Food Tech Valley, a Dubai-based technology center designed to address food security, has entered a partnership with the ReFarm group to build a gigafarm capable of growing over three million kilograms of produce annually.

The project, which starts in mid-2024, aims to help decarbonize UAE food production, replacing 1% of the country’s fresh produce imports. Both parties signed an agreement at this year’s COP28, which should see the 83,612-square-meter farm becoming fully operational by 2026.

As well as producing vast quantities of food, the high-tech farm will be capable of recycling over 50,000 tons of food waste each year while growing two billion plants.

“Rethinking our food production systems is a clear priority, and the decision of ReFarm to launch a facility in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley is a significant step forward for the development of a technologically advanced, low-carbon agricultural sector,” said Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

The gigafarm will be split into four zones: Agritech and engineering, food innovation, research and development, and smart food logistics. In addition, the site will become a closed-loop circular waste-to-value system, maximizing resources and preventing waste from entering landfills by creating organic compost.

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“This is one of many transformative projects which is set to be part of Food Tech Valley, which will have a significant impact on the UAE’s food security, maximizing the use of precious resources and decarbonizing the food supply chain,” explained Hesham Al Qassim, chief executive of Wasl Asset Management Group, which is developing the project alongside the Ministry of Food and Water Security.

Technologies used at the gigafarm are expected to recover 90% of the ammonia sulfate from wastewater, and no mains or groundwater connection will be required for the vertical farm to produce fresh produce. Developers claim the site will be 98% more efficient than traditional field-based farming.