It is a remarkable achievement: three months after its official incorporation and registration with the Chamber of Commerce, SMARTKAS, based in Amsterdam, has entered into a joint-venture with the ruling Sheikh of Dubai.
At the end of July, the contract was signed to provide the desert region with greenhouses containing all the high-tech techniques that are currently available. It has to provide the United Arab Emirates with more food security.
Ceremonial signing of the agreement between SMARTKAS and HBK Department of Projects, set up by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan to develop agriculture and horticulture in the UAE
For the next ten years, with the conclusion of this cooperation agreement, SMARTKAS will be active in the UAE, where many hectares of sand will be renamed fertile area for the population there, and will have guarantees for the execution of assignments for the Sheik. The first project will be a 10 hectare greenhouse just outside of Dubai.
As part of the joint venture agreement, SMARTKAS will be allowed to participate and exhibit at the Dubai Expo from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. At this event, the start-up will present the 10-hectare greenhouse. The start-up will, at the Expo, also reveal more about the techniques, including drones, AI and blockchain, that they intend to use in the greenhouse.
Link between Sheikh and technique
SMARTKAS itself is not a greenhouse builder, but a party that brings greenhouse horticulture technology companies together. The company, with Dr. David Meszaros as CEO and founder, is pleased with the collaborations with the majority of the Netherlands' most experienced and innovative greenhouse builders.
They have indicated that they believe in SMARTKAS and are now contracted partners, as well as steel and glass manufacturers, water and energy technology companies and engineers and consultants. "The intention is therefore not to compete with other parties, but to enter into cooperation," said Meszaros.
It is the CEO's vision to make fresh water and food a human right. "You can only achieve this together. Our solution is an AI-controlled, drone & robotics-assisted, fully automated and unmanned construction, which can be installed anywhere in the world without the use of external water sources, electricity or chemical crop protection."
Seller and business developer Maarten van Eck adds: "What we do is bringing together the best techniques available, where we act as a link between the Sheik and the greenhouse horticulture technology companies and we always will manage the projects ourselves."
Maarten is one of the seventy people who are already committed to the young company, often still pro bono, he emphasizes. Maarten has been involved with the start-up from day one. "Everyone who joins does so because they really believe in this project."
Become a household name in the market
The joint-venture with Dubai also gives SMARTKAS access to the Dubai Port World, one of the largest container terminal operators in the world.
The next step for the company now is to join this supply chain. "This way we can offer our solution to more than a hundred countries worldwide", Meszaros is looking ahead. "By entering into contracts with market parties, purchase orders, joint ventures and project finance agreements, our global operations are secured for the next decade. Profits will continue to increase and we hope to become a household name in the agricultural and horticultural supply chain."
Partners
Among the partners of SMARTKAS are the well-known greenhouse horticulture players (in no particular order) Priva, Codema, Signify, Van der Hoeven, Cogas, KUBO, Ridder, Certhon, Gakon, Crux Robotics, Bom Group, KG & Corvus Drones.
In addition to these Dutch partners, there are also international partners and more partners will be added in the future. "Only together can we provide an answer to the demand for water and food."
For more information:
SMARTKAS
www.smartkas.com