Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
With the support of the UAE government and Hub71, a global technology ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, HyveGeo, an Emirati climate tech startup, has cemented its position and is on a mission to capture carbon dioxide and transform deserts into green spaces.
In a recent conversation with Aletihad, Abdulaziz bin Redha, co-founder and CEO of HyveGeo, discussed the company’s journey, its innovative technology, and its pursuit of solutions to address pressing environmental and food security crises.
“The technology behind HyveGeo was developed in the UK, where my co-founders and I were studying at the University of Cambridge. We started the company while we were still working on our PhDs, and initially set up in the UK. But we eventually brought the company to the UAE, thanks to Hub71’s support and the backing we received from the Ministry of Economy and the National CSR Fund - Majra. The support from both the federal government and Hub71 — especially being part of their first climate tech cohort — was instrumental in getting us off the ground,” Bin Redha said.
HyveGeo employs a dual approach combining climate tech and biotech to produce biogenic feedstock from agricultural waste, like palm trees or leaves, by heating it at low oxygen to create engineered biochar.
The biochar can be added to nutrient-poor soil, enhancing its water-holding capacity and allowing it to retain and slowly release water and nutrients, accelerating soil creation from five years to just one month.
Biochar’s environmental benefits include its high porosity, which enables it to lock away carbon dioxide for over 1,000 years. When combined with bioactive compounds, it can help green deserts and transform land for agriculture, he said.
HyveGeo conducted their first soil trials in the UAE this year, demonstrating that with their formula and protocols, plant yields have increased, he added.
“In a typical desert environment, nothing grows, but with our formula and protocols, the plants are taller, bushier, and larger. This is us greening the desert right here, in just under one month,” Bin Redha said.
According to Bin Redha, the urgent global need to remove 10 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2050 inspired their approach.
“We soon realised that our method — biochar — not only addresses carbon removal but also provides a major co-benefit: Enhancing food security and sovereignty," he explained.
HyveGeo's technology has gained significant interest and partnerships, including collaborations with UAE state-owned companies and a Fortune 500 multinational technology company in the US for carbon credits and deliveries.
On the challenges of scaling the startup, Bin Redha said: “There is always a challenge of educating people with the feedstock and telling farmers not to burn that feedstock but actually getting it on. There are ways, there are challenges with funding. This is a thing that needs, you know, requires funding and commitment from partners. So these are the challenges going forward.”
Bin Redha noted that, due to feedstock limitations in desert greening, the country must source it from other nations, highlighting the need for collaboration with governments, sovereign funds, and state-owned companies.
“We overcome the challenges by working with partners and having a successful business model — one that demonstrates three key principles, what we call the Triple P: People, Planet, and Profit."
He highlighted the importance of acknowledging climate change despite widespread scepticism. He advised startups to persist in their development efforts, even if they initially face rejection of the reality of climate change.
“This is a challenging environment. Proving science and technology in the lab is one thing; taking it to scale is another, and getting partners and the world to believe in it is yet another challenge," he said.
"I want to see our desert green, continuing the legacy of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. My goal is to green our deserts, provide clean air, improve the climate, and create sustainable food systems. This will be achieved by removing CO2 and developing green spaces for everyone to enjoy and live in."
