Vertical Farming Dubai: An Overview

By 2050, it is predicted that the global population will exceed 9.7 billion, posing a significant challenge in providing food for such a vast number of people. Compounding this challenge is the ongoing loss of arable land due to urbanization and industrial expansion. One potential solution to this challenge is vertical farming Dubai, which holds promise as a new approach to agriculture.

According to 2015 statistics, about one-third of the world’s agricultural land has disappeared over the past four decades. This loss of arable land, coupled with a rapidly growing population’s increasing demand for food, presents one of the world’s most significant challenges today. Could vertical farming Dubai be the future of agriculture and a viable solution to ensure food security? Here, we will try to understand how it can help out.

What is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is a method of cultivating crops on surfaces that are inclined vertically. This approach involves growing crops in stacked layers. You can integrate it into structures such as skyscrapers, shipping containers, or repurposed warehouses. The aim is to optimize space utilization and increase productivity while reducing the environmental impact of food production.

This contemporary concept is rooted in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology. It utilizes indoor farming techniques. The method involves the artificial regulation of temperature, light, humidity, and gases, allowing for the indoor production of food and medicine.

Vertical farming is similar to greenhouses, which rely on artificial lighting and metal reflectors to supplement natural sunlight. The primary objective of this farming method is to optimize crop yield within a confined space.

Is Vertical Farming the Future of Agriculture?

With the increasing number of innovations to improve the world, vertical farming Dubai is emerging as an essential component of the growing trend of “urban agriculture.” By enabling food production to occur closer to densely populated areas, vertical farming may represent the future of agriculture.

Vertical farming is gaining popularity, with numerous setups being established in homes. It is also being set up in multi-storied buildings, warehouses, and purpose-built structures. It is becoming increasingly common to see vertical farms being built and utilized as rooftop gardens in urban areas.

The primary objective is to offer a more convenient, cost-effective, and env-friendly means of producing food. It will thereby facilitate large-scale food production in the future.

Why Choose Vertical Farming over Traditional Agriculture?

Vertical farming offers numerous advantages over traditional agriculture, making it an attractive solution for food sourcing.

One of the biggest advantages is that growing more crops requires significantly less space than traditional farming. By producing considerable food in a limited area, vertical farming can free up more land for other uses.

A US-based company has developed a vertical farm that can produce the same crops as a traditional farm but with only one-tenth of the land space required. Now the question arises, if you are already using that land for farming, why should you ever convert to this type of farming?

Certain crops can deplete soil nutrients and require crop rotation to rejuvenate the soil. With the world’s growing population, this land may soon become highly sought-after for housing, urban development, or energy production.

What Can Be Grown in a Vertical Farm?

Growing staple crops such as grains and cereals in a vertical farm can be challenging due to the closed, indoor nature of the system. Wheat is an example of a crop that may not thrive on a vertical farm.

On the other hand, various plants and crops are well-suited for vertical farms. Leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, and kale are the most popular as they multiply, have high yields, and take up minimal space. Additionally, fruits and vegetables can be grown on vertical farms.

A vertical farm can also support the growth of other commonly consumed vegetables when set up correctly. In addition to leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, and kale, tomatoes and strawberries have been popular choices for vertical farms. Many vertical farms are expanding their crop variety to include peppers, squash, and other vegetables.

All You Need To Setup a Vertical Farm Dubai

Setting up a vertical farm in Dubai requires a different approach than other at-home gardening or farming systems. Vertical farms in today’s context refer to large-scale commercial food production sites.

Some companies specialize in creating these vertical farm systems, while others opt to self-establish their farms. Setting up a vertical farm can be a significant but worthwhile undertaking. Apart from the plants, the key components of a vertical farm include:

1 Space

Securing a spacious location is the first step in setting up a vertical farm in Dubai. Whether a private entrepreneur or a government initiative, finding a suitable location can be a challenging process. Although many empty buildings exist, the key challenge is identifying one that can be converted at a minimal cost.

