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July 22, 2026
Doha Information startup grows hydroponics for a warmer, drier long term
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July 21, 2026
Doha Information startup grows hydroponics for a warmer, drier long run
, smart infrastructure, and the digital economy have made cybersecurity both relevant and essential to the countryâs long-term growth, an official of an Indonesia-based tech firm has said.</p><p>âQatar is particularly interesting because of its ambitious vision for technology, innovation, and digital transformation,â Patrick Dannacher, president director and CEO of ITSEC Asia, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.</p><p>Dannacher said, âAs the country continues to invest in AI, smart infrastructure, and the digital economy, cybersecurity becomes an essential enabler of trust and resilience.â</p><p>He continued, âWe believe there are tremendous opportunities ahead, and we are committed to supporting organisations across the region with world-class expertise, innovation and a long-term partnership approach.</p><p>âUltimately, our mission is very simple: to help businesses and governments innovate with confidence and provide something increasingly valuable in todayâs digital economy, which is peace of mind.â</p><p>According to Dannacher, the company started in Indonesia 16 years ago with seven people. It has since grown to more than 400 cybersecurity professionals across offices in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. It is the only listed cybersecurity company on the Indonesian Stock Exchange, he noted.</p><p>Dannacher said ITSEC Asiaâs entry into the Gulf came through a Dubai base, established in 2017, from which it serves organisations across the GCC with services spanning advisory, managed security, penetration testing, security assessments, and cyber resilience programmes.</p><p>He said the Middle East was a logical next step because it resembles what his teams saw in Southeast Asia years earlier.</p><p>Dannacher said the Middle East and Southeast Asian regions are undergoing rapid digital transformation, embracing AI at scale and generating rising demand for cyber resilience. In both markets, organisations are searching for partners who can help them grow without making themselves more vulnerable in the process, he also said.</p><p>What those organisations are navigating has changed sharply in recent years, Dannacher pointed out, adding that âthe threat landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Attacks are becoming more targeted, more persistent and increasingly AI-enabled.â</p><p>He said, âWhat is different today is that many attacks are no longer being driven only by humans.â</p><p>Dannacher cautioned that AI is helping attackers automate reconnaissance, develop phishing campaigns, generate deepfakes, and identify vulnerabilities much faster than before.</p><p>âA human needs a little bit of sleep. AI does not. As long as it has enough computing power, it can keep working around the clock,â he said.</p><p>The tools fuelling these threats have also become cheaper and more accessible, Dannacher warned. âAI is lowering the barriers to entry for cybercriminals. Many of the tools available today are inexpensive or freely accessible, which means attackers no longer need the same level of expertise or resources as they once did,â he stressed.</p><p>Cybersecurity is not only a technology challenge, he explained, adding that stopping at technology is a mistake.</p><p>âIt is also about people, training, and visibility. Organisations need to understand where they are vulnerable, continuously monitor their environment, and make cybersecurity part of everyday business operations,â Dannacher added.</p><p> </p>__%20%20%20%20<p>Related%20Story</p>_%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20__%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20<img%20loading=?resize=150,150&ssl=1 "Knowledgeable: Cybersecurity key for Qatarâs virtual enlargement")
.</p><p>Adaya, who has lived in Qatar for more than 15 years, discovered the potential of soilless cultivation while looking for meaningful ways to spend time with his family during the global health crisis. The success of producing fresh food at home prompted him to share his experience through social media and small community workshops, he said.</p><p>“We started growing vegetables through hydroponics at home, and I was amazed that we could produce fresh, healthy food without soil. As I shared our journey on social media and through small community workshops, I realised many people in Qatar were eager to learn about modern farming but didn’t know where to begin,” he explained.</p><p>This localised interest led to the launch of the ‘Future of Agriculture – Hydroponics’ advocacy, noted Adaya, adding that the initiative aims to make modern farming practices accessible to families, schools, and local entrepreneurs.</p><p>The transition from financial services to agricultural technology proved natural for Adaya, who explained that his finance background provided critical perspective in data analysis, risk management, and the formulation of sustainable business models.</p><p>“People often think finance and agriculture are completely different fields, but I see many similarities. My background in finance taught me how to analyse data, manage risks, create sustainable business models, and make informed long-term decisions,” he pointed out.</p><p>Adaya said, “Agriculture today is no longer just about planting crops. It involves technology, resource management, innovation, and sustainability. Financial discipline helped me understand how to build solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and economically viable”.</p><p>Operating within Qatar requires navigating specific environmental constraints, he pointed out.</p><p>“Qatar’s climate presents unique challenges. The extreme summer temperatures, limited freshwater resources, and high cooling requirements make farming difficult. In the beginning, we experienced crop failures, equipment issues, and many trial-and-error experiments. Instead of seeing those as failures, we treated every challenge as valuable research,” he said.</p><p>Adaya continued, “Those experiences convinced me that Qatar doesn’t need to copy farming methods from other countries. We need technologies specifically designed for desert environments. That belief continues to drive our research and development today.”</p><p>According to Adaya, the establishment of Hydrovest Technology was intended to address an identified gap in the domestic market. While large-scale public investments have enhanced national food security, affordable technology and technical guidance remained scarce for smaller, community growers.</p><p>“I noticed that while Qatar has made remarkable investments in food security, there was still a need to make advanced farming technologies more accessible to the wider community.</p><p>“Many people were interested in hydroponics but lacked practical knowledge, affordable solutions, and technical guidance. Hydrovest Technology was created to bridge that gap by combining education, research, and innovation,” he stressed.</p><p>The company focuses on a broader definition of commercial success, said Adaya, who also emphasised that leadership in sustainability must balance financial metrics with societal value, focusing on inspiring local communities to adopt independent food production.</p><p>“Success should not be measured only by financial performance but also by the positive impact we create for society. If our work inspires one child to love agriculture or helps one family grow their own food, then we are already making a meaningful difference,” Adaya added.</p><p> </p>__%20%20%20%20<p>Related%20Story</p>_%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20__%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20<img%20loading=?resize=420,280&ssl=1 "Doha Information startup grows hydroponics for a warmer, drier long run")