The UAE will build a huge vertical farm

Emirates Airline Catering (EKFC) recently announced that it has jointly invested US$40 million with Crop One Holdings, another US-based vertical farm operation company, to build a giant vertical farm at Al Maktoum International Airport near Dubai World Center (DWC). Indoor farm, which will break the world record for vertical farming.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Airline and Group, said:

The announcement of this cooperation project is a very important milestone for the Emirates Group, for Dubai, and for the entire UAE. Establishing and operating the world's largest vertical farm is in line with the UAE's vision to drive greater self-sufficiency in agricultural cultivation.

This vision has been in place since the time of His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding Head of State of the United Arab Emirates. The innovations introduced at the farm will also further strengthen Dubai's position as a global innovation hub.

Saeed Mohammed, Emirates Flight Catering Chief Operating Officer, said:

As one of the world's largest aviation catering operators, Emirates Aviation Catering Department is constantly committed to technological innovation, looking for ways to improve productivity, so as to provide higher quality products and services. By introducing state-of-the-art technology, we ensure a supply of high-quality, locally grown fresh vegetables, significantly reducing our environmental impact.

We are proud to partner with Crop One. As an industry-leading grow, pack and distribute company, Crop One shares our corporate philosophy. We are committed to working together to provide the best products and value to passengers and stakeholders.

Sonia Lo, CEO of Crop One Holdings, said:

Our successful business model has produced profitable output longer than any other large vertical farm. We use the most sophisticated planting science and efficient business model to provide the market with high-quality agricultural products that are needed every day. After 10 months of research, the choice of Emirates Flight Catering to cooperate with us also confirms the success of our business model, which uses patented technologies and processes to maximize crop yields and obtain high profits.

When completed, the vertical farm will have an area of 130,000 square feet, which is equivalent to the production level of 900 acres of farmland. After being fully planted, the farm will produce 2.7 tons of high-quality green leafy vegetables every day without using any herbicides and pesticides, and the water consumption will be reduced by 99% compared with outdoor cultivation. The farm's proximity to consumption areas will also significantly reduce carbon emissions from transport. At the same time, this ensures that fresh agricultural products can be quickly delivered to customers within a few hours after harvest, ensuring the freshness and nutritional value of vegetables.

The vertical farm is scheduled to start construction in November 2018 and is expected to take a year to complete. The first produce is expected to be delivered to Emirates Catering customers in December 2019, including 105 airlines and 25 airport lounges.