Safwa officials with the award
Doha: Fardan Fahad Alfardan Founder and General Manager of Safwa, a subsidiary of Alfardan Group was awarded the FBN International NxG Lombard Odier award during the Family Business Network’s (FBN) 31st Global Summit in Budapest, Hungary last month for sustainable innovation in entrepreneurship. He is the first-ever GCC awardee in the history of the award.
Safwa is a leader in automated hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic farming, built and maintained locally by in-house experienced engineers at the Alfardan family farm, “Wahat Al-Shafalahia”.
The farm, started in 1975 grows a variety of vegetables in greenhouses which act as a protective microclimate, providing consistent temperatures and humidity and efficiently using resources to ensure higher yields where otherwise harsh environmental conditions in Qatar would limit produce production.In addition, Safwa uses indoor hydroponic systems, which require no soil to grow vegetables and are up to 90 percent more efficient in their use of water. Production increases 3 to 10 times in the same amount of space, decreasing the time between harvest and consumption and increasing the nutritional value of the end-product. No chemicals or pest control products are needed when operating such systems.
Fardan Fahad Alfardan, Founder and General Manager of Safwa said, “Our vision is to be the consumer’s first choice for fresh, environmentally consciously grown vegetables and our promise towards you is to deliver the best local produce in Qatar, working towards sustainability and self-sufficiency, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Such indoor farming not only allows for a climate-controlled environment, which means farms can exist in places where weather and soil conditions are not favorable for traditional food production, but also allows for minute control over environmental conditions like temperature and pH balance and maximised exposure to nutrients and water.
At Safwa, the land is trusted and great measures are taken in ensuring the land is protected, so that it remains as generous as the day the farm opened. Farming methods protect the land and Safwa products are grown with the highest levels of care and attention. After all, plants need nurturing just as much as humans. High quality, fresh produce will nurture the end consumer just as it has been nurtured.
