The UAE has been challenged by desert lands, rising temperatures, and limited arable farming areas, which have directly resulted in higher food imports. With this being said, a revolution in the farming industry was well-needed.
With the dire need, the government's huge support, and the UAE alone being one of the biggest technology leaders, we can see contemporary farming practices, including vertical farming, controlled environment agriculture (CEA), indoor farming, AI-powered agriculture, and many others.
Today, we will discuss what Indoor Farming is and how it has taken the UAE's modern farming by storm.
Market Worth and Contributing Factors
In 2024, the indoor farming market rested at USD 92.4 Mn and is anticipated to become USD 358.9 Mn by 2031, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.90%. You can read the report here. Read the full report here.
The driving force behind the market growth is the result of factors, like innovative strategies, including the National Food Security Strategy 2051, and initiatives like Food Tech Valley and Plant the Emirates. Moreover, other accelerators include Water Scarcity, High Food Import Dependency, Urbanization & Land Constraints, Technological Advancements, Government Support & Investment, Consumer Demand for Fresh, Local Produce, etc.
What is Indoor Farming?
As the name suggests, indoor farming is the farming done in a closed environment (closed loop) or at a controlled environment agriculture set-up. All of this is done while employing high-class technologies, including hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics to grow plants in buildings, warehouses, or even shipping containers.
Moreover, it involves CEA, the latest technologies, and space efficiency. Where conventional farming requires favourable climatic conditions, ample rainfall, and plenty of resources, indoor farming doesn't require all of these.
Instead, it controls temperature, humidity, and light for farmers, resulting in constant, high-quality crops regardless of external weather conditions.
How is it helping the UAE achieve Food Security?
The UAE, due to its harsh climate and water scarcity, imports 80% of the food from countries including Russia, Canada, Australia, India, the United States, and China. Read the full report.
By 2030, the UAE government's agenda is to feed people locally, and indoor farming is serving the purpose along with aeroponics, aquaponics, and hydroponics.
How did the UAE benefit from Indoor Farming?
The UAE benefited from indoor farming in many ways. Some of the benefits include,
1. Indoor farming helped the UAE grow even in hot and humid weather: Something that was impossible for the UAE a few years ago is now possible, thanks to farming techniques such as vertical farming, indoor farming, and hydroponics. Prominent Indoor Farms are Emirates Bustanica, Aerofarms AGX, Pure Harvest Smart Farm, and many others.
2. Indoor Farming brought UAE's Global Food Security Initiative to life: Indoor farming, such as vertical farming, has driven the UAE's agendas, such as addressing food security concerns, boosting local food production, reducing imports, and producing 50% of its food locally by 2051, to another level.
3. Pesticide-free Produce is Possible Now: Indoor farming is mostly pesticide-free free and the reason is the Controlled Environment that eliminates the need to use pesticides and herbicides as it reduces exposure to pests and diseases that could be harmful in the long run.
If you want to witness one of the biggest gatherings of the indoor farming, vertical farming, CEA, and related industries professionals, the 6th Global Vertical Farming 2025 is the platform for you.
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