This content was paid for by an advertiser and produced by Create, the branded content studio of CNN International Commercial. The news and editorial staff of CNN had no role in its creation.

Hero Image

New innovations are promising to feed the world in an increasingly challenging environment

Row upon row of climate-controlled, hydroponic greenhouses stand on the land surrounding Dubai. Using a combination of clever cooling, nutrient-rich water, and data-driven management, they grow crops like bell peppers, chillies, eggplants, and tomatoes.

The greenhouses enable farming on land that wouldn’t be suitable for conventional agriculture. But they’re also more efficient than traditional farming.

“The main benefit of a hydroponic farm is its ability to reduce water consumption by up to 95%,” says Alexander Kappes, CEO of Dubai-based Greener Crop, which operates hydroponic farms across the GCC.

image
Alexander Kappes, CEO of Greener Crop

The company is even looking at weaving solar panels into the greenhouses’ shade nets to make the farms as self-sufficient and sustainable as possible.

The global population continues to swell amidst an increasingly challenging climate. Greener Crop is part of a technology revolution that is sweeping agriculture in a bid to bolster food security. But there’s a reason the company emerged in Dubai.

Environment for innovation

The UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 aims to make it the most food-secure nation in the world by mid-century. It already climbed to 23rd from 35th between 2021 and 2022 on the Economist Impact Global Food Security Index.

The policy dovetails with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability in the run-up to hosting the COP28 climate summit in November, where attendees are due to present food security plans announced at COP27.

A key pillar of the food security strategy is a dramatic escalation of domestic food production – leading to a range of government support, such as subsidies and incentives, that works alongside Dubai’s robust private funding ecosystem: the emirate is home to one-third of MENA investors.

“We have a lot of sunshine. We have a lot of land. And with the subsidies and support from the government, the cost of setting up a farm is very low.”

— Alexander Kappes, CEO of Greener Crop

This robust funding and policy support combines with Dubai’s natural advantages to create a uniquely fertile environment for agriculture technology (agtech) innovators.

“We have such phenomenal conditions here [in Dubai],” says Kappes. “We have a lot of sunshine. We have a lot of land. And with the subsidies and support from the government, the cost of setting up a farm is very low.”

And those conditions are already yielding some of the world’s leading agtech projects, promising to both bolster food security while reducing agriculture’s environmental impact.

image

The technology of farming

Dubai’s agtech ecosystem is especially strong on controlled environment indoor farming. Alongside hydroponic greenhouses, the emirate is home to one of the world’s largest vertical farms.

Standing near Al Maktoum International Airport, Bustanica is operated by Emirates Crop One – a partnership between U.S. vertical farming company Crop One and Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC). The enormous facility houses 330,000 sq. ft. of controlled farm environment, with rows of leafy greens stacked on top of the other.

Bustanica produces up to 3,000kg of produce per day, without using pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals. It uses 95% less water than conventional agriculture and it harnesses advanced digital technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize growing conditions.

3 Dubai AgTech Startups To Watch

  • Krispr Farms – operates vertical aeroponic farming systems which replace soil with nutrient-dense mist
  • Greener Crop – operates hydroponic farms with data-driven farm management tools across the GCC
  • Badia Farms – the GCC's first indoor vertical farm

Similar technology is employed by Greener Crop – Microsoft’s GrowthX Accelerator is a lead investor – which Kappes says is essential to future food security: “If we can make farming 20-30% more efficient, that’s 20-30% fewer farms we need to build.”

Other innovations include Dubai startup Desert Control’s revolutionary liquid clay technology, which transforms desert into fertile land; the exploration of crops like sea asparagus that grow more easily in the emirate; and the development of alternative proteins.

There is doubtless more to come. Launching in 2024, Food Tech Valley is an 18 million sq. ft. ‘agtech city’ that will house a complete food ecosystem under one roof: production, business, research and development, and logistics.

The latter capitalizes on Dubai’s position as a major global trading hub and gateway between east and west – equally vital for shoring up the world’s food supplies.

Diversifying food sources

Food security is multi-dimensional. While agtech is a primary driver, a diversity of sources is still the surest path to resilience – for filling gaps in domestic production, and when times are tough.

That’s why the UAE’s food security strategy also calls for diversifying its own international food suppliers and facilitating greater global trade.

A recent example of the strategy in action is Dubai International Chamber’s work with Nhimbe – one of Zimbabwe’s largest fruit exporters – to establish exports into the emirate, as well as supporting re-exports to Asian markets, using Dubai for trans-shipments.

