Hydroponics is Flying High!

Emirates Airlines have teamed up with Californian based Crop One to deliver a $40 million vertical farming system. The project is set to be built next to the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai on a 130,000 square foot plot of land.

Due to the climate conditions in Dubai the cost of growing fresh produce can be extremely high, to the extent that some traditional growers have had no alternative than to give up completely.

The anticipated level of production from this facility is estimated to be in the region of 2,700kg of leafy greens each day and this will be achieved without the aid of herbicides and pesticides.

Vertical Hydroponics is a system that has been used in the UAE for nearly half a century and is considered productive due to the amount that can be grown in a relatively small area. With a number of local farms this is becoming well established and the partnership between Emirates Airlinesand Crop One is expected to provide the largest system of its type in the world.

The climate is typically arid and fresh water will be provided with a water desalination system. Air conditioning that provides climate control will accompany the automatic irrigation systems and the source of energy will be through LED lighting, which is considered to be the most environmentally friendly.

The system is expected to use 99% less water than traditional growth methods in the vicinity and will provide vegetables that have not had to be imported and are therefore very fresh in comparison.

The chairman of Emirates Airlines, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum says that " “This investment to build and operate the world’s largest vertical farming facility aligns with the UAE’s drive for more agricultural self-sufficiency, a vision which began with the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father."

“The introduction of ground-breaking technology at the facility also enhances Dubai’s position as a global innovation hub.”