Emirates Flight Catering acquires Bustanica indoor vertical farm
Emirates Flight Catering makes Emirates Bustanica a 100 percent UAE-owned venture
Emirates Flight Catering has acquired Emirates Bustanica, formerly Emirates Crop One, and its consumer brand Bustanica, the world’s largest indoor vertical farm. In a strategic move that established Emirates Bustanica as a fully UAE-owned company, Emirates Flight Catering will help enhance food and water security through this agricultural venture.
Bustanica’s 330,000-square-foot facility is located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. It can grow more than one million kilograms of leafy greens a year, equivalent to three tonnes daily, while using 95 percent less water than conventional agriculture, the press release said.
The produce is available across all major retailers in the UAE under the brand name Bustanica, including Spinney's, Waitrose, Carrefour and Choithrams. Passengers travelling on Emirates and other airlines already experience this fresh produce in their salads and meals.
Bustanica’s produce is grown without pesticides or herbicides and is 100 percent clean, fresh and nutrient-rich. The brand produces a variety of lettuce, spinach, parsley and kale.
Bustanica is driven by technology such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and other patented technologies. The in-house team driving the operation includes agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists and plant scientists.
Emirates Bustanica was a preferred produce supplier for COP28, a recognition of its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
