Nongshim headquarters. (Photo=Nongshim)

 

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Minyoung] Nongshim is set to establish a "Korean-style smart farm" in Saudi Arabia for the production of tomatoes and various vegetables. This development marks a significant milestone in Nongshim's 30-year journey into smart farming, positioning the company as a global food tech leader.

On the 23rd, Nongshim announced a partnership with the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency and three consortium member companies under the "Smart Farm Export Activation Project" (establishing and operating a pilot greenhouse in Saudi Arabia). By the end of next year, Nongshim plans to build and operate smart farm facilities on a 4,000-square-meter site near Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The smart farm will feature a combination of vertical farming and glass greenhouse models. The vertical farm will produce leafy vegetables such as frilled ice lettuce and kale, while the glass greenhouse will cultivate cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers. To cater to the Middle Eastern preference for sweeter flavors, the farm will focus on producing varieties of leafy greens with less bitterness and fruits with higher sweetness. Products from the farm will initially be distributed through local partner networks in Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand to local retail stores like Carrefour and Lulu Hypermarket, as well as e-commerce platforms like Amazon.

 

 

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