Polyurethane insulation panels revealed as megatrend enabler for world’s largest vertical farm

Polyurethane insulation panels revealed as megatrend enabler for world’s largest vertical farm

As the next megatrend in the field of agribusiness and nutrition, vertical farming is a space-saving, sustainable and efficient way of growing plants that promotes future global food security. However, as an indoor farming solution, internal temperature control and regulation remains critical to the success of vertical farms, especially in regions experiencing extreme summer temperatures such as the Middle East. Polyurethane insulation sandwich panels have been revealed as the cost-effective insulation and cladding solution installed on a major vertical farm project in Dubai, paving the way for other vertical farm developments elsewhere in the Middle East.

Emirates Flight Catering, the inflight catering arm of UAE-based Emirates Airlines producing more than 55 million meals annually, recently opened the world’s largest vertical farm, Bustanica, located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. The 330,000 sq ft indoor facility will produce more than one million kilograms of high-quality leafy greens including lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens and spinach annually, while reportedly requiring 95 per cent less water than conventional agriculture.

The indoor hydroponic farm, built using polyurethane-based sandwich insulation panels, showcases the versatility of this best-in-class building material, while demonstrating its superior insulation and sustainability properties of this dynamic product when compared to