The Middle East And Africa Indoor Farming Market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period.
Several significant grain and legume crops originated in and have their greatest diversity in the Middle East and Africa, which were significant locations for early settled agriculture. Only one-third of the land in the Middle East and Africa is used for agriculture, and only 5% of that area is arable. Urban areas or deserts make up the remainder of the land. Additionally, indoor farming can provide previously unheard-of advantages for nations like the UAE, whose food supply depends on imports for more than half of its needs.
In addition, one of the main drivers driving the market for indoor farming is the increased demand for large-scale production of food crops as a result of the scarcity of arable land due to geographical constraints. To support the market's expansion, many significant market participants are implementing this effective crop production method. For instance, Pure Harvest in Abu Dhabi has aspirations to expand into a regional powerhouse with fruits and vegetables cultivated in a controlled indoor environment throughout the Middle East and Africa, as the Emirates attempts to lessen reliance on food imports. The need for the research and development industry to grow the industry at a faster rate is increased by the fact that indoor farming facilities are still developing throughout the region.
Food is grown hydroponically, a method that does not require soil. The main cause of the growing demand for hydroponic techniques is the water issue in the Middle East region. The possibility of infections being transmitted by soil organisms is removed by the hydroponic system. Additionally, it delivers a somewhat higher return on investment than other growth strategies and is more cost-effective.
Furthermore, because the hydroponic system can continuously supply water and nutrients, plant growth using it can last longer in the event of a power loss. It differs from the aeroponic growth method, where plants can perish within an hour as a result of broken mist-spraying nozzles. As a result, the demand for the hydroponic growth mechanism is increasing at the fastest rate.
A substantial amount of the food consumed in Middle Eastern and African countries is imported. It is believed that the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council import over 85% of their food, including more than 90% of their cereals, 60% of their meat, and 50% of their vegetables.
Middle Eastern governments started providing special loans to businesses to encourage them to use innovative farming practices to address the problem of food security. For example, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office invested USD 100 million in four agrotech companies that plan to build manufacturing and research facilities in the emirate. Dubai also unveiled the Food Tech Valley, which includes vertical agricultural spaces, research facilities, an innovation hub, and a smart food logistics hub. The United Arab Emirates today boasts 1,000 hydroponic farms around the Middle East as a result of these activities.
Vertical farming is expected to gain a lot more traction in the UAE due to the increased food demand and challenging weather for conventional agricultural methods. Vertical farming is the most popular method for food production in the nation since it helps to increase food security. Other significant drivers boosting the market in the UAE are the growing desire to lessen the reliance on imported fresh food and the implementation of cutting-edge crop production techniques.
AeroFarms, Freight Farms, Plenty, CropOne, Badia Farms, Intelligent Growth Solution, Osram GMBH, Koninklijke Philips N.V., and Urban Fresh Farms are the top market participants in the Middle East Vertical Farming Market.
| Report Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Study Period | 2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data | 2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026 – 2031 |
| Report Metric | Details |
| Growth Rate | CAGR during the forecast period |
| Base Year | 2021 |
| Forecast Period | 2023 – 2028 |
| Forecast Unit (Value) | USD Billion |
| Segments Covered | Growing System, Component, Facility Type, And Crop Type, And Country |
| Regions Covered |
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Others |
| Companies Covered | AS Agri and Aqua LLP, Sarya Holdings, Green Fields, Fluence’s, REMY, Mishkat, Mowreq |
| Customization Scope | Free report customization with purchase |