Dubai is known for its modern architecture, luxury shopping venues, artificial islands, and lively nightlife, making this city in the United Arab Emirates a playground for the globe’s wealthiest individuals. On any given day, you can view massive yachts at its marinas, visit the world’s tallest building, or check out its legendary culinary scene.

However, the city also sits in the Arabian Desert, creating a shortage of arable land. In fact, about 90% of food in the UAE is imported from Europe and other locations, leading to problems sourcing certain items. A solution is in the works, though, in the form of vertical farming. Here’s a look at what vertical farms could mean for Dubai and other locations worldwide.

Vertical farming involves growing produce indoors in a climate-controlled environment. A 330,000-square-foot facility is now open in Dubai, and it aims to produce two million pounds of leafy greens annually. This practice could change farming worldwide.

What is a Vertical Farm?

In short, a vertical farm involves growing food on a series of vertically inclined surfaces rather than on a single level like when growing in an outdoor garden or greenhouse. Layers of surfaces, such as plant boxes, are stacked on top of each other, allowing farmers to integrate these farms into other buildings like malls or warehouses.

The Dubai vertical farm sits inside an old warehouse near the city’s international airport. However, there are examples of vertical farms in malls in the United States and Malaysia and even inside Canadian grocery stores.

Estimates suggest the world has lost about a third of its arable land since the 1970s, so solutions like vertical farms could become more mainstream in the coming years.

How a Vertical Farm Works

You might wonder how a vertical farm works, as there isn’t much sunlight or a natural water source inside these buildings. For that reason, designers must carefully develop an adequate physical layout, focus on lighting, establish a growing medium, and examine sustainability features.

A vertical farm’s purpose is to produce more food per square meter than traditional farming. Accomplishing this goal means stacking layers of plants inside the structure and developing a perfect combination of natural and artificial lighting. Rotating beds make the lighting more efficient and often lead to better outcomes.

These setups don’t use soil but rather hydroponic, aeroponic, or aquaponic mediums. Coconut husks or peat moss are common in these situations because they don’t have the same water requirements as soil. As a result, vertical farming uses about 95% less water than traditional methods.

A Look at the Benefits Of Vertical Farming

The benefits of vertical farming are extensive, as the method could help us keep up with global food demand in the future. Roughly 68% of the world’s population could live in urban areas by 2050, and the need for nearby food sources could drive growth in the vertical farming industry.

Vertical farming also increases productivity because it isn’t weather dependent. These farms can continue growing year-round, and a building with five acres of space can match the output of 2,400 acres of traditional farming land because there’s more growing capability per square foot.

It’s easier to control indoor crops and their exposure to pests, as well. The result is increased organic crop production, reducing consumer exposure to pesticides and chemicals.

These features benefit consumers, growers, and the environment, making vertical farming a viable option moving forward.

Inside Dubai’s Vertical Farm

The Dubai vertical farm, called ECO 1, is the largest in the world. The facility is stacked with mixed greens, lettuce, arugula, and spinach and should be highly profitable because it’s so efficient.

ECO 1 uses technology to adjust lighting, nutrients, and humidity automatically, assisting in plant growth. It also creates less spoilage and reduces fuel usage because greens aren’t flying halfway across the world before consumption.

There are also plans to switch to solar energy in the future, potentially making the farm even more efficient.

The Future of Food?

As the global population continues to expand and fresh food becomes more scarce, investment in alternative farming methods could be a viable solution. Vertical farming is an option worth exploring because it makes efficient use of buildings that are already present and allows for farming in parts of the world lacking arable land.

Are you excited about the idea of vertical farms, and would you like to see them become more common? Let us know in the comment section, and don’t forget to share this information with anyone in your life with interest in farming and agriculture.