AgTech Park, an agricultural ecosystem established by ADQ, an investment and holding company based in Abu Dhabi, has begun its operational phase with the launch of a vertical farming project in partnership with Zero, a high-impact technology company based in Italy. The farming facility is the first of several controlled environment agricultural concepts that will be housed in AgTech Park and will focus on enhancing indoor farming locally and exploring desert-climate farming in the UAE. The project aims to strengthen the local production of crops, fruits, and vegetables for multiple applications, including fresh food, nutraceuticals, and biopharmaceuticals. The inaugural farming facility is located in KEZAD, which has a well-established ecosystem for food industries across the entire value chain, creating a strong base for growth for both local producers and the food industry as a whole.
The 200-hectare AgTech Park aims to target production volumes of over 40 kilotonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables annually, accounting for up to 6 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, of the UAE’s total consumption and import of the produce grown within the park. The park will utilize a variety of sustainable farming techniques to localize the food supply chain in line with the National Food Security Strategy 2051. The pilot phase of the Zero project will conclude in the summer of 2023, and a 40,000 square metres commercial phase of the vertical farm is expected to be launched in Al Ain, along with other projects featuring controlled-environment technologies.