Key Takeaways
- Olav Scholte identifies Saudi Arabia and the UAE as the strongest markets for horticulture automation, with emerging traction in Oman and Egypt.
- Automation in the region is increasingly driven by quality, consistency, and hygiene—not only labor-cost dynamics.
- TTA-ISO is introducing grafting systems, tomato-harvesting robots, and tissue-culture automation tailored for regional needs.
- Nursery expansion, reforestation initiatives, and local young-plant production are shaping new CEA trends in the Middle East.
- Cold-chain gaps and insufficient training across post-harvest handling create major opportunities for improvement.
Olav Scholte on Market Priorities in the Middle East
During a recent conversation with iGrow News, Olav Scholte, Regional Director Middle East for TTA-ISO, outlined the company’s activities across the Gulf region. He noted that Saudi Arabia has become the company’s most important growth market, supported by early project success and strong interest in automation. The UAE continues to serve as a stable and consistent market.
Scholte also sees emerging opportunities in Oman and Egypt, though he emphasized that Egypt’s low labor costs make automation decisions more complex: “It’s not always that straightforward to invest in automation, but even there we do see some interest.”
Why Automation Matters: Olav Scholte Highlights Quality and Hygiene
Addressing a common perception in the region—that automation is not financially justified—Olav Scholte stressed that the business case extends beyond labor savings.
“It is not always necessary to automate… however, farms are starting to grow in size and consolidation is increasing, so the scale is becoming interesting,” he said.
He highlighted that repetitive tasks such as planting, transplanting, and handling cuttings lead to fatigue and inconsistency: “You lose the speed to work on it, and that goes to the expense of quality.”
He also pointed to hygiene concerns, noting that human handling remains the biggest contamination risk in crops like lettuce and onions. Automated crop handling and harvesting reduce this risk and support more consistent output.
Innovations Introduced by TTA-ISO, as Explained by Olav Scholte
Scholte detailed several technologies the company is bringing to the region:
- Automatic tomato and pepper grafting machines
- A new tomato-harvesting robot, capable of navigating behind vines and evaluating ripeness
- Tissue-culture automation, with relevance for crops such as date palms
- Early-stage work on coral-reef automation, now in pilot phase for Red Sea applications
“These developments are still being optimized,” he said, “but they will be interesting additions for this region.”
Nurseries, Reforestation, and Localized Plant Production
Scholte emphasized a surge in nursery development across the Gulf. These facilities are producing trees, ornamentals, seasonal flowers, and even bamboo species adapted to desert climates. He linked this growth to national greening and reforestation programs.
He also expects a shift toward local young-plant production, reducing reliance on imported seedlings and strengthening regional self-sufficiency.
Cold Chain and Post-Harvest Handling: Gaps and Opportunities
Olav Scholte, together with the Agriculture Council of the Netherlands, conducted a fact-finding mission revealing significant post-harvest challenges. Scholte explained gaps in rural cold-storage capacity, temperature-controlled transport, and worker training.
“Even if there is cold storage or good cold transportation available, because people are not trained very well, they leave the doors open or leave the produce too long outside in the sun,” Scholte said. These issues contribute to significant post-harvest losses.
Government Priorities and Food Security Considerations
Scholte described two major areas of focus among GCC governments:
- Securing food-import channels, ensuring stability in a region dependent on international suppliers.
- Addressing climate-driven risks, such as severe drought in Iran, which could eventually restrict exports and pressure GCC countries to expand local production.
“You cannot grow everything locally,” he said, “but you may need to balance it more than it is now.”
Looking Ahead: Olav Scholte’s View of Indoor Farming in 2035
Asked to envision the sector’s trajectory, Olav Scholte predicted steady progress rather than dramatic transformation. He anticipates:
- Larger-scale farms
- More automation
- Improved water efficiency and reduced waste across supply chains
“I think scale will increase… there will definitely be more automation,” he said. He also hopes the sector will become more resource-efficient, with “less waste of water and less waste of end products” across supply chains.
He anticipates the region will move closer to European and North American standards, though following its own trajectory based on climate, policy, and investment priorities.
