{"id":7802,"date":"2024-12-03T12:05:47","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T10:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jiffygroup.com\/news\/how-jiffy-pots-support-growing-leafy-greens-in-the-uae\/"},"modified":"2024-12-04T13:03:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T11:03:10","slug":"how-jiffy-pots-support-growing-leafy-greens-in-the-uae","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jiffygroup.com\/pt\/solucoes\/how-jiffy-pots-support-growing-leafy-greens-in-the-uae\/","title":{"rendered":"How Jiffy Pots Support Growing Leafy Greens in the UAE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is crucial in regions like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where hot weather and limited water resources make traditional farming difficult. Here, Yazan Abu Jaish, Chief Operating Officer and partner at Armela Farms in Dubai, and Marc de Bruin, Regional Sales Manager at Jiffy, discuss how growers can successfully produce leafy greens in the UAE <\/strong>thanks to Jiffy Pots<\/strong> and other Jiffy solutions.<\/p>\n

How can growers address the challenges of the UAE's harsh climate?<\/h2>\n

Marc de Bruin: At Jiffy, we've seen that growers can cope with the challenges of harsh climates by using highly efficient agricultural systems and reliable products.<\/p>\n

Yazan Abu Jaish: Armela Farms\u2019 leafy greens operation relies on a fully automated setup and 100% water recycling, saving 93% more water than traditional farming. Jiffy Pots and Substrates fit seamlessly into this model.<\/p>\n

How does automation enhance Armela's leafy green facility?<\/h2>\n

Yazan: Automation is a cornerstone of the facility's model, which is powered by intelligent algorithms and guided by data. It oversees every step of the climate-controlled production process, from seeding to harvesting, and even post-harvest processing like washing and packaging. This precision allows us to plant 20,000 seeds and harvest 20,000 heads of lettuce daily.<\/p>\n

When did Armela and Jiffy start working together?<\/h2>\n

Yazan: We began working with Jiffy in 2020, during the planning phase of our leafy green operation. Their team, including Marc, helped us select the right Jiffy Pots and Substrate for our climate and production needs. This level of expertise saved us significant time and resources: We were fully operational within just a few months, without an initial trial phase.<\/p>\n

Marc: Tailoring solutions for specific challenges is one of Jiffy\u2019s strengths. Our discussions with Armela included fine-tuning substrate properties like aeration, water retention, and nutrient balance.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of Jiffy products for CEA operations?<\/h2>\n

Marc: Jiffy Substrates and Pots offer several advantages for high-tech growers. They ensure high germination rates\u2014around 95 to 98%\u2014and provide excellent root support, which is critical for short-cycle crops like lettuce. With Jiffy\u2019s products, operations like Armela achieve harvest-ready heads in just 40\u201350 days, saving about ten days compared to other growing methods.<\/p>\n

Yazan: Jiffy\u2019s solutions also allow us to grow pesticide-free. The premium substrate, combined with biological pest control from Koppert and advanced filtration systems, keeps our crops healthy without the need for chemical inputs. Jiffy recently began adding beneficial microorganisms like Trichoderma to support plant health even more.<\/p>\n

In addition, they contribute to our zero-waste system, as all used pots and substrate residues are composted and reused in our other farming operations. Every day, we process about 600 kilograms of leftover pots and substrate from the leafy green operation into compost, which is then used in our low- and mid-tech farms.<\/p>\n

Are there other ways Jiffy products contribute to your sustainability efforts?<\/h2>\n

Yazan: We've found that Jiffy's products also help our efforts around sustainability by minimizing particles in irrigation lines. This is essential to maintaining the efficiency of our water recycling system.<\/p>\n

Marc: That\u2019s right, we designed an end-to-end system for Armela which includes pots that reduce debris in the water system. We know from experience working with other customers that these small adjustments can make a big difference in the long-term efficiency and sustainability of CEA systems.<\/p>\n

Has Armela faced any logistical challenges?<\/h2>\n

Yazan: Logistics are always a challenge, it seems! Jiffy\u2019s products are essential to our operation, so we sometimes purchase six months\u2019 worth of stock in advance to avoid any supply chain issues. Storage can be tricky, but having at least two months of supply on hand is non-negotiable for us.<\/p>\n

How has the partnership with Jiffy impacted your market performance?<\/h2>\n

Yazan: Thanks to the partnership, we're achieving excellent performance, including yields of 110 kilograms per square meter annually. This productivity, coupled with year-round supply, has allowed us to rapidly increase our market share. Our clients can now rely on our local produce instead of imports, thanks to our reliability in terms of quantity, quality, and cleanliness.<\/p>\n

How do certifications and food safety influence leafy green operations like Armela?<\/h2>\n

Marc: Big produce clients like fast food chains often require extensive certifications for audit purposes. All our production locations\u2014including those for Jiffy Pots<\/a> and Substrates\u2014are ISO 20000 food safety certified, proving we meet the stringent requirements of independent certifiers.<\/p>\n

Yazan: It's true: Jiffy's certifications and food safety record have been invaluable in building trust with our new clients and growing our market share.<\/p>\n

What are your plans for 2025?<\/h2>\n

Yazan: Our produce is consistently sold out, so we\u2019re planning to expand in 2025. We'll be building two new CEA facilities, one here in the UAE and one in Saudi Arabia. These will significantly increase our capacity, with the Saudi facility expected to harvest 10 tons per day.<\/p>\n

Beyond expanding our production facilities, we\u2019re continually testing innovations to enhance plant health and yields. As producers with deep agronomy expertise, we\u2019re always looking for ways to optimize our systems and deliver even better produce.<\/p>\n

Marc: Jiffy is excited to support Armela\u2019s growth. Our upcoming visit in 2025 will help us explore new opportunities for collaboration and ensure our solutions continue to meet their evolving needs.<\/p>\n

Conclusion: Unlocking the potential of CEA and customized growing solutions<\/h2>\n

Thank you, Yazan and Marc! Armela Farms<\/a>\u2019 partnership with Jiffy clearly exemplifies the potential of combining advanced CEA technology with customized growing solutions. Together, they\u2019re overcoming the challenges of growing leafy greens in the UAE. With expansion on the horizon, Armela\u2019s success highlights the critical role of tailored solutions like Jiffy products<\/a> in shaping the future of CEA.<\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s work together<\/h2>\n

Jiffy is a leading global supplier of premium growing media and solution thinking. We aim to serve you, our customers in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer worries. We do this by continually improving, innovating, and working toward our common goals, based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. Let\u2019s develop sustainable<\/a> plant growing solutions together: Let\u2019s start today!<\/p>\n