This Is The World’s largest vertical farm | The ‘GigaFarm’ In the Desert Produce 3 Million Kilograms Of Food!
In 2022, Dubai introduced an ambitious vertical farming project. That was a 31,000-square-meter indoor farm at Al Maktoum International Airport. This massive facility grows over a million kilograms of leafy greens annually using stacked trays and minimal water. However, there is a bigger initiative on the horizon. The “GigaFarm.” Set to become the world’s largest vertical farm, the GigaFarm aims to be more than just a giant agricultural structure; it seeks to address critical issues like food security, waste management, and climate impact in the UAE and beyond.
It is located on the other side of the town aptly named Food Tech Valley. This 12-meter-high, 83,612-square-meter farm represents a pivotal shift in how countries can rethink agriculture amid climate change and resource limitations. It is led by ReFarm, a UAE-founded enterprise. Let’s take a closer look at this latest turn towards future food security.
ReFarm and the Vision for the World’s Largest Vertical Farm
To make farming greener, GigaFarm plans to use a combination of technologies. These can transform waste streams — such as food scraps and sewage — into agricultural products. The consequence would be compost, animal feed, clean water, and energy. In this effort, ReFarm is backed by the global firm Christof Global Impact. It is a leading CO2 reduction and waste-to-value solutions provider. They launched the GigaFarm with a mission to reshape food production sustainably. The GigaFarm doesn’t only aim to grow produce—it’s also designed to use advanced technology to turn waste into useful resources like compost, animal feed, and even clean water and energy.
Oliver Christof, CEO of Christof Global Impact, says, “We’re setting out to solve multiple issues at once—food security, waste management, and sustainable resource use—all under one facility.” In doing so, the farm is set to reduce the UAE’s dependence on imported food significantly, cut down on carbon emissions, and serve as a model for other regions to implement similar agri-tech solutions.
We’re setting out to solve multiple issues at once—food security, waste management, and sustainable resource use—all under one facility
Oliver Christof
A Look Inside the World’s Largest Vertical Farm’s Advanced Technology
At the heart of GigaFarm’s technology is the vertical farming solution developed by Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), a Scottish agri-tech company founded in 2013. IGS’s “growth towers” are designed to stack trays of crops in a controlled environment that optimizes growth conditions. Each tower is modular, reaching heights of six to twelve meters, allowing for easy scaling to meet production demands.
Andrew Lloyd, CEO of IGS, describes these towers as resembling “a multistory car park” filled with plants rather than vehicles. The towers are structured to precisely regulate water, light, temperature, and nutrients through a hydroponic system. Instead of soil, crops grow in a substrate like organic compost or coconut fiber, with LED lights providing artificial sunlight. The result is efficient crop growth, which uses up to 98% less water compared to traditional farming.
Sensors and cameras are integrated into each tower to monitor crop health in real-time, automatically adjusting environmental factors to maximize yield. “Once you’ve got the air in, and you’ve got the humidity and temperature under control, the level of replenishment is incredibly tiny,” Lloyd explains.
World’s Largest Vertical Farm Reducing Environmental Impact
One of the primary goals of the GigaFarm is to minimize its environmental footprint by converting waste into valuable resources. The facility will repurpose waste streams, such as food scraps and sewage, into compost, animal feed, and renewable energy.
The farm plans to use black soldier fly larvae, a sustainable insect-based technology, to convert food waste into protein-rich animal feed. This process generates water as a by-product, which will supply all the water needed for the vertical farm. ReFarm estimates it can recycle 50,000 metric tons of food scraps annually. This closed-loop system promises to not only support crop growth but also lower water consumption, a valuable feature in the arid UAE climate.
Another sustainable initiative includes the incineration of solid waste to produce energy. Christof emphasizes that “every component is designed to contribute to sustainability,” adding that the facility’s waste-to-resource approach could be applied to urban areas around the world.
The World’s Largest Vertical Farm Aiming for Food Security in the UAE
The UAE imports more than 85% of its food, leaving it highly susceptible to global supply chain disruptions—a reality underscored by events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war. The GigaFarm aims to cut the UAE’s food imports by up to 1% by producing up to three million kilograms of leafy greens, herbs, and vegetable seedlings each year.
Moreover, the GigaFarm will supply seedlings to local farms, reducing reliance on imports and boosting food security. Andrew Lloyd explains, “This is not just about scratching the surface but making a dent in food security.” By focusing on growing seedlings locally, ReFarm aims to empower the UAE’s 38,000 operational farms, many of which already use hydroponics or high-tech greenhouses.
The World’s Largest Vertical FarmEconomic Challenges and Sustainability
While vertical farming offers numerous environmental benefits, such as reducing water usage and minimizing land degradation, it also comes with significant challenges. High electricity costs, primarily from LED lighting, present a financial barrier for vertical farms to remain profitable. Recent cases of vertical farms declaring bankruptcy, like Fifth Season and AppHarvest in the United States, underscore the financial challenges within this industry.
To ensure long-term sustainability, ReFarm has built renewable energy sources into its design. Incinerated waste generates electricity, reducing reliance on external power grids. ReFarm has also developed biofertilizers and soil enhancers to further minimize its environmental footprint. The biofertilizer, for instance, cuts fertilizer application by up to 50%, while the soil enhancer can help depleted soil absorb water more efficiently.
“The waste-to-resource model is essential for financial viability and environmental stewardship,” Lloyd emphasizes. This approach supports sustainable farming while keeping operational costs in check.
Agritech’s Role in Climate-Proofing Food Supplies
As climate change threatens traditional agriculture, agri-tech solutions like GigaFarm are becoming essential. According to the United Nations, food systems account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. The agricultural sector alone contributes two-thirds of this, with fertilizer production and distribution making up significant portions.
Vertical farming, with its ability to control environmental factors and operate year-round, is seen as a climate-resilient solution. GigaFarm’s closed-loop system minimizes emissions while ensuring stable food production, even in adverse weather conditions.
Rohit Sharma, a PhD researcher in supply chains at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, points out that the UAE government actively supports projects like GigaFarm as part of its broader goal to diversify the economy and shift away from oil dependency. “Agritech is crucial for the UAE’s vision of food security and sustainability,” says Sharma, adding that government backing has helped make such ambitious projects possible.
“Wherever humans are, you will find waste. We can take the waste and turn it into value, whether that value is the food that we’re growing or whether it is replacing hydrocarbon-intensive things like the biofertilizers.We have to do this, otherwise we’re going to run out of the planet.”
Andrew Lloyd
Beyond the UAE: Scaling Up Vertical Farming in the Region
The success of GigaFarm could inspire similar projects across the Middle East, where food security is a pressing issue. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are already exploring vertical farming as part of their national food security strategies. Sharma’s research predicts that the agri-tech sector in the Middle East and Africa could reach a value of $6.22 billion by 2030 as urban populations rise and food demand increases.
However, Sharma cautions that widespread adoption will take time and investment. Vertical farming still has limitations, particularly in terms of crop variety. Currently, the technology is most suitable for leafy greens, herbs, and seedlings but will require further research to expand to other types of produce.
Conclusion
Dubai’s GigaFarm represents a significant milestone in the field of agri tech and vertical farming. With its waste-to-resource model and cutting-edge technology, the GigaFarm is poised to address food security challenges while reducing environmental impact. By converting waste into valuable agricultural resources, it sets a model for future urban farms worldwide.
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