World's Largest Hydroponic Farm Opens in Dubai

(21 July 2022, 11:15 +07)  Bustanica has opened the doors to the world’s largest hydroponic farm, backed by an investment of US$40 million.

The facility is the first vertical farm for Emirates Crop One, a joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world’s largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines, and Crop One, a leader in technology-driven indoor vertical farming.

Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the 330,000 sqft facility is geared to produce more than 1,000,000 kilograms of high-quality leafy greens annually, while requiring 95% less water than conventional agriculture.

At any point in time, the facility grows in excess of 1 million cultivars (plants), which will provide an output of 3,000 kgs per day.

Dubai is now home to the world's largest hydroponic farm

Driven by powerful technology such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, together with a highly specialised in-house team that includes agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists and plant scientists, the continuous production cycle ensures the produce is super fresh and clean, and grown without pesticides, herbicides or chemicals.

The farm’s closed-loop system is designed to circulate water through the plants to maximise water usage and efficiency. When the water vaporises, it is recovered and recycled into the system, saving 250 million litres of water every year compared to traditional outdoor farming for the same output.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said, “Long-term food security and self-sufficiency are vital to the economic growth of any country, and the UAE is no exception. We’ve specific challenges in our region, given the limitations around arable land and climate. Bustanica ushers in a new era of innovation and investments, which are important steps for sustainable growth and align with our country’s well-defined food and water security strategies.

“Emirates Flight Catering constantly invests in the latest technologies to delight customers, optimise operations, and minimise our environmental footprint. Bustanica helps secure our supply chain, and ensures our customers can enjoy locally sourced, nutritious produce. By bringing production closer to consumption, we’re reducing the food journey from farm to fork. Congratulations to the Bustanica team for their remarkable achievements so far and for setting global standards and benchmarks in agronomy.”

Passengers on Emirates and other airlines can now look forward to eating the leafy greens - including lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens and spinach - onboard their flights.

Bustanica is not just revolutionising salads in the sky, UAE consumers will soon be able to add the greens to their shopping carts at  supermarkets and the company also has plans to expand into the production and sale of fruits and vegetables.

Craig Ratajczyk, Chief Executive Officer, Crop One said, “After significant planning and construction, and navigating the unforeseen challenges of the pandemic, we’re thrilled to celebrate this tremendous milestone alongside our joint venture partner, Emirates Flight Catering. It’s our mission to cultivate a sustainable future to meet global demand for fresh, local food, and this first large format farm is the manifestation of that commitment. This new facility serves as a model for what’s possible around the globe.”

Bustanica says that consumers buying the greens in supermarkets can eat them straight from the bag, as even washing can damage the leaves and introduce contaminants.

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