Dear MEL Topic Readers,
This ‘GigaFarm’ in the desert could produce 3 million kilograms of food
The United Arab Emirates, the UAE, is known for its modern
infrastructure, diverse economy, and significant oil reserves. Because of the desert
climate, there isn’t enough agricultural produce to feed its population of around
10 million, and the Emirates imports over 85% of the food it consumes. In order
to secure its food supply in the barren territory, the Emirates chose to invest
in a non-agricultural method to produce food, vertical farming. Vertical
farming grows crops vertically in stacked layers in controlled environments. It
not only maximizes crop production in minimal space but also optimizes resource
efficiency, including water, energy, and nutrients. GigaFarm project in Dubai
aims to produce three million kilograms of leafy greens, herbs, and vegetable
seedlings annually, which represents as much as 1% of the food imports of the Emirates.
To make vertical farming cleaner and greener, it plans to transform waste
streams, including food scraps and sewage into agricultural products such as
compost, animal feed, and clean water. As desertification and deforestation
continue to threaten the food supply around the world, vertical farming seems
to be a new hope for global food security.
Read the article and learn about another mega project in Dubai, UAE.
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