Agriculture company Sokovo setting up vertical farm in Dubai to grow fruits, vegetables

Sokovo, an agriculture company, will set up a hydroponic facility in Dubai Industrial City to grow vegetables and fruits.

The indoor vertical farm of more than 100,000 square feet in plot size is aligned with the UAE’s focus on food security as a national priority.

UAE currently imports up to 90% of its food and has made food security a part of its long-term strategy.

Sokovo will grow kale, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries and melons to be supplied to hypermarkets, hotels and food service outlets across the UAE, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement on Sunday (July 11).

Managing director of Dubai Industrial City, Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, said the agreement with Sokovo “moves the UAE closer to achieving its goals enshrined in the National Food Security Strategy 2051”.

The strategy covers 18 main food items including fruits, vegetables, grains and pulses, livestock, and fisheries.

The aim is to increase domestic production of strategic food items by 100,000 tons by 2051.

Mariam Almheiri, UAE’s minister for state for food and water security, said in February the government is being flooded with a lot of requests to start growing food in the desert.

Other companies, like VeggiTech, Madar, and Pure Harvest are already involved in vertical farming in the UAE.

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