UAE’s Pure Harvest signs MOU with Singapore Food Agency

UAE-based agritech start-up Pure Harvest Smart Farms has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to develop Singapore’s first high-tech hybrid greenhouse tomato farm in Singapore.

The MoU signed by SFA CEO Lim Kok Thai and Pure Harvest CEO Sky Kurtz aims to enhance collaboration in protected agriculture such as Research and Development (R&D) exploration, knowledge exchange and capacity building. The project involves the use of advanced controlled-environment production systems, leveraging technology and innovation to enable year-round production, even in tropical equatorial climates.

Commenting on the collaboration Kurtz said, “The planned hybrid greenhouse project is another critical step in this region’s efforts to safeguard our communities against threats to climate and food security. It is a privilege to take the expertise we have acquired while operating in the harshest climates on earth to Singapore’s market. While the arid deserts of the Arab Gulf and the lush greenery of Southeast Asia may seem a world apart, this region has no less a need for a sustainable means to provide consistent, high-quality, sustainably farmed fresh produce all year round. With the added value of R&D and education partnerships, we hope that this project pushes the boundaries of the agri-tech industry, so that we may provide the Singaporean people with the benefits that innovative controlled-environment agriculture solutions can bring.”

The project will leverage on technical, operational and sustainable farming expertise of Pure Harvest to offer R&D opportunities for local partners. It will also contribute to Singapore’s “30 by 30” food security goal to build the agri-food industry’s capability and capacity to produce 30% of Singapore’s nutritional needs locally and sustainably by 2030.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Pure Harvest as this allows Singapore to raise the local capabilities and capacity to further our “30 by 30” goal. In addition, the partnership in key areas of R&D creates exciting potential career opportunities. This will support us in our push towards strengthening Singapore’s overall food security in a productive, climate-resilient, and sustainable manner,” Thai added.