news
Emirates Flight Catering is opening the world’s largest farm in Dubai
Emirates Flight Catering is opening the world’s largest farm in Dubai
Olorunfemi Adejuyigbe
Bustanica has opened the doors to the largest hydroponic farm on the planet, backed by an investment of over US$40m.
The facility is the first vertical farm for Emirates Crop One, the joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world’s largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines, and Crop One, an industry leader in technology-driven indoor vertical farming.
Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the 330,000sqft facility is geared to produce more than 1,000,000 kilograms of high-quality leafy greens annually, while requiring 95% less water than conventional agriculture. At any point in time, the facility grows in excess of 1m cultivars (plants), which will provide an output of 3,000 kgs per day.
Bustanica is driven by powerful technology – machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced methods – and a highly specialised in-house team that includes agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists and plant scientists.
A continuous production cycle ensures the produce is super fresh and clean, and grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals.
Passengers on Emirates and other airlines can look forward to forking these delicious leafy greens, including lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens, and spinach, onboard their flights from July. Bustanica is not just revolutionising salads in the sky – UAE consumers will soon be able to add these greens to their shopping carts at the nearest supermarkets. Bustanica also plans to expand into the production and sale of fruits and vegetables.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: “Long-term food security and self-sufficiency are vital to the economic growth of any country, and the UAE is no exception. We’ve specific challenges in our region, given the limitations around arable land and climate. Bustanica ushers in a new era of innovation and investments, which are important steps for sustainable growth and align with our country’s well-defined food and water security strategies.
“Emirates Flight Catering constantly invests in the latest technologies to delight customers, optimise operations, and minimise our environmental footprint. Bustanica helps secure our supply chain, and ensures our customers can enjoy locally sourced, nutritious produce. By bringing production closer to consumption, we’re reducing the food journey from farm to fork. Congratulations to the Bustanica team for their remarkable achievements so far and for setting global standards and benchmarks in agronomy.”
Craig Ratajczyk, Chief Executive Officer, Crop One said: “After significant planning and construction, and navigating the unforeseen challenges of the pandemic, we’re thrilled to celebrate this tremendous milestone alongside our joint venture partner, Emirates Flight Catering.
“It’s our mission to cultivate a sustainable future to meet global demand for fresh, local food, and this first large format farm is the manifestation of that commitment. This new facility serves as a model for what’s possible around the globe.”
The farm’s closed-loop system is designed to circulate water through the plants to maximise water usage and efficiency. When the water vaporises, it is recovered and recycled into the system, saving 250m litres of water every year compared to traditional outdoor farming for the same output.
Bustanica will have zero impact on the world’s threatened soil resources, an incredibly reduced reliance on water and year-round harvests unhampered by weather conditions and pests. Consumers buying Bustanica’s greens from supermarkets can eat it straight from the bag – even washing can damage the leaves and introduce contaminants.
Crop One Holdings Inc. (Crop One), headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, is an established and experienced vertical farming leader with continuous commercial operation exceeding 6 years. Leveraging new technological and biological advancements, Crop One has built a scalable, global model to bring fresh, local produce, to previously ungrowable environments.-ends
Emirates Flight Catering is one of the world’s largest catering operations. Offering airline, events and VIP catering as well as ancillary services including laundry, food production and airport lounge food & beverage, EKFC is a trusted partner for over 100 airline customers, hospitality groups and UAE government entities. Each day, the company’s 11,000 dedicated employees prepare an average of 200,000 meals and handle 210 tonnes of laundry.
news
Olutade-Faleye Oluwatosin Simon: A brilliant media personality celebrates his special day today
Olutade-Faleye Oluwatosin Simon: A brilliant media personality celebrates his special day today
…A trailblazing media guru
~Oluwaseun Fabiyi
To begin my birthday felicitations, I would like to extend my congratulations to a dependable and reliable friend and brother from another parent who is marking his birthday occasion in grand style
Olutade-Faleye Oluwatosin Simon is a naturally erudite brother and a genial, trailblazing Lagos journalist whom I hold in high regard
Egbon Tosin, whom I fondly refer to, stands out amongst his colleagues due to his headstrong approach and passion for achieving his objectives, which are truly remarkable and inspirational. Tosin Faleye has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in guiding and motivating young journalists, inspiring them to strive for excellence and redefine the profession for a better tomorrow.
It is clear that Faleye Oluwatosin Simon has established himself as a rapidly emerging leader of high ethics and morality, exemplifying humility as a prolific writer
Your remarkable personality is evident in the significant impact you have made on media society today, as it continues to inspire and guide many people around you
Your words of encouragement and statement made nine years ago at Lagos Television Agidingbi are still vivid in my memory. You collected a hard copy of BethNews magazine, prayed for me, and encouraged me to stay committed. You endorsed the front cover page, saying ‘This is a very stunning cover, Seun keep it up, you’re going places’
On this special day, as you celebrate another year of life, dear beloved brother, I am impressed by your steadfast commitment to a worthy cause and the dedication you have shown in promoting public relations to your friends and colleagues in the industry
My heartfelt wish is that God Almighty blesses you with numerous future celebrations, profound joy, and optimal well-being. I wish you many happy returns!
Truly, your brother, Oluwaseun Fabiyi, the publisher of BethNews Media
The leader of one of the foremost religious organisations in Nigeria, Bishop Chidi Anthony, president of Pentecostal Ministers Forum of Nigeria has outrightly condemned the killing of Fulani hunters in Uromi,Edo State and recapitulated that the killing hasn’t any religious undertone and has nothing to do with Christians in the country.
Reacting to a viral video where a Fulani man was seen threatening the entire Christians in the country and talking to the president of the country with so much impudence “what happened in Uromi is barbaric and shouldn’t be encouraged,if they had suspected that they were kidnappers, they shouldn’t have handed them over to the security operatives,not killing them instantly,such callous and act of dastardly such not be encouraged because we are one Nigeria ”
The PMF president was infuriated by the daring utterances of the Fulani guy on social media who threatened to kill and cause chaos in order to avenge the death of the Fulani hunters “I want to be very realistic,we shouldn’t encourage such threat that is capable of setting the nation on fire,why threaten to kill Christians, what happened in Uromi was not religious,I beckon on the security operatives to search and arrest him before he tears the nation apart”
Finally,he called on other religious leaders in the country to speak out at this point and defend the Christians in the country because they are not the ones that perpetuated the act “I want to implore the fathers of faith and other Christian bodies in the country to stand upright and defend the Christian faith because what happened in Uromi has absolutely nothing to do with the Christians ”
-
Business6 months agoComprehensive Media Audit Shows Flutterwave, MTN Nigeria, and Bolt Outpacing Competitors in Media Engagement
-
Politics7 months agoTogether we can make Ewekoro a better local government’ — Sikiru Adesina Urges Party Leaders, Co-contestants
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months agoHow Deji Adeyanju Secured The Release Of Speed Darlington
-
Politics6 months agoMy best is yet to come’ As Ambassador Adesina ‘Lanre Ogunsola affirmed at the APC APEX body, Obafemi Owode Local Government