Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Backed by advanced technologies and a clear national vision for food security, farms across the country are flourishing with fruit and vegetables once thought impossible to grow in arid conditions.
Innovation and government support have transformed the agricultural landscape in the UAE, allowing farms to produce a wider range of crops and reduce dependence on imports, according to Amjad Omar Al Akhal, Farm Manager at Emirates Hydroponics Farms.
Hydroponics is one of the AgriTech innovations that have boosted farms’ productivity. Emirates Hydroponics Farm, established in 2005, was the first commercial hydroponic farm in the UAE.
Speaking to Aletihad, Al Akhal said hydroponics served as the ideal, sustainable solution to address climate and water challenges.
“Hydroponics allows us to save around 86% of water compared to conventional farming, as water can be recycled continuously instead of being lost in the soil.”
This type of farming also enables the production of crops that would not normally grow in the UAE’s arid conditions, he added.
“Hydroponics allows us to grow a wide range of plants that cannot be cultivated properly in the Emirati climate,” Al Akhal said. “It helps us expand our production and test new product lines every year.”
By adopting AgriTech solutions, Emirates Hydroponics Farms was able to build new greenhouses and advanced facilities that make it possible to grow crops from different climates.
“We now grow varieties of lettuce that are usually cultivated in Europe or North America,” Al Akhal said. “By controlling the environment, dosing systems, and conditions, we have been able to grow them successfully here in the UAE. This has helped us expand production, increase shelf life, and improve the quality and taste of our products.”
Food security is a national priority for the Emirates, and the government plays a major role in supporting the shift from conventional to high-tech farming, Al Akhal said.
Emirates Hydroponics Farms currently produces around eight varieties of lettuce, along with 11 types of herbs such as rosemary, thyme, basil, coriander, and mint. The farm also grows different kinds of cucumbers, tomatoes, baby spinach, baby arugula, and much more.
“By applying high-tech solutions, we are now able to produce several types of crops all year round. We succeeded in controlling the heat and radiation inside the greenhouses, which allows us to grow crops without interruption. These technologies help us meet local demand, reduce imports, and support national food security,” Al Akhal said.
