Revolutionizing Agriculture in the Kingdom

Successful agro-tech start-up Red Sea Farms focuses on commercial upscaling

After a stellar year in which it placed third in the 2019 Global Entrepreneurship World Cup and secured $1.9 million in seed funding, KAUST spin-out Red Sea Farms is expanding its commercial operations. The company has developed ground-breaking technology that allows it to grow saltwater-tolerant crops in greenhouses cooled by saltwater. This system reduces freshwater consumption by 80-95% and uses two to six times less energy than a normal mechanically cooled greenhouse. In Saudi Arabia and other water-scarce regions where arable land is limited, the technology pioneered by Red Sea Farms is revolutionizing agriculture and providing solutions to food scarcity challenges in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

In November 2020, Red Sea Farms broke ground on construction of its 2,000-sq-meter saltwater greenhouse pilot project located on the KAUST campus. The facility is a collaborative effort between KAUST and Research Products Development Company, the national center for technology development and commercialization in Saudi Arabia. Located in KAUST’s Research and Technology Park (KRTP), the pilot facility is just the first

TAMIMI MARKETS

“Red Sea Farms, with its innovative technology and sustainable practices, helps Saudi Arabia be less reliant on produce imports. Tamimi Markets are happy to be partnering with Red Sea Farms and to work together towards our mission of food security.”

MARK TESTER Co-founder of Red Sea Farms

WATER IS SO IMPORTANT, AND IN SAUDI ARABIA WATER IS COSTLY AND ENERGY INTENSIVE. THE ABILITY TO USE SALTWATER IN NEW WAYS IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABILITY.

of many plans Red Sea Farms is readying to implement across the Kingdom and further afield. A designated R&D hub for all agriculture-related fields at the university, KRTP provides the ideal environment for Red Sea Farms and agro-tech start-ups to thrive. The 2.7-million-sq-meter space gives technology-based businesses access to KAUST laboratories, faculty and student talent, along with a network of public spaces and facilities designed for creative collision and knowledge-sharing. The park also fosters links between KAUST and industry, as well as among the network of tenants, start-ups and service providers located there.

Also in November 2020, Red Sea Farms won the UAE FoodTech Challenge, a global food security competition that seeks innovative agriculture technology solutions.

After starting with cherry tomatoes, Red Sea Farms now sells 10 different organic crops in local supermarkets, including cucumbers, hot peppers, lettuce and celery. The company’s next phase is to expand further into Saudi and international markets, and partner with local farms to feed growing urban populations. The company’s commercial success illustrates the potential to take KAUST research and innovation from the lab into the market place to deliver high-quality products that are both environmentally sustainable and profitable.