It’s not unusual for airlines to operate inflight catering companies, but Emirates has taken it to a new level: they bought the farm. In this case, the world’s largest indoor vertical farm, located near Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.
The deal involves Emirates Flight Catering buying out full control of Emirates Crop One, which will now be called Emirates Bustanica to include the name under which it supplies crops to supermarkets in the Mideast. It also supplies other airlines.
The farm itself, in operation for about two years, has the capacity to grow a million kilos a year of leafy greens, equivalent to 3 tonnes a day, using 95% less water than conventional agriculture and without pesticides or herbicides. High-tech computer systems monitor the plants and provide the right levels of water and nutrients.
