Latest news with #PureHarvest
Fast Company
27-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
This vertical farming startup is bringing fresh produce—and international competitors—to the Dubai desert
When Sky Kurtz set out to grow produce in the desert via vertical farming in 2016, laying the groundwork for what became Dubai-based ag-tech startup Pure Harvest Smart Farms, 'People thought we were crazy,' he says. 'I was fearful, I would never get off the ground.' But Kurtz's came at a time when the UAE was beginning to take the idea seriously and companies like Pure Harvest began cropping up. Over the past nine years, though, Pure Harvest Farms has become one of the sector's biggest players. It has raised more than $450 million in funding, according to market analysis company PitchBook, and grows an array of crops that includes tomatoes, green vegetables, and berries in temperature-controlled facilities. With farms strategically located throughout the UAE, the company boasts the capacity to produce over 12 million kilograms of crops annually. Despite the competition, Pure Harvest has distinguished itself as the dominant player in the country's indoor farming sector. Unlike other ag-tech companies which were designed for temperate climates, Pure Harvest developed technologies specifically built to withstand the harsh climates of the Middle East. Unlike other ag-tech companies that focus on niche produce and cater to premium markets, Pure Harvest sells a wide range of produce and supplies to major supermarket chains across the country. by 2026 whereas AeroFarms launched the world's largest indoor vertical farm in Abu Dhabi in 2023. The final deadline for Fast Company's Brands That Matter Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Zawya
25-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Pure Harvest & PlanTFarm launch pioneering integrated smart farm in Al Ain
Al Ain, UAE – Pure Harvest Smart Farms (Pure Harvest), the region's leading technology-enabled agribusiness, and PlanTFarm, one of Korea's leading smart farming solutions providers, are proud to announce the official opening of the redeveloped Al Ain farm, which will serve as a pioneering, multi-use, and high-tech controlled environment agriculture (CEA) farming facility. The partnership and development, announced in December 2023, leverages cutting-edge AI-powered technology to bring consumers a new range of fresh, highquality products that will be split between innovative branded consumer produce, and a pioneering resource-efficient animal fodder initiative. Innovative Approach to Animal Fodder Production One of the most significant advancements introduced by this collaboration is a commercial-scale pilot of resource-efficient animal fodder production. The Gulf region relies heavily on imported animal feed, but the new smart farm utilises PlanTFarm's state-of-the-art technology to produce fresh, nutritious fodder using 95% less water per kilogram compared to traditional farming methods. This collaboration, which is co-located within a hotspot of livestock farms in the area, will not only reduce the UAE's extreme dependency on imported feeds, but also provide a costeffective and sustainable alternative for local farmers. If the agronomics prove to be sustainable, Pure Harvest plans to scale up the solution and to offer co-located, integrated fresh feed supply across the region. Novel Branded Consumer Produce Offerings The hybrid farming technology across this site is equally setup to enable the propagation, production and cultivation of an exciting new range of Pure Harvest premium Korean strawberries, renowned for their pure taste and natural sweetness. Traditionally grown in colder climates, these sought-after strawberries can now be produced in the UAE, forever 'in season', thanks to this innovative growing solution for strawberries. To maximise the full potential of this remarkable site, Pure Harvest is also introducing crispy, homegrown leafy greens, available all year round, ensuring a steady supply of fresh, locally grown produce. At the opening ceremony, which took place onsite on Thursday, February 20th, CEO and Founder of Pure Harvest, Sky Kurtz said: 'I'm delighted to see this ambitious, first-of-its-kind collaboration between Pure Harvest and PlanTFarm come to fruition. We pride ourselves on choosing the 'right tool for the job', and PlanTFarm's innovative growing solution makes new and innovative Korean strawberries, water-efficient animal feed, and plant propagation R&D possible – all under one roof. We believe that embedding vertical farms within a high-tech greenhouse 'campus' enables us to capture the significant production advantages this solution provides, while mitigating its economic disadvantages – resulting in a compelling, economic, and sustainable integrated farming solution.' 'I want to thank our highly capable Korean partners in PlanTFarm for their collaboration and support to realise this innovative smart farming solution. From pioneering pilots to cultivating the most incredible strawberries you can eat – this farm represents another proud milestone in our journey towards delivering the highest-quality, most nutritious, and most resilient food production in impossible climates that need it most.' About Pure Harvest Smart Farms Pure Harvest Smart Farms is a mission-driven technology-enabled agribusiness headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, focused on year-round, sustainable production of premium-quality fresh fruits & vegetables. As innovators of the Middle East's first commercial-scale, semi-automated high-tech hybrid growing system, Pure Harvest leverages innovative growing technologies & horticultural best practices to enable local-forlocal production of affordable, sustainably grown, clean fresh produce anywhere. Pure Harvest is pioneering controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) in the MEASA region, harnessing technology to tackle some of the region's biggest problems, including food security, water conservation, economic diversification, and sustainability needs. About PlanTFarm PlanTFarm is the leading indoor vertical farming solutions provider headquartered in Korea. PlanTFarm designs, builds, and operates proprietary indoor vertical smart farms and has developed more than 50 indoor vertical smart farms throughout Korea including the largest smart farm in Korea, the world first Metro Farms in five Seoul subway stations, and small & large-scale vertical farms in major hypermarkets and F&B restaurants. PlanTFarm has proven profitability in vertical farming solutions that can grow and harvest over 100 different crops with maximized productivity. With its container farms in operation to provide fresh greens for Korean researchers in Antarctica and the first overseas vertical farm is under construction in Kuwait, PlanTFarm has been actively expanding into new geographies by partnering with local companies, investors, and governments.
