Dubai crown prince and chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the world’s largest vertical farm, Bustanica, on Tuesday.
The high-tech vertical farm, operated by Emirates Group, can produce over 1,000 tonnes of leafy greens each year.
The crown prince said the emirate remains “committed to maintaining the highest levels of food security with one of the world’s most comprehensive plans to address this vital issue,” whilst touring the three-hectare facility.
Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the hydroponic farm will see “new initiatives that apply modern farming techniques to accelerate self-sufficiency in fresh food produce and support sustainability, which is a top priority for us,” Sheikh Hamdan said.
“The Dubai Food Security Committee constantly reviews current opportunities and challenges within the national food security strategy framework. Our plans for enhancing self-sufficiency in the agricultural sector by supporting the use of technologies and applied research in food processing and agriculture are focused on meeting the current and future needs of Dubai’s citizens and residents,” the crown prince added.
Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the innovative technologies used in the state-of-the-art hydroponic farm, according to WAM.
Over time, produce from the Bustanica will serve over 100 airlines part of the Emirates Group.
Backed by an investment of $40 million, the world’s largest hydroponic farm ensures the “government’s commitment to making continuous investments” for sustainable growth.
“We are fully confident in the ability of our youth and institutions to continue delivering innovative projects that accelerate the pace of development and achieve optimum results in strategic sectors,” Sheikh Hamdan said, adding that Dubai will continue to pursue innovative ways to further strengthen the emirate’s resilience and food sustainability irrespective of the global environment.
Bustanica, which translates to your garden or orchard in English, produces four varieties of spinach, lettuce and kale, and aims to grow fruits and vegetables in the future.
The farm is expected to save 250 million litres of water every year compared to traditional outdoor farming.
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