Key Takeaways
- Pure Harvest Smart Farms and PlanTFarm have officially opened a multi-use controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facility in Al Ain, UAE.
- The facility features a pilot for resource-efficient animal fodder production, reducing water use by 95% compared to traditional methods.
- The farm will also introduce premium Korean strawberries and homegrown leafy greens, produced year-round in the UAE.
- The partnership combines AI-powered farming technology with sustainable agricultural solutions to address food and fodder security challenges in the region.
- If successful, Pure Harvest plans to scale up the fodder initiative and integrate it into more livestock farming hubs across the UAE.
Pure Harvest & PlanTFarm: Advancing Smart Farming in the UAE
A New Model for Controlled Environment Agriculture
Pure Harvest Smart Farms, a leading technology-driven agribusiness in the Middle East, and PlanTFarm, a top Korean smart farming solutions provider, have launched a high-tech farming facility in Al Ain, UAE. The facility represents a first-of-its-kind approach to integrating CEA technology for both fresh produce and animal feed production.
Originally announced in December 2023, this collaboration leverages AI-driven climate control, precision irrigation, and data analytics to maximize productivity and resource efficiency.
At the official opening ceremony on February 20, Sky Kurtz, CEO and Founder of Pure Harvest, described the project as an innovative step forward in sustainable agriculture: “This ambitious collaboration enables us to cultivate premium Korean strawberries, produce water-efficient animal feed, and conduct plant propagation research—all under one roof.”
Pioneering Water-Efficient Animal Fodder Production
Reducing Dependence on Imported Feed
One of the key innovations at the new farm is a commercial-scale pilot for resource-efficient animal fodder production. The Gulf region is heavily dependent on imported livestock feed, but this new system, powered by PlanTFarm’s smart farming technology, allows for:
✅ 95% less water usage per kilogram of fodder compared to conventional farming.
✅ Fresh, locally produced feed for livestock farms in the region.
✅ Lower costs and increased sustainability for UAE farmers.
The pilot project is strategically located within a major livestock farming hub, ensuring direct access to local farmers. If successful, Pure Harvest plans to scale up production, offering an integrated fresh feed supply system across the UAE and beyond.
“If the agronomics prove viable, we aim to expand this model to provide farmers with a sustainable, locally-grown alternative to imported feed,” said Kurtz.
Expanding Consumer Produce with Premium Korean Strawberries
Year-Round Strawberry Production in the UAE
Alongside animal fodder production, the facility is also set to revolutionize premium fruit cultivation in the region. The farm will produce high-quality Korean strawberries, a variety traditionally grown in cooler climates, now made possible in the UAE through:
- Advanced climate-controlled greenhouses that maintain optimal growing conditions.
- Innovative propagation and cultivation techniques to ensure consistent quality and supply.
This new approach allows Korean strawberries to be grown locally and available year-round, reducing reliance on imports while delivering fresh, premium-quality fruit to consumers.
Additionally, the farm will expand its product range to include crispy, homegrown leafy greens, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce throughout the year.
“This farm represents another milestone in our journey to produce the highest-quality, most resilient food in challenging climates,” said Kurtz.
Pure Harvest & PlanTFarm: A New Model for Sustainable Smart Farming
Integrating PlanTFarm’s Vertical Farming and Pure Harvest’s High-Tech Greenhouses
The Al Ain facility integrates PlanTFarm’s vertical farming technology within Pure Harvest’s greenhouse system, creating a hybrid CEA model that maximizes production advantages while reducing economic challenges.
“By embedding vertical farms within a high-tech greenhouse ‘campus,’ we capture the benefits of this system while ensuring economic viability,” Kurtz explained.
The collaboration between Pure Harvest and PlanTFarm aligns with broader food security goals in the UAE, leveraging precision agriculture and sustainable production techniques to:
- Reduce dependence on imports for both fresh produce and animal feed.
- Optimize resource use, particularly water, in an arid climate.
- Enhance food resilience in the Middle East through innovative agricultural practices.
“We are grateful to our Korean partners at PlanTFarm for making this collaboration possible. From pioneering water-efficient fodder to cultivating premium strawberries, this farm is a testament to what smart farming can achieve,” said Kurtz.
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