Derya Baran and the need for breakthrough technology in Agri-Tech.

Q: As one of the most innovative companies in the region, please tell us more about Red Sea Farm’s operations and plans for the next decade. 

A: Red Sea Farms is expanding rapidly, and our global expansion has been accelerated based on the tech performance exceeding expectations. In the region, our fresh produce business has been accelerated with strategic investment and partners, such as The Red Sea Development Company where we are building a facility to help develop sustainable food supply for the resorts. In KSA we expect to have over 30 ha under CEA cultivation by the end of this year. We are currently selling premium snack produce (our best-selling snack tomatoes, snack cucumbers, and uniquely sweet snack peppers) at over 20 supermarket locations across KSA. Our technology is crop agnostic, and we have multiple crops in development such as quinoa, berries, and leafy greens.

While we have faced challenges along the way, when things don’t work out as expected, we adapt, innovate, and overcome. It’s part of our DNA as a company passionate about using technology to help feed the world sustainably. We enjoy stepping up to tackle complex problems.

In terms of investor support, we are fortunate to have attracted a like-minded collective of investors. For Red Sea Farms, our purpose is our guiding principle, and it is very attractive to investors. 

Additionally, our partnership with KAUST has been significant since the beginning. They have provided us with world-class facilities to develop our technology and encouraged cross-disciplinary collaboration which eventually led to the founding of Red Sea Farms. Their support has been invaluable.

Q: Given the current economic climate and the debates that we see around us, what are you seeing in terms of demand for food that is grown locally as well as sustainably?  

A: In Saudi Arabia alone, over 80% of the food is imported. Global supply chain disruptions from the pandemic have magnified food security as an issue in many countries, and the need to grow locally has never been more apparent. Pair that with changing consumer behaviors–people wanting to buy more healthy, fresh food locally–it’s clear why the demand for local fresh produce is on the rise.

Q: Please tell us what you feel would be the one positive change that could be implemented at an industry level to raise the global standard on sustainability and carbon neutrality, taking the industry to the next level?

A: While there isn’t one single industry standard and measurement for things like carbon neutrality, AgTech companies should take care to consider a balance between idealism and practicality. Sustainable solutions for agriculture must not only consider environmental footprint but also commercial viability to be truly sustainable. Also, there are many AgTech companies taking different approaches to long-term sustainability, with most focusing on one constituent of an issue. In terms of industry change, we would expect to see consolidation in the industry, if businesses are to really tackle the underlying reasons for deploying AgTech solutions.

Q: Where do you see Red Sea Farms in relation to the Food-Water-Energy nexus? Do you feel that given the aridity of the Middle East that the concept can be replicated across the whole region and even into places like Africa to perhaps help solve the food crisis facing the region, particularly after the pandemic?  

A: Red Sea Farms is breaking the Food-Water-Energy nexus. Our technology is designed for harsh environments and can be used in other water-scarce regions facing similar growing challenges to the Middle East including excess heat, excess humidity, lack of freshwater, issues with product consistency and quality, as well as pests and pathogens. Saudi Arabia was the perfect testing ground for the technology which will be deployed globally starting in Q4 of this year. We already have our first UAE and US deployment projects underway with Silal and the University of Arizona respectively. Additionally, Southeast Asia, other countries in North America, and other countries in MENA with similar climates are on our radar for the next steps in our global expansion. 

Q: How did you get involved in sustainable farming and then further develop Red Sea Farms? 

A: I think the true answer to this question has been since I was a child. I grew up in a small village area called ‘Cappadocia’ in Turkey and my family used to have land for farming. We used to grow several vegetables as the soil was so fertile; tomatoes, melon, sugar beet, potatoes, grapes etc. It was locally sourced and I didn't even know what a supermarket was as we produced what we needed and it was sustained until we moved to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Back then, farming was not done much-using technology and my family always wanted me to become an agricultural engineer. Perhaps the chemistry and engineering side was more interesting to me that I studied Material Science and Engineering later on. We crossed paths with Red Sea Farms when I became a faculty and also was a co-founder of another startup focusing on the energy need, which then became one big family under the Red Sea Farms umbrella, serving the bigger good of feeding people sustainably.

Q: Please tell us about your favorite city and book of all time and why?

A: I will be biased here and say ‘Istanbul’. It is a magical city merging two continents and also several cultures. It has an old history, inspired so many great names in history, serves amazing food with a taste and a view of Bosphorus, been a port and transition city for centuries. One of my favorite books is ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell. It is a very relatable story through animals' metaphors and dreams for a free, equal and happy world and how real life is and why.