Abu Dhabi: RedSea, a cutting-edge AgTech company, announced the commissioning and commencement of operations at its award-winning greenhouse facility. RedSea’s ground-breaking technology enables commercial farming in hot settings. The technology housed in the brand-new Abu Dhabi facility, a first for the UAE, will aid in the diversification of food product sources and the growth of the agri-food industries in the area.
The commissioning is a first look for UAE audiences at RedSea’s cutting-edge, sustainable agricultural technologies. The one-hectare showcase facility is set to supercharge wider adoption of the technologies in the UAE for the benefit of local growers and significantly impact Abu Dhabi’s agricultural ecosystem. The project received HSBC’s Living Business award for innovative water management and efficiency.
RedSea’s focus on resource and food scarcity supports the UAE’s ‘National Food Security Strategy’ to promote food security with advanced agricultural technology. With climate change and increasing global food shortages, the UAE and the Middle East are leading the way in addressing these huge issues ahead of COP 28.
Dr. Ryan Lefers, Chief Executive Officer of RedSea, stated that, “We are delighted for UAE audiences to have their first glimpse of our award-winning technology, which is transforming global controlled environment agriculture and open-field farming. There is a clear path for local growers to use this technology to generate higher production yields, operate more sustainably and be more profitable.”
RedSea’s facility directly compares, side-by-side, its roots to roof technologies with technologies currently used in the GCC. RedSea’s technologies include iyris heat-blocking low-cost roofing, a climate-controlled recirculating deep water culture system for the growth of berries, and a saltwater evaporative cooling system functioning without desalination. RedSea’s climate-adapted IoT sensors – which allow remote monitoring and greenhouse management – will serve as the management system.
The greenhouse facility is powered by 2,000m2 of elevated solar panels functioning as agrivoltaics, with protected crops grown under the panels and heat-blocking net – showcasing the full capability of RedSea’s sustainable technologies.
RedSea is also demonstrating its resilient genetics, which enables salt, heat, and drought-tolerant crops of better quality and increase yields. The facility will showcase RedSea’s saltwater irrigated fodder plot – a ground-breaking use of salty brine for irrigation of fodder for livestock feed.