Startup of the month: How SMARTKAS’ climate neutral farms provide food security as a service

Food security is defined as the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food to everyone. Food security is also a basic human right. 

However, millions of people globally still suffer from hunger and malnutrition. 

A report from the United Nations reveals that the number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828M in 2021, an increase of about 46M since 2020 and 150M since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to tackle. Fortunately, startups are using technology to help address this issue in innovative ways. 

One of the main challenges of achieving food security is increasing agricultural productivity while minimising the environmental impact.

Many startups now use technology to create sustainable farming practices that improve crop yields, reduce waste, and conserve resources. 

Various practices, such as precision agriculture, and hydroponic and vertical farming are in use to improve the accessibility and affordability of food. 

Globally, hundreds of startups believe only innovative solutions will ensure the world can provide food to 10B people by 2050. 

Based out of Amsterdam, SMARTKAS is one such startup.

Founded in 2020, SMARTKAS is an agtech enterprise founded to solve world hunger. 

As a part of the ‘Startup of the month’ series, we had a chance to interview Dr. David Meszaros, CEO of SMARTKAS, to learn and understand the mission of the startup, the technology used, the business model, among others.  

Founded to fulfil basic human rights: Food

On founding SMARTKAS, Meszaros says, “Prior to establishing SMARTKAS, I have done a lot of projects around sustainability and technology, and it made me realise my passion for precision agriculture: using innovative technologies to grow and provide access to healthy and nutritious food.”

“I started to research how we can develop a system to produce quality food sustainably, using AI and robotics to provide food, as I believe access to food and water should be a basic human right. After years of research and development, SMARTKAS was founded in the Netherlands in 2020.”

Runs unmanned and automated

SMARTKAS utilises AI, robotics, renewable energy and water-neutral systems, and a climate-neutral smart farming process to provide Food Security As A Service.

Throwing light on the process, Meszaros shares, “Our smart farms are placed in a controlled closed environment, which means we can fully manage and control the growing process of our crops. What sets SMARTKAS from its competitors is its ability to be run unmanned and automated.”

“Our AI goes beyond simply creating the perfect environment for one farm. We can collect huge data on our plants and their growth needs and share this knowledge with other SMARTKAS units, no matter where they are.”

At present, SMARTKAS operates smart farms where they cultivate more than 50 types of crops, such as lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, and bell peppers. 

Each of these crops demands distinct growing methods, says Meszaros.

“We are continuously researching the right recipes for new varieties. Monitoring the plants and gathering the data allows us to create the perfect growth recipe, and with these, we can predict growth and yield,” he adds. 

Maintains strict hygiene procedure…

Talking about ensuring the safety and quality of the food produced, Meszaros shares, “At our smart farms, we have set up a very strict hygiene procedure, including protective clothing and disinfecting areas before entering the farm to ensure food safety.”

“Ensuring the farms are up to date with the various health and food safety rules and regulations, compliance is one of the key elements to operate our smart farm successfully,” he adds. 

…And security

As technology advances, so does the sophistication and complexity of cyber threats. 

Speaking of safeguarding against cyberattacks, he says, “SMARTKAS farms work in a closed loop. AI and robotics are not maintained by external parties/factors. We have a solid firewall system and several redundancies. 

“Our business model is not dependent on the commercialisation of the technology, but rather we utilise its features to operate our farms.”

SMARTKAS shaping agriculture’s future

SMARTKAS claims to have carved out a niche between the traditional Westland greenhouse builders (which produces agricultural technologies for a commercial purpose) and pure growers (greenhouse or vertical farm owners). 

The Dutch enterprise is designed to complement and support areas where there is a shortage of agricultural production as well as local farmers finding it difficult to keep up with the demand.

“We are truly water positive, meaning the water is being cleaned in our special irrigation system and circulated. We are also able to co-generate extra water from rain and humidity. CO2 in the closed system is carefully microdosed, so the plants receive the right amount and not more. Because of this innovative solution, no CO2 is released into the atmosphere, and we drastically reduce our carbon footprint,” he adds. 

Business model

SMARTKAS  designs, builds, owns, and operates smart farms. 

“Therefore, we do not sell technologies and farms but establish them for our use. This way, we can ensure high-quality food production. As a result, our revenue model is to sell fruits and vegetables,” says Meszaros.

He also adds that one of their alternative revenue models is “the commercialisation of data and data imaging.”

The Dutch company is also planning to acquire existing greenhouses farms and companies, and modernise them through SMARTKAS technologies.

“We see this as a vital next step for SMARTKAS to get a step closer to our goal of providing food security in every single country,” he adds.

The Amsterdam-based agtech startup is now operational in the Netherlands, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.

In the UK, the company operates a strawberry smart farm built over 12 layers and with over 27,000 sq. m. of growing space in Harlow. In May 2022, it announced a joint venture agreement with Brazil’s Minas Gerais municipality to build and operate smart greenhouses on 65-hectares of land.

“Currently several new projects in and outside of Europe are being secured. While the research and development continue in our R&D facility in the Netherlands for producing new varieties,” he concludes.