DUBAI // The technology used to grow vegetables aboard the International Space Station could end the UAE’s reliance on food imports, it has been claimed.
Up to 95 per cent of vegetables for sale in the UAE are grown elsewhere. Those figures are likely to grow as the population increases unless an alternative solution is found.
That is where the space technology may come in. US company Orbitec has developed a system called Veggie in which astronauts grew red-leaf lettuce in outer space.
By using resources efficiently, the crew on the space station were able to recycle water, soil and waste while creating oxygen in the station, said Orbitec spokesman Paul Zamprelli.
If vegetables and fruits can be grown in outer space, irrespective of environment, they can be grown in Dubai, he said.
“From what we understand Dubai imports 90 to 95 per cent of all vegetables. For them to grow crops is very challenging,” Mr Zamprelli said.
“We envision putting these plant growth units on all skyscrapers, on roofs of every city.
“It’s a resource everyone can utilise. Our system is manageable for almost any scenario, including your wardrobe.
“We would like to see these units used in many ways, what’s nice about this is you can grow year round.”
Mr Zamprelli said that aside from making systems that can grow plants 24 times faster than normal crop cycles, farming in any capacity provides more for the user than just the benefit of locally grown crops.
“Really what isn’t talked about is the wholesomeness that it gives mentally,” he said. “Something that Nasa looks at and what the astronauts talk about is how fun it is to grow plants and that’s also key.”
This year, Dr Rashid bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, said that the Arab world must work towards food security by using new technology amid a global food crisis.
Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, said last March that “in 2000, GCC countries spent about US$25 billion [Dh91.82bn] importing food and it is projected that by 2020 the import bill will be about $52bn to $56bn a year.
“That’s a lot of money and if oil prices stabilise at $50 to $60 dollars, which is about half what it was this time last year, the solution is not in importing more food.”
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
