University of Sharjah and Davas Prime Launch Research Project to Promote Agriculture

The University of Sharjah and Davas Prime Middle East Manufacturing signed a Memorandum of Intent to conduct joint applied research projects focused on improving desert soil properties and increasing its productivity using glauconite.

The two parties will work to improve the efficiency of glauconite as a soil conditioner in hot and dry desert conditions by integrating it with biochar and biostimulants, with the goal of developing sustainable agriculture in the Arabian Gulf, Middle East, and North Africa.

The signing of the agreement was attended by His Excellency Professor Hamid Majul Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah; Professor Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Scientific Research and Graduate Studies; and Marina Stroganova, Founder and CEO of Davas Prime Middle East Manufacturing, at the university's headquarters.

The research projects will be implemented in two phases. The first phase includes greenhouse experiments to determine the optimal combination of glauconite, biochar, and biostimulants for wheat and lettuce growth. The second phase includes field experiments on a wheat farm in the Mleiha area of ​​Sharjah to verify the effectiveness of these enhancers under real-world agricultural conditions.

The results of this research are expected to contribute to improving soil fertility, increasing crop productivity, enhancing water use efficiency, and developing a more resilient soil microbial ecosystem. This will contribute to promoting sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions in the long term.

Dr. Hamid Majul Al Nuaimi emphasized the importance of the agreement in supporting the university's scientific research efforts that address pressing regional challenges, particularly in the field of sustainable agriculture under desert climate conditions. He described the project as an important opportunity to leverage the expertise of researchers from the university and the private sector to develop sustainable agricultural technologies that suit the local environment and enhance food security in the UAE and the region as a whole.