Bustanica Farm by Emirates Crop One Produces 3 Tons of Greens Daily on 10,000m2.
Bustanica vertical farm saves more land and water compared to traditional farming. (Photo: CNA).
Climate change is making traditional agriculture more challenging, pushing businesses to seek new solutions to address the root of the problem. Bustanica is the largest vertical farm in the world, located in Dubai. Their products are featured on Emirates flights and are also available in various supermarkets across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 10,000m2 facility produces 3 tons of greens daily within a controlled environment concerning temperature, humidity, water, and nutrients. The farm utilizes significantly less land and water compared to traditional farming methods, according to CNA.
“To produce the same amount of leafy greens, you would need nearly 470,000m2 of land, which is about twice the size of Dubai International Airport,” said Feras Al Soufi, the CEO of Emirates Crop One, the company managing the project.
The farm has been operational for nearly a year, using 95% less water than conventional farms. In a water-scarce country like the UAE, where most water comes from energy-intensive desalination plants, the reduced water consumption alleviates the burden of electricity supply and limits emissions. “Typically, to produce one kilogram of lettuce, you need 370 liters of water. Meanwhile, at Bustanica, we only need 15 to 17 liters of water,” Al Soufi noted. He estimates that Bustanica saves about 200 million liters of water each year.
Greens grown on multi-tiered shelves at Emirates Crop One farm. (Photo: Emirates)
Vertical farming is an effective solution to the current land crisis. Crop One Holdings (USA) and Emirates Flight Catering (UAE) collaborated to build the Emirates Crop One vertical farm in Dubai, near Al Maktoum International Airport.
Emirates Crop One spans approximately 30,650m2 and can produce over 900 tons of greens annually. The crops grown at the farm are very clean and do not require washing, as they are free from pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals. Emirates Crop One uses 95% less water than traditional farming methods and aims to produce 3 tons of greens daily. The facility also employs a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics to enhance efficiency.
Emirates Crop One is equipped with a closed-loop system that circulates water through the plants to utilize water efficiently. Water that evaporates during irrigation is recycled back into the system, saving 250 million liters of water annually compared to traditional outdoor farming (with the same yield).
The greens grown at Emirates Crop One will be served to passengers on flights that Emirates Flight Catering collaborates with. Additionally, the greens will be available in local stores under the Bustanica brand.
“Our mission is to build a sustainable future to meet the demand for fresh, local food, and this new farm exemplifies that. This new facility serves as a model for what is possible around the world,” said Craig Ratajczyk, CEO of Crop One.
