UAE to build world’s biggest vertical farm producing essential food items

UAE to build world’s biggest vertical farm producing essential food items

Country is steadily heading toward self-sufficiency in food by betting big on technology and innovation

Published: Mon 21 Feb 2022, 5:05 PM Last updated: Mon 21 Feb 2022, 5:49 PM

The UAE will build the world's biggest vertical farm near the Expo 2020 site to bolster the country's food production, a senior official said on Monday.

"It will be functioning very soon and it will produce many of the essential food items that we need such as tomatoes, leafy greens and so on," Essa Abdul Rahman Al Hashemi, Head of UAE's Food and Water Security Office, said without divulging further details.

Speaking at the Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Business Forum at Expo 2020 on Monday, Hashemi said the country is steadily heading toward self-sufficiency in food by betting big on technology and innovation.

"Our self—sufficiency targets are moving steadily and in an ambitious yet realistic manner," said Hashemi.

In recent years, the UAE farmers have been growing 70 different varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, mangoes, oranges, according to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

There are more than 35,000 farms in the UAE, and many use modern technologies like hydroponic farming and vertical farming.

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