DRYLANDS FARMS
Key Benefits of Our Climate Smart Agriculture Solutions
Maximum Yield With Minimum Risk
While our farms are capital intensive to build (€200–€450/m²), they also deliver up to 30× more yield per square meter compared to open field farming, and up to 6× more than tunnel farming (which, like open field, produces very little when conditions are unfavorable). By applying climate smart agriculture principles and controlling every aspect of the growing environment, including water and energy supplies, we greatly reduce external risks. This ensures our farms produce crops reliably and consistently, year-round, and remain largely unaffected by outside factors.
Minimum Water Use
Dutch-style glasshouses use up to 95% less water than conventional farming methods, making them a cornerstone of climate smart agriculture. They deliver water with the exact nutrient mix required to each plant while reusing all runoff, ensuring near 100% efficiency. Almost all water provided is absorbed by the plant itself, whether for transpiration or assimilation. In contrast, traditional farming methods lose most irrigation water through soil evaporation before it ever benefits the plant.
Top Quality Fresh Produce
A good yield is critical, but producing fruits and vegetables that taste great is equally important. Through climate smart agriculture practices, we control the growing environment and select the best varietals for each location to guarantee fruits and vegetables with maximum flavour, perfect presentation, and extended shelf life. This approach reduces food waste, enhances nutritional value, and delivers maximum benefit for the consumer.
Making Use of Marginal Land
Pressures on land are a major issue worldwide, especially in Africa, where land often carries deep cultural significance and contributes to the shrinking plot sizes of smallholder farmers. By applying climate smart agriculture, Drylands Farms do not require soil and can be established on land unsuitable for traditional farming or other productive uses, provided climate conditions are favorable. This approach allows us to site farms closer to markets, make efficient use of marginal land, and unlock value from areas that would otherwise remain underutilised.
“Local for Local”
While some of our produce may be exported within the region, our main focus is to serve the local market. By leveraging climate smart agriculture, we strengthen local supply chains, reduce food miles, and ensure that customers receive fresh, high-quality produce within 24 hours of harvesting.
Local Job Creation
While our farms are highly efficient and compact, they are also labour intensive, requiring 20–30 full-time workers per hectare year-round for plant care and harvesting. As part of our commitment to climate smart agriculture, we view this as a net positive, creating a substantial number of stable, well-paying local jobs that support community resilience and sustainable development.
TECHNOLOGY
In order to provide a continuous supply of abundant, affordable, high quality food crops in a way that is least affected by climate change and fits within a pattern of increasing urbanisation, we need to look to technological solutions:
Modern Dutch Glasshouses
Modern glass greenhouses are designed to deliver maximum control over growing conditions, making them a cornerstone of climate smart agriculture. Glass has the highest light transmissivity and can be easily cleaned, ensuring maximum sunlight enters the farm, while structures are built up to 12m high to create a large air buffer that stabilises the climate and reduces sudden changes in growing conditions.
Glass also offers key advantages over plastics: it lasts significantly longer, lowering overall costs and reducing pest pressure. Each time a plastic greenhouse canopy is replaced, pests and diseases can infiltrate and affect future crops, a risk minimised with durable glasshouses. In addition, the stronger structure of a glasshouse supports higher plant density, further boosting yields per square metre and improving efficiency.
On-Site Water Treatment & Recirculation
Water resource management is one of the greatest challenges of our time, intensified by climate change and population growth. As part of our climate smart agriculture approach, we focus on two goals: a) minimising water use through hydroponics and advanced recirculation systems, and b) tapping into abundant water sources such as the ocean, estuaries, and saline groundwater that are not directly used for human consumption and can be treated sustainably on-site.
This ensures our farms remain independent of external conditions and resilient to climate change. Even during prolonged droughts, when groundwater aquifers are not sufficiently replenished, our systems allow water resources to remain abundant, securing reliable production year-round.
Hydroponics
Hydroponic growing systems are a core element of climate smart agriculture, enabling precise control of nutrients while minimising waste. All supplements added to the water stream are absorbed by the plants, as runoff is fully recirculated, re-treated, and fed back. This ensures that close to 100% of the water provided is utilised by the plant, maximising efficiency and sustainability.
Sensors & Computing
Light, temperature, humidity, plant weight, and plant growth sensors are integrated into our advanced climate computer, forming the backbone of our climate smart agriculture systems. This technology continuously optimises climate, fertigation, and irrigation, ensuring maximum efficiency and consistency. It is an invaluable tool for farm managers, allowing head growers to monitor and fine-tune operations remotely, in real time, for reliable year-round production.
Climate Control
Climate control is a critical component of climate smart agriculture, enabling us to create optimal growing conditions regardless of external weather. By regulating temperature, humidity, and airflow, we ensure crops grow in a stable environment with minimal risk from climate variability. This precision allows plants to thrive year-round, delivering consistent yields, higher quality, and greater resource efficiency.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is central to our commitment to climate smart agriculture, ensuring that farms operate sustainably and independently of unstable power grids. By integrating solar generation, battery storage, and efficient backup systems, we provide reliable energy for lighting, climate control, irrigation, and fertigation. This reduces costs, minimises carbon emissions, and allows farm managers and head growers to maintain optimal conditions in real time, supporting consistent year-round production.
On-Site Packing and Cold Storage
Our clients demand top quality, extended shelf life, and a consistent, predictable supply. As part of our climate smart agriculture approach, we package all produce on site (using biodegradable materials) and store it in optimal conditions until delivery. On-site packaging and ‘high care’ capabilities, such as mixed salad packs, further enhance branding opportunities and help differentiate our offering with end-consumers, while ensuring freshness and reducing food waste.
