INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
Kuwait NOX Management opens
first large-scale indoor vertical
farm in Middle East
&Ever Middle East, a joint
venture between Kuwait’s NOX
Management and German
company &ever, in partnership with SAP and
Viessmann, has opened the first commercial
indoor vertical farm in the Middle East.
Kuwait has previously relied on European
and overseas imports for most of their leafy
greens and herbs, and can now locally grow
up to 250 varieties of greens and herbs using
Dryponics technology.
The facility, with approximately 3,000 square
metres growing (or farming) space, has a
daily output capacity of up to 550 kg of
salad, herbs, cresses and uses cutting-edge
vertical farming methods that utilise 90%
less water compared to traditional farming,
60% less fertilizer and zero pesticides.
“Previously, Kuwait’s restaurants imported
all of our greens and herbs, mainly from
Europe,” said Faisal AlMeshal, Director,
Strategy and Business Development, NOX
Management. “Our JV with &ever and the
partnership with SAP and Viessmann on this
indoor farm is enabling the local farming
supply chain to save on costs and logistics,
to minimise waste and to make a better
choice for the planet. Our customers have
enhanced experiences with tastier and
fresher produce.”
This knowledge exchange complements
Germany and Kuwait’s trade ties. Bilateral
trade is €1.3 billion and Germany’s private
sector has invested €14.6 billion in Kuwait,
according to Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.
“Germany and Kuwait – strong partners
in politics but also in business,” said HE
Stefan Möbs, Ambassador of the Federal
Republic of Germany to Kuwait. “I welcome
the innovative business idea of German
company &ever specifically here in Kuwait.
Both countries are seeking new ways in
difficult times. Even better to work together!”
The farm has partnered with Viessmann
Refrigeration Solutions to develop highly
efficient climatised rooms which are used
in its indoor vertical farm. The technology
is 40% more energy-efficient than other
indoor vertical farming systems when it
comes to energy use for climatisation.
&ever built its operating system, &ever
Cloud, using the SAP business technology
platform – SAP HANA in-memory platform
and SAP Cloud Platform. Farmers can
monitor, analyse and adjust hundreds
of data points on plant health, airflow,
light, carbon dioxide levels, humidity and
temperature in real-time.
“Technology is the foundation for
transforming customer experiences in
restaurants and agricultural production
in Kuwait, and for fostering diversified
economic growth and sustainable agriculture
worldwide,” said Andy Froemmel, Managing
Director, SAP Kuwait. “Digitally transforming
Kuwait’s agricultural sector supports New
Kuwait 2035 goals and helps to foster the
local innovation economy and job creation.”
Building on the global deployment
capabilities of its key partners, &ever will
scale its operations quickly and globally.
“Our vision is to bring better tasting greens
with high nutritional value to more and
more people,” said Mark Korzilius, Founder
of &ever.
Dr Henner Schwarz, CEO, &ever, added
that: “We have an interesting pipeline of
opportunities around the globe. We hope
to be able to travel internationally again
soon to get our next farms live as quickly
as possible.” •
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