The selection process should involve checking for structural damage, dampness, and proper insulation, while also considering the proximity to reliable power sources. Ultimately, the goal is to find a suitable location that is accessible within Dubai’s metropolitan area.

2 The equipment

The equipment is the second critical component of a vertical farm setup in Dubai. Remember that your farm will require robust support structures to hold the plants, which will occupy most of the space.

In addition, ventilation systems will be essential to prevent rot, fungus, and disease from spreading. As the natural sunlight may be limited, you may require a significant amount of artificial “grow” lighting. The plants must grow adequately. Additionally, the farm will need an aeroponic or hydroponic system to deliver adequate nutrients to the plants.

The watering systems used in vertical farms in Dubai will differ significantly from traditional methods. One approach is to use rotating racks. These racks hold the plants and alternate them through aeroponic cycles. If rotating shelves are not feasible, you can choose a more traditional hydroponic method. The plants will remain in place in this technique and undergo “flood and drain” cycles.

3 The labor

Compared to soil agriculture, the amount of human labor required in a vertical farm in Dubai is relatively minimal. However, it is still considered one of the most significant components of the farm’s operation.

Human labor and lighting costs are among the top expenses for maintaining a vertical farm, with the two costs being almost equal. To reduce lighting costs, one can opt for energy-efficient LED lighting.

Human intervention remains essential despite the availability of efficient and automated systems for vertical farming in Dubai. While machine monitoring has become highly advanced, aspects of agriculture still require human intervention to ensure optimal plant growth and health.

Even with advanced technology and automation, vertical farms in Dubai still require human monitoring to ensure the health of plants and detect any potential machine errors. It is true for any farming, as all farms need at least some level of human assistance to maintain their operations.

Benefits of Vertical Farming

Vertical farming is a promising approach to agriculture that offers a glimpse into the future of farming. In addition to its potential for higher crop yields in a smaller cultivation area, numerous other benefits are associated with this farming method. Some of the primary advantages are listed below:

1 Increased And Year-Round Crop Production:

It allows farmers to produce more crops from the growing area. Several studies have shown that one acre of an indoor area may offer equivalent production to at least four to six acres of outdoor capacity.

It is also estimated that even a small building with a base area can support a massive quantity of conventional horizontal farming. Moreover, it is also possible to have year-round crop production, especially in a controlled indoor env – entirely controlled by this type of farming technologies.

2 Usage of Less Water In Cultivation:

It will allow you to produce crops with 75 percent to 95 percent less water than regular cultivation requires. Therefore, it can do wonders in arid areas and the Middle East, where water is scarce.

3 Unaffected By Unfavorable Weather Conditions:

As you know, crops in a field get adversely affected by natural calamities such as cyclones, torrential rains, tornadoes, flooding, or severe droughts. It is important to note that these natural calamities are rising due to global warming.

In such a scenario, the chances that indoor vertical farms will feel the brunt of the unfavorable weather are significantly less. Therefore, the probability of a bumper crop harvest throughout the year could be very high.

Future of Vertical Farming Dubai

As with any technology-based solution, the future of vertical farming is poised for significant innovation. In the years ahead, we can anticipate the emergence of larger-scale farms, increased efficiency, and a greater reliance on technology to drive advancements in this field.

Vertical farming is already being implemented with advanced technologies that enable high levels of monitoring and control. These farms are remotely managed through computer programs and apps that can precisely regulate factors such as humidity levels and crop production. We expect to see even greater precision and broader adoption of these techniques as technology advances.

Vertical farms and hydroponic growing systems, which enable soilless crop cultivation, are becoming increasingly prevalent in urban areas throughout Asia and the United States. Over time, we can anticipate a more significant number of vertical farms being established, albeit at varying speeds, with some regions adopting this approach more rapidly than others due to differences in supply chains. However, ultimately, we can see vertical farming becoming more common worldwide and perhaps even witnessing the emergence of large-scale vertical farming conglomerates in the future.

One key area for potential future development in vertical farming is reducing overall energy consumption. While still in the research phase, several companies are exploring energy systems for vertical farms that utilize solar energy as the primary energy source or as a supplement to the power grid.