Vertical Farming in Naturally Harsh Environments

Traditionally, people talk about vertical farming in its potential to produce food inside cities. However, urban farming in cities have been a homogenous concept that did not account for climate and geographic conditions. In other words, when we think about vertical farming, we think about growing food in cities like New York, London, Shanghai. There is a special thing about urban farming: it enables farming in harsh environments like never before. Think about farming in the burning hot desert in the UAE or freezing cold Denmark, which is what makes the new technology exciting.

Credit: World Economic Forum

In the UAE, the development of vertical farming is particularly noteworthy due to the country’s arid climate and scarcity of arable land. For example, a 30,000-square-meter farm in Dubai is projected to produce over 900 tonnes of leafy greens annually, such as spinach and arugula, utilizing a system that saves 95% of the water compared to traditional farming methods. Emirates passengers have been enjoying produce from this farm since July 2022, and UAE residents can also purchase these greens in stores(1). The UAE has emerged as a regional leader in indoor vertical farms, which optimize plant growth in controlled environments and minimize water, soil, and land area usage. Notable examples include Bustanica in Dubai and Pure Harvest Smart Farms in Abu Dhabi(2). Another significant development is AeroFarms’ AgX, a 65,000 square feet R&D vertical farm in Abu Dhabi, which is among the largest of its kind worldwide(3). It’s a $40-million facility capable of producing over 1 million kg of leafy greens annually, including spinach, kale, and arugula, also underscores the UAE’s commitment to this innovative farming method(4). The interesting thing about the UAE case is that, for its harsh environment, it has no choice previously to engage in large scale agriculture. Most produces are imported from other countries. For gulf countries like the UAE, cost comes at second, when it has enough revenue to kick-start the vertical farming industry, which requires a huge amount of starting funds. Similar but colder, the countries in northern Europe is also gaining progress.

Credit: Gulf News

In Nordic countries, vertical farming is gaining traction as a solution to agricultural challenges posed by the region’s climate. Nordic Harvest in Denmark, established in 2020, is a prime example. As one of the largest vertical farms in Europe, it raised nearly EUR 8.5 million in its first round of investments. The company focuses on creating a sustainable food system with local production, which is vital as the world faces significant sustainability challenges(5). Vertical farming in these regions utilizes new technologies to reduce resource consumption, requiring only a fraction of the land and water resources compared to traditional methods. Investments in companies like Nordic Harvest are seen as key to maintaining Denmark’s reputation for high-quality and sustainable food production. Vertical farming aligns well with Danish wind energy, contributing significantly to Denmark’s efforts in electrifying agriculture and reducing CO2 emissions in agricultural crop production, which is crucial for the country’s goal of a 70% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 (7).

Credit: Atlas of the Future

These examples from the UAE and Nordic countries illustrate the significant potential of vertical farming in transforming food production in regions with challenging natural conditions. Most importantly, these two locations are examples that show us, when our climate condition reaches extreme points, what we can do to keep producing agricultural products.

Written by: Peirong Li