Australis Capital Inc., also known as Audacious, said that its majority-owned subsidiary ALPS has entered into an agreement with Pure Harvest Smart Farms to develop a 1,000,000+ square foot, high-tech, fully integrated facility to achieve year-round cultivation of high-quality, fresh fruits and vegetables in Kuwait.
The new facility follows a recent partnership between Pure Harvest, a pioneer in controlled-environment agriculture in the Middle East, and The Sultan Centre (TSC), the largest independent and publicly traded retailer in the region, serving millions of customers across Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and Bahrain and others
It is aimed at reducing TSC’s reliance on imports and improving its environmental footprint in a country that does not have a climate suitable for sustainable outdoor cultivation of many types of fruit and vegetables.
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ALPS, which specializes in designing facilities that deliver the highest possible quality and return on investment (ROI), said it has developed significant know-how about agricultural technology (AgTech) systems integration and operational optimization through its end-to-end involvement in projects, from pre-planning, through design, to post-commissioning optimization services.
“Through our deep experience in delivering and operating environmentally controlled facilities across the entire global spectrum of climates, while delivering a high ROI, we are able to meet these challenges,” ALPS president Thomas Larssen said in a statement.
“We are very proud to be selected by Pure Harvest, a fast-growing technology-enabled agribusiness focused on the MENASA region (Middle East, North Africa, and South East Asia), and we expect to collaborate on other projects in the near future.”
The companies said they planned to design and deliver a growing solution that utilizes the abundant sunlight in Kuwait while at the same time being economical with scarce resources, including water and medium.
“ALPS's capabilities complement our own perfectly, and they have a long, successful track record supporting clients to design and deliver high-tech, integrated production facilities,” Pure Harvest CEO and founder Sky Kurtz said.
“Through this partnership, TSC and Pure Harvest will deliver enhanced food safety, water conservation, economic diversification and sustainability within Kuwait and the MENASA region.”
Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com