UAE’s Bustanak: The Largest Vertical Farm In The World That Adopts Hydroponics
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, recently visited “Bustanak Farm” and appreciated the efforts of the Emirates and its youth in various fields, including the agricultural field.
Emirates Airlines recently announced plans to open “Bustanak Farm” in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with investments amounting to 150 million dirhams. The largest vertical hydroponic farm based on hydroponics in the world will help UAE to achieve food security and self-sufficiency. Through this farm, the farmers want to support the country’s efforts to achieve food security. “Bustanak Farm” contributes to enhancing local production in the vital agricultural sectors in the country. It is also considered a fundamental pillar of the sustainable development of the UAE.
During the visit, His Highness was briefed on the advanced technologies used on the farm. In the future, the farm will help to meet the needs of self-sufficiency in food, support a diversified economy based on knowledge and innovation, and achieve the objectives of the security strategy. The farm will also help to achieve food security by applying the highest standards of sustainability.
The Crown Prince of Dubai reportedly said that adopting advanced agricultural technologies and employing the latest smart technology in agricultural projects reflects the vision of the Vice President and Chairman of the UAE Council. His Highness said that the creative people of the Emirates follow the best international practices to increase the productivity of the agricultural sector and expand food production locally.
His Highness also said, “The opening of the largest vertical hydroponic farm in the world is an important achievement that reflects the leadership of the UAE in various future fields.”
During the visit, His Highness was accompanied by His Excellency Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer of Emirates Airlines, Mansour Falaknaz, Board Member of Bustanak, and Robert Velos, Director of Production at Bustanak.
Bustanak Farm in the UAE
Bustanak Farm is being built on an area of 330,000 square feet near Al Maktoum International Airport. The farm will also be able to produce over one million kilograms of high-quality leafy vegetables annually. The Farm is set to use the smart technologies that will help to reduce the water consumption in agriculture by 95 per cent of the quantities of water needed by traditional agriculture. The farm will also contribute to securing the supply chains of the Emirates Flight Catering Company.
Recently, the UAE also topped the Arab countries in the Food Security Index for the second quarter of 2022. The country also started expanding wheat production to reach self-sufficiency. The Emirates Wheat initiative, led by farmer Hamid Obaid Al Zaabi, was also started in the UAE to spread awareness of the importance of cultivating various crops. The country also created desert farming equipped to handle extreme weather conditions.
