BrazilArthur D. Little pinpoints five key technologies to combat land degradation
As the GCC battles against land degradation and desertification, a new report from Arthur D. Little has identified five technologies that can play a major role in reversing the desertification seen in the region’s hyper-arid areas.
Land degradation is one of the most significant environmental concerns the world faces today. According to the UN, approximately 100 million hectares is degraded each year. As it stands, 1.52 billion hectares, or 15% of all reported land, have been affected by land degradation, directly affecting more than 1.3 billion people.
The economic consequences are equally alarming; losses are projected to reach a staggering $23 trillion by 2050.
The issue of land degradation is particularly acute in the arid Middle East, where harsh climates intensify its effects. With a high concentration of hyper-arid areas and more than half the countries in the region classified as extremely water-stressed, the challenge of land degradation demands robust action.
Enter smart technology
The new report by Arthur D. Little, a global management consulting firm, emphasizes that technology-led solutions hold the key to booking progress rapidly and at scale.
“In hyper-arid regions, the scale-up of greening technologies are no longer optional, they are essential to effectively combat desertification, restore degraded lands, and secure long-term food and water resilience,” noted Marielli Bou Harb, partner at Arthur D. Little.
The study explored over 100 technologies that could make a difference, covering the entire spectrum of relevant domains along the greening and land management value chain. These technologies were then evaluated across a range of factors, including market attractiveness, impact, innovation momentum and strategic fit with hyper-arid environments.
Five technologies emerged as gamechangers for land degradation: AI systems for precision land management, IoT-based sensors enabling real-time environmental feedback, biochar production for soil regeneration, localized composting for organic nutrient cycling, and genetic engineering where socially and culturally appropriate.
These technologies are distinguished not only by their ecological promise but also by their alignment with region-specific conditions such as extreme heat, limited freshwater, and fragile soils.
“We focused on identifying the solutions with the greatest potential to scale where they are needed most and when urgency can no longer be postponed,” said Bou Harb. “These technologies can adapt to the harsh realities of hyper-arid environments, and are backed by growing investment and market momentum.”
To maximize the progress of tech-driven land degradation battling, the study calls for urgent action around four key levers: align policy and investment across GCC and neighboring countries under initiatives like the Middle East Green Initiative (a regional effort to address climate change led by Saudi Arabia), expand R&D ecosystems to localize emerging global tech, create regional centers for innovation exchange and upskilling, and enable public-private partnerships.
“With climate pressures accelerating, the region must move from pilot projects to scalable transformation,” said Juan Moreno, Principal at Arthur D. Little. “Policymakers, investors, and innovators should be committed to reversing land degradation and building long-term resilience.”
