Red Sea Farms, a KAUST startup, is advancing its saltwater greenhouse technology with a new 21,000 square foot pilot facility at the KAUST Research & Technology Park. Their greenhouse technology allows for growing crops on marginal land, using 90% less freshwater than traditional methods. The system uses saltwater in greenhouse-cooling and climate control, resulting in a lower environmental footprint. Why it matters: This technology addresses critical food and water security challenges in arid regions by enabling local food production with minimal freshwater resources and reduced energy consumption.
KAUST researchers led by Mark Tester are developing new irrigation technology to enable crop production using semi-saline water, aiming to reduce freshwater reliance to 10% in greenhouse systems. The technology is eco-friendly and intends to cut agricultural costs by utilizing seawater, targeting a cost of 10 U.S. cents per cubic meter. A new company named Red Sea Farms is being developed to grow salt-tolerant tomatoes in diluted seawater in a greenhouse cooled with undiluted seawater. Why it matters: This research could significantly reduce pressure on freshwater resources in arid regions and offers a sustainable approach to increase food production using available seawater.
KAUST's Salt Lab, led by Professor Mark Tester, is researching how salt-tolerant plants survive in harsh environments. The lab aims to improve plant yields in suboptimal conditions, focusing on naturally occurring variability in plants to enhance salinity tolerance. With 70% of global water used for agriculture and increasing water scarcity, the research seeks to unlock the potential of seawater for irrigation. Why it matters: Enhancing the salinity tolerance of crops is crucial for addressing food security challenges exacerbated by climate change and the growing global population, particularly in arid regions like the Middle East.
Red Sea Farms, a KAUST spinout specializing in saltwater greenhouse technology, secured $1.9 million in co-investment from the KAUST Innovation Fund and Research Products Development Company (RPDC). Their system uses saltwater to grow crops, reducing freshwater and energy requirements up to tenfold. The investment will enable the company to build a 2,000 square meter saltwater greenhouse on the KAUST campus, with a goal of producing 50 tons of tomatoes annually by 2020. Why it matters: This investment supports sustainable agriculture innovation in the water-scarce Middle East, offering a model for reducing the environmental impact of food production.
Red Sea Farms, a KAUST agriculture technology spinout, placed third at the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) and won $150,000. The startup specializes in saltwater greenhouse technology to reduce the dependence on fresh water for irrigation. Red Sea Farms recently received $1.9 million USD in seed funding from KAUST's Innovation Fund and Research Products Development Company to build a pilot greenhouse. Why it matters: This award and funding will enable Red Sea Farms to scale their production of saltwater tomatoes and address food system sustainability in water-scarce regions.
Red Sea Farms, a Saudi AgTech company based at KAUST, secured a $10 million venture capital investment from Saudi and UAE investors. Their technology enables commercial farming using primarily saltwater, reducing freshwater consumption by 85-90%. The funding will be used to expand operations in Saudi Arabia, building more than six hectares of commercial farming facilities. Why it matters: This investment signals growing interest in sustainable AgTech solutions within the Gulf region to enhance food security and combat supply chain disruptions.
KAUST researchers have developed a passive cooling system that uses solar energy to evaporate water and regenerate salt for reuse, achieving temperatures as low as 3.6 degrees Celsius. The system uses ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) due to its high solubility and low cost. The crystallized salt stores solar energy and can be reused for cooling when needed. Why it matters: This off-grid design offers a sustainable and inexpensive cooling solution for communities in hot regions with limited electricity access, addressing a critical need exacerbated by climate change.
KAUST researchers have discovered that the bacterium Enterobacter sp. SA187, found in desert plants, enhances plant salt tolerance by triggering sulfur metabolism. Salt stress prompts the bacteria to release sulfur metabolites, which then generate the antioxidant glutathione in the plant, protecting it from salt-induced damage. A KAUST startup aims to commercialize SA187 as a probiotic treatment for seeds and crops. Why it matters: This research offers a biotechnological approach to enable saline agriculture, which is crucial for water-scarce regions like Saudi Arabia that rely on energy-intensive desalination.