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A new partnership in Dubai is set to transform food waste into valuable resources and reduce reliance on imports, offering a glimpse into a future where food security and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

Food Tech Valley, a UAE-government-led hub dedicated to innovative food technology solutions, partnered with ReFarm to build a giga farm.

This 900,000-square-foot farm aims to revolutionize food production by recycling over 50,000 tonnes of food waste annually and growing a staggering 3,000 tonnes of produce.

Six complementary technologies will be integrated within the Dubai Food Tech Valley site, creating a self-contained ecosystem that maximizes resource efficiency and eliminates waste. 

This closed-loop, circular waste-to-value system will produce over 3 million kilos of fresh produce annually, supporting the UAE’s ambitious goal of decarbonizing food production and replacing 1% of the country’s fresh produce imports.

Farm construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2024, with full operationalization expected by 2026. The project will be located in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley, a master development led by major Dubai property developer Wasl.

“Rethinking our food production systems is a clear priority, and the decision of ReFarm to launch a facility in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley is a significant step forward for the development of a technologically advanced, low-carbon agricultural sector,” said Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade.