The ever-evolving skyline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to captivate its citizens, residents and tourists alike. It is home to some of the world’s most iconic structural masterpieces satisfying an array of architectural tastes. Over the past 50 years, we have watched projects such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Airport, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Palm Jumeirah, Port Rashid and Sheikh Zayed Road — to name a but a few, shape the Emirates’ infrastructure, transport services and skyline since its first National Day in 1971.
The UAE does not miss an opportunity when it comes to innovative design and bold ideas. Building bigger and better is a common theme across the nation. The country is famed for its construction industry and is certainly not a beginner in the game. The UAE is home to over 1,000 hotels (Statista) and a multitude of commercial office buildings. In recent years, the country has moved into the cultural sector with the construction of the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Museum of the Future, Dubai.
So, what next for the UAE? We, at AECOM, are keen to explore the rising trend and opportunities for inner-city agriculture and food manufacturing within the UAE. We’re specifically interested in how indoor farming can meet consumer demand for fresh produce and in turn reduce reliance on imports. The idea stems from:
- The number of buildings that have stalled during construction and transforming them through innovative AgriTech solutions.
- Supply-chain disruptions and increasing costs of imported food produce, which were exacerbated by coronavirus.
Current statistics for the exact number of incomplete construction (buildings) projects are not known. However, when passing through the Emirates’ cities and communities, their concrete shells are visible, nestled amongst occupied commercial and residential structures, and perhaps ripe for a revived purpose. In Dubai, a new law passed in 2020 governing unfinished and cancelled projects. The tribunal will review and settle disputes and complaints that have arisen on unfinished, cancelled or liquidated real estate projects. Combined with the cultural shift in the AgriTech industry the tribunal outcomes may perhaps encourage the re-purposing of such buildings.
Statistics by Trowers & Hamlins report that the UAE imports an estimated 80-90 per cent (as of 2019) of total food supplies.
In 2019, the UAE ranked 31st in the world as a food secure country by the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines four pillars of food security; food availability, food access, utilization and stability, which the UAE achieves with its ability to purchase food from international sources and the upheld political and economic position.
The National Food Strategy aims to make the UAE the world’s best in the Global Food Security Index by 2051 and among the top 10 in 2021. In 2020, the UAE’s Federal Cabinet approved a national system for sustainable agriculture with the aim of improving the efficiency of the UAE’s farms, thereby enhancing food self-sufficiency. Creating new opportunities that support the sector remains highly ranked on the index. The UAE has made significant progress in terms of its commitments and targets for not only reducing carbon emissions and new climate change targets, but also through its commitment to becoming self-sufficient and supplying food from domestic sources.
The UAE media reported that in Q1 2020, 3.5 million tonnes of food was imported into the UAE, equating to more than AED 13 billion. The UAE also exported 918,000 tonnes, over AED 3.7 billion. According to the Emirates Council for Food Security the annual average consumption of food per capita is 700kg split as per the following food groups.
In 2018, it was reported that the UAE agreed on a deal for 12 new vertical farms allocating 7,600 square meters.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) announced an initial investment towards indoor farming.
Value of first investment of a greater masterplan.
UAE success stories
In isolation, this method will not meet the UAE’s climate change and carbon emissions commitments or mitigate food import, but it will play a significant part.
In 2018, it was reported the UAE agreed on a deal for 12 new vertical farms allocating 7,600 square meters of land to the enterprise. Later, in 2020, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) announced an initial investment of USD 100 million towards indoor farming, the first investment of a greater masterplan valued at $272 million targeting AgriTech. The funds will be used for research and development to support the UAE to become more resilient and the first country in the world to commercially grow tomatoes under artificial light.
Al Badia vertical farm was the first of its kind in the GCC and located near the built-up centre of Downtown Dubai. Their sentiment is to “close the gap between farm and chef’s kitchen’’. They are currently serving local restaurants with ‘home grown’ micro-greens and herbs.
Another success story is a hypermarket in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, growing microgreens in store. They are currently seeking a lightbulb supplier to provide a bulb with reduced power to offset the electricity running cost.
Emirates Flight Catering and Crop One built an indoor vertical farm in 2018 to spearhead greater agricultural self-sufficiency. This was an innovative solution to improving Emirates Group productivity, product and service quality through securing their own supply chain of locally sourced vegetables and reducing their environmental footprint.
With encouraging examples along with other in-country food and beverage outlets sourcing produce straight from the ‘local farm’, the UAE has the foundations in place to reduce the carbon footprint directly associated to food imports whilst meeting its food supply self-sufficiency objective.
Cost drivers
In 1999, microbiologist, Dickson Despommier, established the terminology ‘vertical farming’ and introduced the idea as a solution to farming in countries with climate restrictions like the UAE, where fruit and vegetables are difficult to grow via traditional farming methods. The process can support the reduction of water usage; vertical farming reportedly uses 95 per cent less water than conventional farming.
