Costing $40 million, Bustanica farm is Emirates Crop One's first vertical farm, a joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering and Crop One, the industry leader in technology-driven indoor vertical farming.
The 330,000-square-metre facility aims to produce more than 1 million kg of high-quality leafy greens per year, while saving 95% water compared to conventional agriculture. In the facility, where 1 million kinds of plants will be grown, 3,000 kg of production will be provided per day.
The farm's closed-loop system is designed to circulate water between plants to maximize water use and efficiency. The facility, which recycles the evaporated water and recycles it into the system, saves 250 million liters of water every year compared to traditional outdoor farming for the same product.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Long-term food security and self-sufficiency are vital to the economic growth of any country and the UAE is no exception here. Given the limitations of arable land and climate, we have certain challenges in our region. With the Bustanica farm, a new era of innovation and investment begins, which are important steps for sustainable growth and in line with our country's well-defined food and water safety strategies.” said.
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Equipped with powerful technology, machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced methods, the Bustanica farm is managed by a team of highly specialized engineers, gardeners, agronomists and plant scientists. Products from the farm will soon be available on Emirates flights and in supermarkets.
Crop One CEO Craig Ratajczyk; “After significant planning, construction and the unforeseen challenges of the pandemic, we are excited to celebrate this tremendous milestone with our joint venture partner Emirates Flight Catering. Our mission is to develop a sustainable future to meet the global demand for fresh and local food, and this first large-format farm is a manifestation of that commitment. This new facility serves as a model that is possible worldwide.” said.