STEP.ag enters the controlled environment agriculture sector. This company offers horticultural consultancy services based on data-driven insight, and is specialized in mid-tech, high-tech and semi-closed greenhouses, as well as vertical farms tailored for niche crops. "We focus on sustainability by using mother nature's resources, relying on data – driven practices to enhance objectivity and repeatability, using controlled-environment practices and equipment and focusing on profitability for each individual project. Our primary goal is to produce more, ensuring high-quality and nutritional value, while utilizing fewer resources through using data-driven growing practices. Based on our experience, achieving this is feasible through our step-by-step approach," says the STEP.ag management team.
A focus on the Middle East, Latin-America, Southern Europe, and Asia
According to the company, their services are applicable to all vegetables, soft fruits, ornamentals, pot plants & cut flower crops. The company mainly focuses on the Middle East, Latin America, Southern Europe and Asia. The management team explains why: "The Middle East has a huge potential to develop CEA facilities to grow food under harsh conditions. Latin America is important for Step because it is still a virgin market in terms of high-tech adoption. Southern Europe is a significant market as it has huge potential for elevating the level of tech using advanced growing strategies. Finally, Asia is a continent with significant potential for vertical farming due to urbanization."
A step-by-step approach and a diverse team
When asked what makes their company stand out, the Step.ag team answers the following: "Our unique selling proposition is rooted in our innovative approach. We leverage our extensive experience in controlled environment projects worldwide, seamlessly integrating it with data-driven insights to enhance our support. At Step, we have a step-by-step approach: we begin every project with a comprehensive plan aligned with the customer's goals. This plan serves as our guiding star, allowing us to stay on course while making necessary adjustments based on the evolving needs of the plants."
According to the team, the company's latest project, that was completed a month ago in the Middle East, exemplifies this approach: "By leveraging plant power alongside our knowledge, we managed to double production compared to previous years. Additionally, waste due to packing or decreased quality was kept under 7%. This achievement is particularly notable given the region's harsh environmental conditions."
At Step.ag, they think that their team, which consists of experts from diverse fields, is another strength: "It allows us to blend practical experience with scientific knowledge, effectively merging intuition with data. We are passionate about controlled environment agriculture, with a focus on plant physiology and greenhouse technology. The Step.ag experts have successfully led various projects, including those involving leafy greens, vegetables, and cannabis crops, across the Middle East, South & North America, Asia, and Europe. We have worked on projects ranging from low-tech setups to state-of-the-art semi-closed greenhouses, consistently accelerating the return on investment."
Adaptation
The Step.ag team also shares some of their thoughts concerning the future development of the CEA industry. They highlight the importance of being able to adapt to the ever-changing market developments, saying: "The market must be able to adapt to the evolving needs and challenges it faces. For instance, rising electricity and gas prices in Europe have prompted the adoption of LED lighting, while it significantly reduced energy consumption. We have to create different ways of growing with a lower energy input and hence lower plant transpiration rates. In the Middle East, they are confronted with water scarcity. Moreover, global issues like the tomato virus illustrate the need for staying abreast of the latest technologies to optimize operations."
For more information:
Step.ag
[email protected]
+971 522239839
www.step.ag