The largest vertical farm in the world has just been presented in Dubai by Emirates’ Flight Catering division (EKFC), which was built in partnership with Crop One Holdings. The US-based company Crop One is at the forefront of the development of technology-driven indoor farming. The 330,000-square-foot, brand-new vertical farm created for the Emirati airline, is situated in Dubai, close to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
A word from the chief
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said,
“Long-term food security and self-sufficiency are vital to the economic growth of any country, and the UAE is no exception. Given the limitations around arable land and climate, we’ve specific challenges in our region. Bustanica ushers in a new era of innovation and investments, which are important steps for sustainable growth and align with our country’s well-defined food and water security strategies.”
Bustanica
The name of the new building is Bustanica, which is Arabic for “your garden” or “your orchid.” The joint venture between EKFC and Crop One Holdings, known as Emirates Crop One or ECO 1, would use Bustanica as its commercial brand name.
The $40 million structure was constructed, which is 330,000 square feet in size and includes three levels. It can produce more than 3,000 kg (6600 lbs) of leafy greens daily, or over one million kilograms (2.2 million pounds) annually. Over a million plants will be housed there at any given moment. The vertical farm produces kale, spinach, arugula, and mixed greens. Emirates intends to add fresh fruits and vegetables to its agricultural lineup in the future.
According to Emirates, produce from Bustanica will be offered on select EK flights beginning this month. With more than 100 airline clients, EKFC operates one of the largest aircraft catering services in the world. Likely, Bustanica items will likewise be included with meals on some other airlines. In addition, the airline said that local stores in the UAE would soon sell Bustanica products.
Produce
Kale, spinach, arugula, and mixed greens are already available; fruit and vegetable cultivation is planned for the future. Using vertical farming techniques and cutting-edge technologies, pesticides, chemicals, herbicides, and fungicides are fully eradicated. The risk of fungal and foodborne infections is nearly completely minimized by controlling humidity levels and limiting human contact with the crops.
To promote the plants’ optimal nutritional growth, filtered and purified water is treated with a carefully calculated combination of nutrients designed specifically for plants, including calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
The freshly gathered greens are more than organic, pre-washed, and ready to eat right out of the box. Each plant receives the ideal combination of nutrients thanks to precision farming. Nutrient loss is prevented thanks to closed-loop systems and controlled environments. Produce locally grown in the UAE is more quickly transported from farm to table, has more nutritional content, and has superior flavor and quality.
Technology
Emirates Flight Catering and Crop One created a comprehensive operational system that manages the facility’s lighting, nutrition management, water treatment, and environmental management. A large portion of the technology was developed in the UAE. Food is hydroponically cultivated using special formulae for every variety. It uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cutting-edge techniques to develop and sustain plants. This implies that the plants are given the precise quantity of light, water, and plant nutrients—without the need for soil—along with assistance from millions of data points gathered daily for optimal development.
High on sustainability
The idea of vertical farming is unique, and it was created utilizing cutting-edge methods to make the procedure less harmful to polar bears. For instance, hydroponic gardening, which requires 95% less water than conventional farming methods, is used in Bustanica. This is because waste is eliminated by the water being continually recirculated in exact amounts for each crop within the facility.
Bustanica goods will be cultivated without pesticides, chemicals, herbicides, or fungicides, thanks to Crop One’s experience in vertical farming. As a result, customers will be protected from contracting food- and fungus-borne illnesses. The carrier even claims collected vegetables don’t need to be cleaned before eating.
Bustanica grows vegetables hydroponically using cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence. The team comprises horticulturists, plant biologists, engineers, scientists, and specialists in agronomy. However, minimal human interaction with plants is allowed to reduce the likelihood of contamination. Instead, to gather important data and manage operations, digital techniques are deployed.
Supporting UAE’s self-reliance
supports the UAE’s National Food Strategy 2051 plan. Reliable year-round crop production and stable supply chain. Independent of climatic circumstances, insect or fungal infestations. Shorter harvesting periods.
Supports UAE’s Water Security Strategy 2036 plan.
uses up to 95% less water (15 liters for 1kg) than traditional outdoor farming (317 liters for 1kg). Clean, nutrient-rich water is recycled and reused, reducing costs and minimizing waste.
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