Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) has launched the first urban vertical farm within food markets and stores.
The pioneering initiative is the first of its kind in the region, providing a unique experience for the customers and enabling them to obtain fresh food products.
The Undersecretary of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Ahmed Al-Eyada witnessed the launch of the project, which was implemented by one of the leading companies in modern technologies for bioagriculture using artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. It often incorporates controlled-environment agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth, and soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics.
The efficient use of land makes vertical agriculture well-suited to urban areas, where space comes at a premium. Vertical farming saves space and allows for more plants to be grown per square foot.
According to the statement, “The project was implemented in the Danube markets in Riyadh, where commercial display units in the store contained small farms that included various plants and agricultural products, such as lettuce, coriander, parsley, and broccoli. Most of these products were imported from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The urban farm is the beginning of a series of similar projects, which aims to reach about 600 to 1,000 farms in the retail system in all markets of the Kingdom in the next five years.
“They are intended to provide 20 percent to 40 percent of the need for agricultural products and vegetables,” as per the statement.
