UAE's Pure Harvest thrives growing food in desert

Pure Harvest, a start-up in the UAE, is successfully growing fresh food in the desert. Their method helps reduce food travel distance, saves water, and strengthens food supply. The Gulf states often struggle to grow crops due to extreme heat and little rainfall. As a result, they rely heavily on imported food, which can be expensive and deteriorate by the time it arrives. Pure Harvest aims to change this by using technology to grow a variety of crops in controlled environments. Sky Kurtz, the CEO, explains that their greenhouses are climate-controlled and use natural sunlight. They also use advanced irrigation techniques to maximize efficiency. The company produces items like berries, tomatoes, and leafy greens, which would typically need to be flown in from other countries. Pure Harvest is expanding its operations beyond the UAE and Saudi Arabia. They plan to set up in Kuwait, Singapore, and Morocco as they look for markets that need more local food production. Kurtz highlights the potential for growth due to climate change, as many regions depend on food imports. The company's greenhouses use significantly less water compared to traditional farming. They recycle water and use natural methods to control pests, avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In Singapore, local rainfall will further reduce water usage. However, Pure Harvest faces challenges. Controlled environment agriculture can be energy-intensive, even though their greenhouses consume less energy than vertical farms. They are also looking for additional funding to support their growth, having raised $287 million so far. Despite these challenges, Kurtz remains optimistic. He believes that with the right investment and energy solutions, food production can happen anywhere, even in the toughest climates.