 countries.
• Agriculture Solutions LNC application services for agricultural operations targeting permanent crops such as almonds, dates, grapes, pistachios, avocados, and other fruits and vegetables. Improves soil water retention and reduces irrigation costs in drought-sensitive regions.
• Landscaping Solutions LNC deployment for urban green landscapes, parks, and residential/commercial properties to enhance sustainability and reduce water usage in arid regions.
• Golf Courses & Turf Management LNC applications for golf courses and turf management to reduce irrigation demands while maintaining turf quality. Commercialized through outcomes-based Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) contracts generating monthly recurring revenue tied to verified water savings.
• Irrigated Forests & Reforestation LNC applications for trees, forests, and reforestation projects to improve soil health and water retention for ecosystem restoration in arid and semi-arid regions.
• Impact Initiatives LNC applications for environmental and social impact projects addressing desertification, soil degradation, and water scarcity at scale.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25-50%+ reduction in irrigation water needs
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of California Riverside (UCR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Multi-year independent research study with UCR's Turfgrass Science program led by Dr. James H. Baird. Controlled evaluation of LNC-treated turf under deficit irrigation conditions (~80% of normal water requirement). Measures turf quality, color, moisture levels, and soil health through objective indicators and third-party laboratory analysis.
• University of ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with University of Arizona for full commercial-scale yield improvement trial with Oasis Date (world's largest organic Medjool date grower). Research will validate water savings and yield metrics.
• Advokatfirmaet Selmer ASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal advisor acting for Desert Control in connection with the Financing Review process.
• Saudi Desert ControlcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed operator for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Partnership supports Saudi Vision 2030 and Saudi Green Initiative goals for soil rehabilitation, water conservation, food security, and climate action leadership.
• Soyl (formerly Mawarid Desert Control)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed operator for UAE and Middle East region. Mawarid Holding Company subsidiary powered by Desert Control. Leading transformation of soil health and ecosystem restoration through LNC technology.
• Woodland Hills Country ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) client achieving significant irrigation savings. Demonstrated $185,000+ combined water savings and incentive value in H2 2025 with 28% less water irrigation than prior 5-year average.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GroGenesis: Agricultural-input company developing sustainable soil and crop enhancement technologies. Comparable to Desert Control as a small-cap agtech focused on improving soil productivity and water efficiency in degraded soils.
• Soil Boosters: Provider of soil-amendment products targeting water retention and nutrient efficiency in arid and sandy soils. Direct comparability with Desert Control's LNC in mechanism (soil amendment) and target market (water-constrained agriculture and turf).
• Acadian Seaplants (Acadian Plant Health): Developer of biostimulant and crop-input products derived from seaweed extracts. Comparable as a specialty agricultural input company selling soil/crop enhancement solutions into mainstream agriculture with claims of yield and stress-tolerance benefits.
• CropX: Digital agronomy and soil-sensing platform that helps farmers optimize irrigation and inputs. Comparable as an emerging precision-irrigation/water-efficiency player competing for the same customer wallet and decision-maker in drought-prone agriculture.
• AquaSpy: Provider of in-soil moisture and nutrient sensing for precision irrigation. Comparable as an emerging water-efficiency agtech targeting the same farmer pain point of reducing irrigation while maintaining yield, often sold alongside or against LNC-type amendments.

Broad incumbents

• ICL Group: Global specialty fertilizers and agrochemical company with a portfolio of soil and crop enhancement solutions including water-soluble fertilizers. Comparable to Desert Control as a broader specialty inputs incumbent addressing similar farmer pain points.
• Netafim: Global leader in drip and precision irrigation, the dominant technology competing for the same water-savings budget that Desert Control addresses. Comparable as the incumbent solution farmers typically evaluate against LNC.
• SNF Floerger: World's largest producer of polyacrylamide and superabsorbent polymers used as water-retaining soil conditioners. Comparable as a major incumbent supplier of hydrogel-based alternatives competing head-to-head with LNC in the soil-water-retention category.
• Bayer Crop Science: Global agricultural-input leader with extensive seed, crop protection, and digital-farming offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose ag-input portfolio and R&D reach could ultimately compete with or acquire LNC-style soil amendment technologies.
• SUEZ (Water Technologies & Solutions): Global water services and treatment company with exposure to agricultural water management and soil/water remediation. Comparable as a broad water-and-environment incumbent addressing overlapping water-scarcity customer needs, particularly in Middle East markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/desert_control
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DesertControl_MEGA
• Facebookfacebook.com/desertcontrol
• LinkedInno.linkedin.com/company/desertcontrol
• Instagraminstagram.com/desert_control

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Desert Control