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New agricultural technology to solve the water crisis in North Africa

Engage Crop Solutions were mentioned on The Press Agency, international news website. See the article by Floriane Dumont below:

While chronic drought poses enormous challenges for farmers in North Africa, a Moroccan agrochemical company brings innovative and proven technology to the region, reducing water use in agriculture by up to 50%.

The technology, called Aqualatus, allows farmers to achieve significant savings, reducing the use of irrigation water, pumping electricity and fertilizers by up to 50% while maintaining or increasing crop yields.

Based in Morocco, ARZAK ST works with Engage Crop Solutions, a British company that has developed Aqualatus, to introduce this technology in North Africa to ensure that farmers can continue to feed the continent while facing the growing emergencies caused by drought.

Mohamed ZOUINI, Founder of ARZAK ST, says: “The water situation in Morocco, as in the majority of the Mediterranean region, is becoming critical because of the continuous emergencies of the drought.

“Morocco invests in desalination plants to try to solve the crisis. However, there is an urgent need to find new solutions that allow farmers to reduce their water consumption while being able to grow the crops we need profitably.

“We tested Aqualatus in Morocco for four years and it is invaluable for farmers. Not only do they significantly reduce the amount of water they use and improve yields, but they also make significant savings in terms of fertilizer and energy consumption, thus helping to increase their profits.”

Aqualatus, a unique technology from Engage Crop Solutions, is applied via irrigation systems and consists of a sophisticated mixture of Tri-block biodegradable liquid copolymers containing billions of microscopic structures that adhere to soil particles, slowing the gravitational movement of water and promoting lateral movement, thus increasing the soil’s moisture retention capacity and also improving soil quality. Aqualatus also allows soil oxygenation and the elimination of root asphyxiation.

Surface runoff and evaporation are almost completely eliminated and gravitational movement is considerably slowed down. Reducing this loss of natural water makes it possible to reduce irrigation volumes and watering times, because the soil retains water better.

Aqualatus has undergone ten years of tests around the world and is totally safe for the environment, decomposing completely in the soil after use.

It is successfully used by farmers in the Middle East, Southern Europe and Latin America. ARZAK ST distributes this technology in Morocco and is working on its upcoming introduction in Tunisia, Guinea, Senegal, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire.

A farmer in Spain, Alfredo Garcia, supplier of CASI, the largest tomato production group in Europe, says that Aqualatus is transforming agriculture in hot climates.

He says: “Under these conditions, Aqualatus saves 30% to 50% on water, electricity and fertilizers, which means that, because we have a monthly expenditure per hectare of about €2,750 (27,500 Moroccan dirhams) and €3,045 (30,450 Moroccan dirhams), if we save 30% to 50%, the farmer can save up to €990 (9,900 Moroccan dirhams) and €1,650 (16,500 Moroccan dirhams) per hectare and per month.”

Some farmers report up to 65% water savings while seeing an increase in yields, and a trial with the municipality of Dubai has proven that the city could save up to $152 million (1 billion,520 million dirhams) per year by using Aqualatus in these green spaces.

Mohamed ZOUINI adds: “Production costs for farmers in Morocco and North Africa are increasing and they are facing constant pressure, especially with regard to the use of water. Aqualatus has proven that it allows significant financial savings by reducing inputs while maintaining or even improving returns.”

Mark Horner, founder and director of Engage Crop Solutions, adds: “Aqualatus transforms agriculture in warm climates. It is a proven technology that allows farmers to save thousands of dollars, improving their profitability and, perhaps more importantly, their sustainability.

“Reducing water use in agriculture while improving food security is a key challenge for North Africa, but Aqualatus is proving to be part of the solution. We work with farmers around the world to help them meet these challenges while remaining profitable.”

For more information about Aqualatus or to find out how it can benefit from your agricultural operations, contact Mohamed ZOUINI of ARZAK ST at arzak@arzakagro.ma or Mark Horner of Engage Crop Solutions at mark.horner@engagecropsolutions.com or visit www.engagecropsolutions.com and www.arzakagro.ma 

About Engage Crop Solutions

Engage Crop Solutions, based in the United Kingdom, specializes in crop improvement and nutrition products for agriculture, horticulture, sports fields and ornamental plants. These products are research-based, with proven proprietary formulations that improve plant health and performance. We specialize in the introduction and marketing of innovative, highly effective and economical solutions for farmers and distributors. Our product range is supported by strong nutritional and agronomic support. Engage Crop Solutions’ crop nutrition products address agricultural problems with improved agronomic practice and biostimulant support. For more information, visit www.engagecropsolutions.com

About Aqualatus

Aqualatus allows water savings of 50% by significantly reducing the loss of natural water normally observed in the soil and other culture media by surface runoff, evaporation and leaching due to gravity. By applying Aqualatus, moisture is retained in the root area of the plant. Our technology is the world leader in the initial mooring and long-term moisting of all agricultural soils and substrates. Aqualatus is a mixture of four liquid polymers containing billions of microscopic structures that adhere to soil particles to slow the gravitational movement of water, thus increasing the soil’s moisture retention capacity while maintaining a uniform air/water ratio. Surface runoff and evaporation are almost completely eliminated, gravitational movement is considerably slowed down and the lateral movement of water is favored. Reducing this loss of natural water makes it possible to reduce irrigation volumes and watering times, because the soil retains water better.

Main uses:

  • Actively manage the movement and retention of soil moisture.
  • Creates a balance between air and water in all soils.
  • Reaggregates soils from fine silt and clays to maintain optimal conditions for crop development.
  • Reduce the overall application of water.

Key advantages:

  • Formulated to give an excellent initial anchorage of agricultural soils and culture media.
  • Increases water retention in all soils and creates a balance between air and water.
  • Optimizes penetration, lateral movement and distribution of nutrients applied to the roots.
  • Maximizes the efficiency of irrigation to reduce the overall need for water.
  • Provides long-term residual refilling of root areas in all crops.
  • In regular use, reaggregates the soil to support optimal growth conditions.
  • Can be applied to all soils and any cultivation substrate.
  • Case study – Save $152 million for the municipality of Dubai (506 million dirhams)

The municipality of Dubai can spend up to $844,000 (8.44 million dirhams) per day on water during the summer to maintain the city’s parks and green spaces. Engage Crop Solutions worked with the municipality to determine whether Aqualatus could reduce water consumption and relieve pressure on the region, which suffers from high water stress. When Aqualatus was applied in a one-year trial at Al Warqa Park, it showed that the municipality could reduce water consumption by 50% while preserving the lush landscapes. He reduced the daily water consumption in the park from 87,000 liters per day to only 43,500 liters and humidity levels remained constantly high in the root zone. Applied to the entire city, Aqualatus will allow the municipality of Dubai to save $152 million (1.52 billion dirhams) per year and, above all, to ensure water safety. For more information on this trial, or to access other trials, please contact founding director Mark Horner at Engage Crop Solutions at mark.horner@engagecropsolutions.com

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