Desert Control AS: Desert Control (DSRT) Launches Almond Pilot with HR Farms in Fresno, California More than 2,000 almond trees treated to evaluate water savings, soil health, and yield performance

Stavanger, Norway - 10 December 2025 - Desert Control (DSRT) has initiated a new Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) pilot with HR Farms, a respected commercial grower in Fresno, California. The pilot applies LNC to more than 2,000 almond trees to evaluate its potential to enhance water efficiency, improve soil structure, and strengthen yield performance in one of the world's most water-intensive crops.

California produces approximately 80% of the world's almonds, spanning around 1.5 million acres and generating close to USD 10 billion annually. Almond cultivation requires about 9,000 m³ of water per hectare per year, contributing to more than USD 1 billion in annual irrigation costs. With most orchards already optimized through micro-irrigation systems, further performance gains increasingly depend on improved soil structure, higher water retention, and greater resilience to drought.

The pilot launched this week will quantify LNC's performance under real-world commercial orchard conditions. Two varieties of almond trees will be monitored throughout the growing season to assess water consumption, soil moisture dynamics, nutrient uptake, and yield development.

"We see strong potential for LNC in high-value permanent crops such as almonds. This pilot with HR Farms is an important step in understanding how LNC can deliver measurable water savings, healthier soils, improved nutrient uptake, and enhanced yield performance at commercial scale. Partnering with a highly professional grower gives us valuable insight into how we can scale LNC across permanent crops in California."

- James Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Desert Control

 

About HR Farms

HR Farms is a long-established, diversified agricultural producer operating in California. The company manages high-value permanent crops with a focus on quality, sustainable practices, and innovation. HR Farms is recognized for its commitment to integrating new technologies and agronomic methods that improve productivity, efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

About Desert Control

Desert Control develops innovative solutions to enhance soil health, conserve water, and promote ecosystem resilience. Our proprietary Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) allows sandy, fast-draining soils to retain water and nutrients, improving soil health, crop yields, and ecosystem vitality while conserving water. Desert Control provides customized solutions to strengthen sustainability, profitability, and prosperity for agriculture, forests, and green landscapes. In collaboration with partners and clients, we aim to preserve natural resources, enhance food security, and ensure a climate-resilient future.

Cautionary Note

This release contains forward-looking information and statements relating to the business, performance, and items that may be interpreted to impact the results of Desert Control and/or the industry and markets in which Desert Control operates. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "aims," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "foresees," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "targets," and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections, reflect current views concerning future events, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and may be subject to change without notice. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of any future performance, and risks, uncertainties, and other important factors could cause the actual business, performance, results, or the industry and markets in which Desert Control operates to differ materially from the statements expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. No representation is made that any of these forward-looking statements or forecasts will come to pass or that any forecasted performance, capacities, or results will be achieved, and you are cautioned not to place any undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.