Armela Farms: farm the city to feed the city

To sustainably feed the world’s largest urban areas, we need to bring food production back to the cities. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where large cities are surrounded by sand in almost every direction, climate and geography make this especially challenging. But not impossible. With agricultural technology and seeds from Dutch soil, sandy landscapes with limited water resources can feed some of the world’s largest cities. The Netherlands helps the UAE improve its food safety and security.

The UAE is on a mission to become more food self-sufficient. Instead of depending on imports, the country aims to produce more fruit and vegetables locally. This addresses two issues at once: it curbs food loss in the long transportation chain, while at the same time making the UAE less vulnerable to fluctuations on the world food market. With such an ambitious goal, collaboration is key. With our knowledge and expertise, we can support water scarce UAE to become a hub for innovation-driven food technology.