Sokovo along with Dubai Industrial City, the largest manufacturing and logistics hub in the region, will establish a vertical farm that will produce leafy greens, fruit and vegetables, each year.
The indoor farm will grow fresh kale, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries and melons and will supply hypermarkets, hotels as well as top chefs.
The facility will be environmentally friendly and will feature a retractable sunroof to maximise natural light and reduce electricity consumption.
Processing and sorting equipment will sanitise and pack the produce for a farm-to-fork delivery system.
Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Managing Director of Dubai Industrial City said, "Growing melons, tomatoes, strawberries and kale in an arid climate with limited water and arable land should be impossible, but the UAE’s commitment to innovation-driven food security shows anything is possible. Our agreement with Sokovo to build a world-class vertical farm marks an exciting chapter in the future of food production, and we are delighted to welcome them to our business district. Food security is a national priority, and the expansion of technology-driven sustainable farming is vital to build and scale resilient production systems that can grow fresh and healthy produce. It also catalyses investment and employment opportunities that contribute to our knowledge-based economy. And today’s important agreement moves the UAE closer to achieving the goals enshrined in the National Food Security Strategy 2051."