A platform for sustainable agriculture in hot climates

The company’s crop covering lets in light but keeps out heat

Spotted: Food insecurity is a serious problem. According to a joint report published by the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization, up to 2.3 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2021. Climate change is complicating this picture, speeding up desertification and causing more frequent severe weather events. Agriculture will need to adapt to hotter environments and harsher weather. This is the challenge being tackled by agricultural tech company RedSea.

RedSea has developed a complete system aimed at helping farmers grow food in adverse conditions. This includes greenhouse technologies designed to keep plants cool in hot climates. The platform incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), solar power, and desalination technologies in order to save on energy and water use.

The company has also developed a covering, called Iyris SecondSky, which lets in light while keeping out heat. It can be installed in place of traditional crop coverings, like greenhouse roofing.

RedSea is still in the early stages of commercialisation and has recently received a $2.5 million (around €2.3 million) green term loan from HSBC to support the construction of a showcase greenhouse in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that will produce vine crops and berries.

Simon Bryant, RedSea’s Chief Financial Officer, explains: “The aim of RedSea is to feed the world sustainably. It is not enough for us to just build greenhouses and operate them ourselves. We have to get these technologies into the hands of other growers.”

Springwise has spotted other technology aimed at helping agriculture tackle the difficulties of growing food in hot climates. Recent innovations include a system that makes plants more resilient to drought and a patch that can monitor crop stress in the field.

Written By: Lisa Magloff