Pure Energy plans to venture into AI-powered indoor farms by third quarter
By Manila Standard Business – June 13, 2024, 7:55 pm
Pure Energy Holdings Corp., a renewable energy company that invests in providing clean renewable energy and potable water to Filipino communities, plans to venture into artificial intelligence-powered agricultural technology specifically climate-controlled indoor farms.
Pure Energy said it would pursue this initiative as it believes this is the future of agriculture. It plans to start constructing a pilot model for a climate-controlled indoor farm by the third quarter of 2024.
The company said it would source power from its subsidiaries NexGen Energy Corp. and Repower Energy Development Corp. — which operate solar, hydropower, and wind power facilities in Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon and Camarines Sur — to provide 24/7 power for its planned indoor farms. This will enable Pure Energy to run its powerful equipment to produce designer fruits and vegetables.
It said without any consideration for outside weather and pests that contaminate produce, indoor farms can grow sustainable food 24/7, 365 days a year due to climate-controlled temperature indoors.
The AgTec farm can receive continuous power to run its powerful equipment to control temperature indoors — resulting in sweeter, healthier, greener and crispier produce without the ill effects of insecticide and pesticide because of the synergy NexGen has with its sister companies.
“Agriculture is something that is close to Dexter Tiu’s heart, having developed this since he was 6 years old from his grandmother who had a passion for growing plants. This is one of the key reasons why Pure Energy is venturing into this sector,” Pure Energy president Eric Roxas said.
Pure Energy is operating “normal” farms in Tagaytay and Quezon. These farms produce designer fruits such as sweet red-orange jackfruit, aromatic pandan coconuts, yuzu, amalfi lemons and macadamia nuts. These fruits and nuts are produced in microclimate conditions specific to each plant.
“The agricultural sector in the Philippines is one of the major components of the Philippine economy, but it continues to experience adverse impacts from various factors such as climate change.” Roxas said.
“We will be producing designer fruit and vegetables — such as strawberries and dou miao — which we believe have a niche market and strong potential for revenue growth. However, we will not pursue lower-margin vegetables such as lettuces or local tomatoes given there are a dime a dozen greenhouse-grown bitter or sour produce of these everywhere,” he said.