Partnerships like these will only expand as part of the Dubai Economic Agenda “D33”, which aims to make Dubai a top five global logistics hub.

image

The future of food security

The world has never needed innovation more to secure the global food supply. With its combination of policy support, funding opportunities, and network effect, Dubai has created an agricultural ecosystem that deftly combines mission imperative with business opportunity.

It’s an ecosystem that is already yielding solutions that may come to feed the world far into the future.

Dubai’s agtech boom in numbers

RECENTLY POSTED
image
From Off-Road to Rescue: The Jeep Enthusiasts Using Four Wheels for Good
From raising awareness for charitable causes to coastal clean-ups, meet the off-roaders driving change in Dubai’s community
image
Why tech investors are turning to Dubai
Insiders say the emirate’s tech ecosystem has reached a new level of maturity, catching the attention of global investors
image
How Dubai’s Apparel Group conquered the world
From nine pairs of shoes to 2,200 stores in 14 countries, Apparel Group’s expansion testifies to Dubai’s global springboard status.
image
The making of an international FinTech magnet
FinTech is booming in Dubai and global investors are taking notice. Two co-founders of successful startups share their stories.
image
The unicorn incubator that is a “dream come true” for investors
The Dubai initiative that’s growing unicorns – and exhilarating venture capitalists
image
How Dubai Fueled the Rise of a Crypto Powerhouse
“Whether you're someone who wants to work in a company or set up your own, there are a lot of exciting developments and momentum in Dubai at a time when other jurisdictions are cracking down,” Ola Doudin, Co-Founder and CEO of BitOasis
image
Dubai is the ideal launchpad for manufacturing’s digitized future
A raft of far-reaching initiatives is fueling a high-tech, sustainable industry
image
Manufacturing is getting smarter and more sustainable in Dubai
Already home to hundreds of advanced factories, Dubai is doubling down on next-gen manufacturing
image
The making of a futurist laboratory
The CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation explains how it is predicting, preparing for, and creating the future
image
Where Innovation Meets Investment
Why Dubai is the destination for investors and entrepreneurs seeking a uniquely innovation-friendly business environment
image
How digitalization is supercharging Dubai’s economy – in every sector
In its drive for diversified, sustainable growth, Dubai has become a thriving hub for digital innovation across a swathe of economic sectors
image
How Dubai is developing the next generation of coders
The emirate has become a tech talent nexus – for established developers and budding coders alike
image
How Dubai became the North Star of international tech
The annual Expand North Star convention gathers luminaries from across the world – affirming Dubai’s ascension as a global tech powerhouse
image
The agricultural revolution securing future food supplies
Food security is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity. The solutions are emerging in Dubai
image
The Innovations At The Heart of Dubai’s Retail Growth
Sky-high standards, an expanding market, and a supportive government have catalyzed a wave of experimentation in the emirate – and a boom in retail
image
The Future Of Farming Is Technological
New innovations are promising to feed the world in an increasingly challenging environment
image
Creating The Ideal Environment for Digital Success
Digital businesses need flexible legislation and cutting-edge infrastructure to grow sustainably. They’ll find it in Dubai
image
Public meets private to shape the future of logistics
Business and government must collaborate to respond to the challenges confronting the sector
image
How should cutting-edge tech be regulated?
Regulation has the power to stimulate or limit new technology. Dubai’s sandboxes are striking the right balance between risk and innovation to drive transformation
image
The history-making fintech unicorn that puts people first
Hiring a team of top international talent requires a large and diverse talent pool. For one Israeli tech startup, Dubai was the answer
image
Liberalized trade is the crux of resilient supply chains
Global disruption is localizing supply chains. But frictionless borders remain crucial to the flow of goods and services
image
What's attracting global tech talent to Dubai
Dubai has emerged as a new heartland for the digital workforce. But what makes this destination so compelling for the next generation of tech talent?
image
How to build a tech business from scratch
Rupert Tait arrived in Dubai with “nothing but a suitcase.” He had a million-dollar business within three years
image
How Dubai is becoming a new capital of global finance
New frontiers are shaking up the old financial order, making way for a fresh generation of investment havens
image
What the ‘Careem effect’ means for global tech
The Dubai unicorn’s success signaled the arrival of a major new tech capital
image
Where tech talent goes to thrive
In the global race for digital skills, how does a city become a tech talent magnet?
image
How to stabilize global supply chains
Years of disruption have put global supply chains under strain. What can logistics carriers do to stabilize networks and get trade flowing again?
image
Why the crypto community is embracing Dubai
The leading lights of virtual assets are clustering in this global finance hub. What does that mean for the digital economy?
Dubai DET Logo

Learn more about how the future of digital finance is being shaped in Dubai.

Find out more