In an effort to increase sustainable food production, the construction of a GigaFarm project in Dubai Food Tech Valley has officially commenced. This project was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and spearheaded by Dubai property developer Wasl.
Groundbreaking for the construction of the farm took place at a ceremony attended by H.E. Amna bint Abdulla Aldahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Rashed Mohammed, Chief Real Estate Officer or Wasl, and many other key personnel.
The GigaFarm project is being developed on a 900,000 sq. ft. plot at the Food Tech Valley, which is a government-led initiative to address food security locally, regionally and globally – it is a partnership between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Wasl.
The site will begin food production in 2025 and will be capable of growing more than three million kilos of produce annually, using ISG smart AI-driven vertical farming technology. The project will advance the UAE’s efforts to decarbonise food production, offsetting 1 per cent of the country’s fresh produce imports.
“The UAE is progressing in presenting a global model of food security based on innovation and strengthening efforts to build sustainable food and agricultural systems that drive development and build a better future for the nation and the world”, said Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah al Dahak.
“‘Food Tech Valley’ plays a vital role in these efforts, which seek to increase local production of food and strategic crops by employing eco-friendly, climate-smart agricultural technologies, enabling us to meet domestic demand and achieve the goals of the National Food Security Strategy 2051.”
Dubai-based group ReFarm Global (ReFarm TM) and Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) joined to initiate the GigaFarm project, which will bring together six complementary technologies, establishing a self-contained ecosystem that is designed to maximise resource efficiency and prevent waste from going to landfill.
“Wasl has been working closely with all stakeholders to pioneer innovation at the project to fulfil this mission – and we are a step closer to making it a success”, said HE Hesham Abdulla Al Qasim, Group CEO of Wasl. “The project has attracted top agritech minds and companies since it was launched, underlining a shared commitment to safeguard the UAE’s food ecosystem for generations to come, as well as becoming a model for other nations to follow.”