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On the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao, securing a steady supply of fresh produce is becoming increasingly crucial. Often reliant on imports, the island faces high prices and frequent shortages of fresh vegetables. CurHydro, an innovative agricultural company founded in 2018, is answering this challenge with high-tech farming solutions. With support from Green Assist, CurHydro is set to expand its project to provide a sustainable food source for the island community.

In the past years, CurHydro has successfully produced fresh lettuce on 300 m² of land, using solar-powered systems and a method known as hydroponics (growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil). CurHydro currently supplies its produce to local foodservice and retail partners, but growing demand starts to exceed supply. With local interest booming and its commitment to sustainability, CurHydro is ready to expand.

The company has secured a building permit for a new 6-hectare site and is planning the construction of a 1.5 hectare high-tech greenhouse, in partnership with the Spanish manufacturer Rufepa Tecnoagro. This new facility will allow to grow vegetables that are well-suited to hydroponic farming – such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers. This greenhouse will maintain high efficiency and low water consumption, providing a steady supply of fresh, affordable produce grown locally. This helps to reduce imports, boost food resilience on the island, support the local economy by creating jobs, and increase health awareness.

But scaling up this advanced farming model requires strong planning and significant financing. To design a solid business model and attract investors, CurHydro sought tailored support from Green Assist.

From September to December 2024, the company worked with a Green Assist expert to refine its financial strategy, assess funding options, and improve the project’s investment appeal. This included detailed financial modelling, market analysis, and support with identifying public and private sources of funding.

The expert guidance also helped to define a clear implementation roadmap. With land secured, technical feasibility achieved and partnerships in place, the project is now preparing for fundraising, procurement and further construction. The new greenhouse is expected to be operational within two years, creating new local jobs and strengthening food access in Curaçao.

“Thanks to Green Assist, we now have a robust financing roadmap and a sharper investment case. That support accelerated our path to scale so we can deliver reliable, local produce while cutting water use and emissions for a healthier, more resilient Curaçao.” — Shurhensley Thielman Quirindoongo, President & CEO, CurHydro.

The long-term vision is to develop all 6 hectares into a modern agricultural hub, helping build a more self-sufficient, healthy and resilient island food system.

Green Assist aims to build a pipeline for high-impact green investment projects in sectors related to biodiversity, natural capital and circular economy, as well as in non-environmental sectors. 

Learn more about how Green Assist can help you get free tailored support for your green project or contact us at cinea-green-assistec [dot] europa [dot] eu (cinea-green-assist[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu). To request advisory services from Green Assist, simply fill out this short form.