UAE farms see boom not gloom in coronavirus lockdowns – ZAWYA

UAE farms see boom not gloom in coronavirus lockdowns – ZAWYA

But the Gulf region's petrodollars put it in a position to take risks with new technologies that are capable of commercialising crops using significantly less water in harsh environments.. AeroFarms is setting up an 8,200 square metre research and development centre in Abu Dhabi, the largest indoor vertical farm of its kind, to help bring fresh fruit and vegetables grown in vertical farms to local markets at an affordable price.. Indoor vertical farming, a controlled-environment form of agriculture in which crops are vertically stacked in layers, has been shown by AeroFarms to use up to 95% less water for some crops.. In many countries around the world, lockdowns have caused an acute shortage of farm labour, meaning millions of tonnes of fruit and vegetables could be left unpicked this year.. ADIO is willing to bet on new technology at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has changed how corporations work due to global containment measures, including lockdowns..