Dubai: Baby potatoes, rice, wheat to be grown in vertical farm

Dubai: Baby potatoes, rice, wheat to be grown in vertical farm

Published: Tue 14 May 2024, 6:00 AM

Leafy greens, tomatoes, baby potatoes, rice, and wheat are some of the crops that will be grown in Dubai's vertical farm. The farm, in the heart of the desert, has been designed to produce fresh vegetables within a controlled factory setting by UAE-based sustainable agricultural and food technology startup, Pure Food Technology.

The vertical hydroponic farm is powered by artificial intelligence, solar energy, robotics, and innovation-patented technology.

"This system has been specifically developed for the desert, where water resources and abundant sunlight are readily available,” said Sebastian Carlton, CEO of Pure Food Technology. “With minimum interference and with the robotics and AI all you need will be a source of water and the solar energy.”

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Innovative techniques

Located in Jebel Ali Industrial Area, the vertical farm uses innovative techniques to grow vegetable crops without soil. This method involves replacing soil with a nutrient-rich water solution and allowing plant roots to grow in a deep-water culture.

As a proof of concept, the farm demonstrates the feasibility of hydroponic farming by growing vegetable crops within just 35 days. "If you're in California, for example, growing lettuce, you get two