Pure Harvest Smart Farms makes local fresh produce possible everywhere

🌿 Introducing Pure Harvest Smart Farms, a UAE-based ag-tech start-up contributing to food security by growing fresh fruit and veg in climate-controlled, smart greenhouse farms.

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Who said deserts can't be green?

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• Founded in 2016 by Sky Kurtz, Mahmoud Adi, and Robert Kupstas, Pure Harvest has raised $387 million in total to date, with $180.5 million secured in its last funding round in June 2022.

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💰 Investor lowdown: Their last round included backing from global investors like Metric Capital Partners, IMM Investment Corp and Olayan Group.

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🌵 The Challenge

Importing 85% of food means the MENA region produces more waste and more emissions due to an extended distribution chain.

What if fresh produce could be grown here, not flown here?

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🔬 How you ask? 

Pure Harvest designs, builds and operates high-tech, precision-controlled greenhouses that can replicate a Mediterranean climate anywhere.

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🔑 Key differences

1. They don’t grow in soil, they use hydroponics.

2. Sensors carefully monitor everything, from climate and energy to water and photosynthesis, allowing total control over light, water, and airflow.

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The result? This precision creates an ideal climate, leading to top-tier yields, pesticide-free produce, and the use of beneficial insects for plant health.

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🍓 Beginning in 2018 with only tomatoes, they've since broadened their selection to include capsicums, melons, raspberries, blackberries, an impressive array of over 26 tomato varieties, more than 14 types of greens, and nine different strawberry varieties.

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Pure Harvest’s farms boasts:

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📈 7 times the efficiency of typical desert greenhouses

💧 85% direct water use in food production

🔄 Year-round harvesting

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• They supply retailers such as Carrefour, Spinney’s, and Waitrose, as well as hospitality giants including the Four Seasons and the Hilton Group.

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🔮 Flashforward

In October 2023, the company announced three internationally-proven senior appointments signalling a new phase of strategic growth. GCC and Asian expansion are on the cards.