The Franco-Moroccan startup Sand to Green, specialized in transforming degraded lands into arable and sustainable lands through agroforestry and satellite technology, won the DTS 2025 Award in the Green Economy category at the Deep Tech Summit organized by Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir, Morocco.
This prestigious distinction rewards an innovative approach to regenerative agriculture in arid environments. Thanks to its cutting-edge technological platform, Sand to Green models customized agroforestry systems based on environmental data (soil, climate, topography), and offers comprehensive solutions to build, monitor, and profit from large-scale agroecological projects. Balancing respect for traditions and modernity, the company combines ancestral knowledge, satellite monitoring, solar-powered desalination, and circular resource management to address climate challenges and food security.
“This international recognition is a turning point for us. It confirms that Deep Tech can be a powerful lever for restoring ecosystems, combating desertification, and providing sustainable economic prospects for vulnerable territories in cooperation with all local stakeholders. Our ambition is now to accelerate our deployment on a continental scale,” explains Benjamin Rombaut, CEO and co-founder of Sand to Green.
Each project of Sand to Green is part of a co-development logic with local stakeholders: rural communities, farmers, and local institutions are directly involved in decision-making processes. This participatory approach aims to strengthen socio-economic opportunities, promote project ownership by the populations, and ensure their territorial anchoring and sustainability over time. Already active in Morocco, the startup is preparing to extend a new project in the Tan-Tan region and is studying locations in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
The Deep Tech Summit, held for the second consecutive year in Benguerir, has established itself as a major event bringing together researchers, startups, and investors from over 30 nationalities around breakthrough technological advancements. By highlighting innovative solutions like that of Sand to Green, it fosters the emergence of international collaborations, particularly in Africa, and positions Morocco as a key player in Deep Tech on the continent.
Sand to Green is among the startups supported by NextAfrica, the transcontinental acceleration program led by UM6P and STATION F, which supports innovative startups operating between Africa and Europe. Thanks to NextAfrica, Sand to Green can rely on strategic support, high-level mentors, international visibility, and connections with African and European investors. This dynamic provides Sand to Green with enhanced access to scientific resources, impact investors, and a network of agronomic partners across both continents.