Exclusive: AgTech Firm iyris Targets Food Security in Heat

As climate change accelerates and the global population edges closer to 10 billion, securing sustainable food production in some of the world’s harshest climates has become one of agriculture’s greatest challenges. Among the companies working to address this issue is iyris, an early-stage AgTech business founded in Saudi Arabia, now expanding globally with its innovative SecondSky solutions.

Kasun Illankoon, Editor-in-Chief at Tech Revolt, spoke to John Keppler, Executive Chairman of iyris, about the company’s mission to empower farmers in hot climates, its rapid growth across multiple markets, and the crucial role accessible, scalable technology will play in the future of global food security.

What inspired iyris to focus on sustainable AgTech solutions for hot climates?

Our founders met while at KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science & Technology) in Saudi Arabia. They were acutely aware of the difficulties faced by farmers in hot climates and recognised early on that climate change would only intensify these challenges. Interestingly, much of the AgTech development globally had focused on heat retention — which makes sense for colder countries — rather than mitigating extreme heat.

They also understood the bigger picture. With the global population expected to rise to 10 billion by 2050, and with more than 70% of the world’s fresh water resources already used by agriculture — increasing to 85% in arid regions — something had to change. Our founders committed themselves to finding practical, sustainable solutions that would allow farming to thrive in the regions with the highest projected population growth, which are also among the hottest.

Unlike companies based in cooler climates, they had first-hand experience of the challenges unique to hot, arid regions. That experience proved invaluable in designing technologies tailored for these conditions.

How does SecondSky technology specifically reduce water and energy use for farmers?

SecondSky™, our flagship product, addresses the core issue by blocking near-infrared solar heat radiation. When integrated into agricultural covers — whether polycarbonate, polyethylene, netting or shade screens — it reduces the temperature inside enclosures, the soil or substrate, and the plants’ leaf temperatures.

This lowers the amount of water required for irrigation, as plants experience less heat stress and consequently transpire less. Where farms use mechanical cooling systems, they too become more efficient as the load is reduced, resulting in up to 30% lower water and energy use. For farmers, this means a meaningful reduction in input costs and greater resilience in the face of rising temperatures.

What makes iyris’ patented grafting processes distinctive in combating extreme climates?

Our process improvements have significantly enhanced the reliability and speed with which traits such as heat, drought and salinity tolerance are introduced into plants. Importantly, this is achieved through a non-GMO process.

By refining the grafting technique, we’re able to bring these resilient traits into crops more quickly than traditional breeding allows — which is crucial in regions where climate conditions are deteriorating rapidly.

How quickly can farmers typically see a return on investment after adopting iyris products?

One of our core principles is that farmers should see a return on their investment within a single crop cycle. The products incorporating SecondSky™ typically have a lifespan of between three and ten years, depending on the cover type.

We fully recognise that farming is inherently high-risk. A single failed crop can be devastating, so mitigating that risk is essential. By reducing heat stress, our products help farmers secure higher-quality yields while simultaneously lowering input costs.

In one recent 90-day cucumber trial in the UAE, financial gains achieved from increased yield and reduced costs more than covered the initial investment. Similar results have been observed with strawberries and tomatoes. This kind of rapid ROI is unusual for AgTech solutions, which often take much longer to deliver financial returns.

Why is it important for your tools to integrate with traditional farming methods and supply chains?

We believe effective AgTech should be simple to adopt and shouldn’t demand that farmers completely alter the methods they’ve relied upon for generations. Farmers have an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and intuition — honed through experience — and it makes far more sense to offer tools that enhance their existing operations rather than overhaul them.

Additionally, by making our products available through traditional, trusted agricultural supply chains, we enable farmers to source our solutions from suppliers they already know. These suppliers understand the local business environment and challenges their customers face, which helps build credibility for our products. The rapid uptake — with our tools now deployed in 17 countries and covering over six million square metres — suggests this approach resonates strongly.

How have your commercial validation farms in the UAE and Saudi Arabia impacted adoption rates?

Our showcase farms have proven instrumental in accelerating adoption. There’s a tangible, immediate difference when stepping into a greenhouse fitted with SecondSky™ — the reduction in temperature is something visitors feel at once.

At our UAE farm, which is part of the Silal Innovation Oasis, visitors can not only experience the conditions first-hand but also review the data collected daily from the site. Uniquely, our data is independently verified by Silal’s Research & Development team, providing a further layer of credibility.

It’s particularly important for us to demonstrate that our tools work at commercial scale, not just in laboratory settings. As many of our customers are understandably cautious, seeing the results first-hand — both in terms of climate control and crop performance — often proves the deciding factor.

With AgTech expanding globally, where does iyris see its biggest market opportunities next?

As global temperatures climb, the demand for sustainable, hot-climate AgTech solutions is only going to grow. We’ve already seen increasing crop failures due to heat stress in countries like Spain, Morocco and Egypt — traditionally important exporters of fresh produce.

That said, much of the current AgTech innovation caters to high-tech farming. Our focus is different: we aim to support low- and mid-tech farmers, who account for the vast majority of the agricultural sector. To put it in context, of the 2.7 million hectares of protected agriculture globally, only 100,000 hectares are high-tech farms — and a mere 1,000 hectares are vertical farms.

We see significant opportunities in India, China, Central and South America, Australia and continued growth in Southern Europe and North Africa. Of course, with our roots in the GCC, this region remains an important market, where the need for our solutions is particularly pressing.

How do you ensure your technologies remain accessible to low-to-mid tech farmers worldwide?

Accessibility is fundamental to our product development strategy. Not just in terms of availability through local supply chains, but also in terms of affordability.

Agricultural coverings — whether netting, plastics or polyethylene — need to be replaced periodically. By integrating our technology into products farmers are already accustomed to purchasing, we minimise disruption while offering an easily justified, incremental cost increase. The value delivered by that investment is quickly realised through improved yield, reduced costs and lower water usage.

It’s vital that low- and mid-tech farmers — the underserved majority — have access to solutions proven to work in their environments, with their crops. By offering local distribution and competitive pricing, backed by extensive trial data, we’ve made sure our tools remain within reach for most farmers, not just large commercial operators.

What role can AgTech innovations like iyris play in addressing future food security challenges?

Our mission has always been clear: feeding the world sustainably. That commitment remains central to everything we do.

Addressing future food security means tackling several urgent questions:

1. How do we produce more with fewer resources? Agriculture consumes 70% of the world’s fresh water, rising to 85% in arid climates. Innovations like SecondSky™ help reduce water and energy use, which is essential as resources become scarcer.

2. Can we increase local production and reduce reliance on imports? In the GCC, for example, up to 85% of fresh produce is imported. Enabling local farmers to grow more, even in harsh conditions, is key to improving food security in the region and beyond.

3. Are solutions available that work now? While automation, AI and big data have their place, farmers need tools they can deploy immediately, without expensive new infrastructure or specialist training. SecondSky™ was designed to deliver tangible benefits from day one.