Technology is advancing agriculture in the UAE, producing goods that are increasing the nation’s food self-sufficiency. This is owing to climate-controlled facilities that require less or no soil but produce more food per square meter compared to traditional methods. In addition to using less water and producing pesticide-free produce, these modern farms are situated in or close to urban areas, thereby minimizing the distance that food must travel to reach consumers and lowering its carbon footprint.

A 400-hectare farm in Maliha recently harvested protein-enriched wheat. The crop is anticipated to produce 15,200 tonnes of wheat. In November of last year, the first saffron harvest in the UAE took place. The world’s most costly spice was grown in an area measuring about 165 square meters but equivalent to 3.5 hectares of land. At the Aerovertica vertical farms in Dubai Silicon Oasis and Al Qusais, strawberries are grown, with a combined production capacity of almost 500 kg each week.

The largest vertical farm in the world, Emirates Crop One (ECO 1), was visited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, in September of last year. The 330,000 square foot, $40 million plant can produce more than 1 million kg of high-quality leafy greens each year while using 95% less water than traditional agriculture.

Most recently, the Zero project was unveiled by ADQ’s AgTech Park, which involves converting a 1,000 square meter warehouse to serve as a testing ground for environmental farming innovations. At full production capacity, the 200-hectare AgTech Park will aim to generate upwards of 40 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables yearly, which would help reduce the UAE’s total import of this produce.