The technology and conditions required to create an environment in which fruit and vegetables can thrive provides limitations. In most cases, vertical farms focus on herbs and salads as they require less energy and water in comparison to other fruits and vegetables. This does not mean that fruits and vegetables cannot be grown indoors, but they will be more costly as they require more intensive energy and water maintenance.
In instances where water sources are scarce or protected, the operational water systems configured within the indoor farms require consideration. Water is a precious resource and even though indoor farming requires its use in the operational aspect, as well as through crop growth, its dependence should not be forgotten. An ideal scenario for indoor farming is that the crops are both biologically viable (can be grown) and economically viable (can make money), taking into consideration the optimum climate, demand and most appropriate technique.
Indoor farming
Vertical farming: an alternative method to conventional farming which requires 95 per cent less water to grow crops such as microgreens, salads and certain fruits and vegetables.
The produce is grown through processes such as Hydroponics, Aeroponics and Aquaponics. The vertical farming systems, according to Despommier include skyscrapers, integrated with renewable energy technology such as solar panels,wind turbines and hydroelectric power. Mixed-use skyscrapers incorporate the vertical mechanism in a closed environment, but also grows crops utilizing natural sunlight from top floors of commercial office space where optimum sunlight is sourced.
Stackable shipping containers can grow crops such as strawberries and leafy greens using hydroponics, LED lighting and heating and ventilation systems for optimal climate and temperature.
Hydroponics is a process using nutrient solutions and growing mediums rather than fertilisers and soil. The nutrients solution is flooded into the tray at observed intervals, excess water is recycled back to the reservoir ready for the next flood. Artificial intelligence (AI) comes into play and can monitor the growing habits of each crop to improve the process.
Aeroponics is a system whereby plants are grown with roots suspended in the air in a water misting environment without soil or water flooded into trays. The roots are continually sprayed with a misting nutrient solution. This method not only uses less water compared conventional farming but also in comparison to the hydroponic system.
Aquaponics is a method combining hydroponics with fish (known as aquaculture). The fish waste is used instead of a nutrient solution as mentioned in the previous examples. The water from the fish tank (or housing) is circulated to the grow trays, like the method used in hydroponics. Eventually this water, once combined with the bacteria within the plant trays, is converted into a vermicompost then used as a fertilizer for the crops, the water is then recycled back to the fish tank.
Adapting vertical structures and even ‘skyscrapers’ to create an indoor farm where produce is grown in vertical stacks on multiple levels, demands a greater built-up area compared to building footprint.
Farms require a 24/7 light source, temperature-controlled environment, water filtration system, irrigation, nutrients and artificial intelligence. Crops can grow all year round serving the local community and for export purposes. This solution is resistant to climate changes, arid land limitations and is adaptable to changing dietary habits.
The technology focus is based on maintaining indoor temperatures to an optimum 22⁰C, which for the UAE will be met through chillers or district cooling. The crops require a continual ‘light’ that is artificially sourced from LED lighting and can be achieved through connections to power sources or through a photovoltaic (PV) system constructed on the building’s roof. The irrigation (water) supply is filtered potable watered purified through a water osmosis system.
Further, the application of AI to indoor farming is limitless. For example, AI can monitor crop growth, detect issues with the crop’s health, and signal actions required to optimise the next growing cycle. AI efficiencies can always be succeeded whether this be the control and measure of irrigation schedules (thus reducing water usage and waste even further than conventional methods) or gathering growing records for individual crops by understanding the required technique for improved harvests.
Final message
The Water Network predicts that by 2030 global water demand will outweigh supply by 40 per cent. The effects of climate change have already impacted the water cycle leading to droughts and extreme rainfall, both of which are detrimental to the agricultural industry.
Vertical farming is part of the global solution that also targets the reduction of greenhouse gases which agriculture and forestry account for 25 per cent of what the world currently produces. Furthermore, for the UAE it creates opportunities that give purpose to partially-built structures and provides a mechanism for improving food self-sufficiency and a reduced carbon footprint.
The Emirates News Agency reported in 2019 that Dubai alone is home to approximately 11,800 restaurant and café outlets, which have the potential to source their food supplies from local vertical farms. Future investment and advances in the AgriTech industry through the application of hydroponic, aquaponic, aeroponic vertical farming will enable produce to be grown ‘more efficiently’ and will go some way in reducing water demand and the environmental impact of the current levels of food imports.
The UAE has observed incredible development as a country over the last 50 years and the drive for an innovative change in transforming the current food chain is visible. Investment in both the public and private sectors and utilisation of sea and air connectivity will support the country to achieve its AgriTech and food security goals.
The Emirates News Agency reported in 2019 that Dubai alone is home to approximately 11,800 restaurant and café outlets, which have the potential to source their food supplies from local vertical farms.
This article is written using research of data and information undertaken by the author from various web-based sources. The purpose of this article is not to provide design solutions for ‘vertical farming’ methods but provide an insight and analysis into the topic using available information from current examples. The exact technology operating in existing indoor farms is highly confidential and an explanatory overview is provided for information.