• Six complementary technologies planned for waste-to-value site in global first designed to decarbonise food production and maximise resource efficiency

Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 6 December 2023 Food Tech Valley has signed an agreement at COP28 with ReFarmTM to start construction on a 900,000 sq. ft. game-changing “GigaFarm”. The signing took place between HE Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of Wasl, and Oliver Christof, CEO of Cristof Global Impact, in the presence of HE Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change & Environment; HE Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant Undersecretary of Food Diversity; and Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of SSK Group.

The project will be a global first where six complementary technologies will be collocated as part of a closed-loop circular waste-to-value system, establishing a self-contained ecosystem designed to maximise resource efficiency and prevent any waste going to landfill.

ReFarmTM, a joint-venture company between UAE-based SSK Group and UK-based Christof Global Impact (CGI), are set to start construction in mid-2024 at Dubai’s Food Tech Valley, a master development launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and being led by major Dubai property developer, Wasl.

The site, which is set to be fully operational by 2026, will be capable of growing up to 3,000 tonnes of produce annually and recycling more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste, which support the UAE’s move towards decarbonising food production and replacing 1% of the country’s fresh produce imports.

HE Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister for Climate Change and Environment, said: “Technology and innovation are potent tools in our fight against climate change. If we are to be successful in keeping the global 1.5 degrees pledge within reach, we need a sustainable and regenerative approach to food systems and resource management. As holder of the COP28 Presidency, the UAE has put food security at the top of the agenda and so far, has secured the endorsement of 134 countries for the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action. The Food Tech Valley project is a pioneering example of how we can use innovation such as incubators for advanced farms – including indoor and vertical farms - to ensure our global food security. The announcement of a new partnership to build a GigaFarm in the UAE’s Food Tech Valley is another important step towards a greener future.”

HE Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Group CEO, Wasl said: “The UAE has the ambition and vision to lead the conversation on food security and take the actions necessary to achieve resilient communities. This project reflects our proactive action-oriented approach to the monumental challenge of food insecurity facing the world. This is one of many transformative projects which is set to be part of Food Tech Valley which will have a significant impact on the UAE’s food security, maximising the use of precious resources and decarbonising the food supply chain. We look forward to working with our partners to make it a success.”

Saeed Al Marri, Chairman at SSK Group of Companies, commented: ReFarmTM, Rebalancing the Future of Food Security. Our circular approach contributes to wider ambitions of food security and landscape regeneration. Additionally, no mains or groundwater connection will be required to grow fresh produce since water will be recovered as a by-product from the organic-waste-to-value technology and fed into the vertical farm which is up to 98% more water efficient than growing in a field.

Oliver Christof, CEO at Christof Global Impact (CGI), commented: “What has been achieved over the past 36 months on the ground in the UAE, is a gamechanger for the sustainable food industry. A key factor for success has been the open mindset by the UAE leadership in relation to future technologies and a strong focus on circularity, which allowed us to bring together various groups, including local stakeholders, alongside our technologies, making the project appealing to local as well as institutional investors, while saving massive amounts of CO2."

About Food Tech Valley

Food Tech Valley is a UAE-government-led initiative designed to address food security locally, regionally, and globally. It was announced in 2021 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as a partnership between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Wasll, and centers around food, innovation, knowledge, technology, and sustainability. Food Tech Valley will act as a catalyst for transforming the UAE into a global hub for tech-based food and agricultural solutions. In line with the UAE Food Security National Strategy 2051, Food Tech Valley is based on connectivity, innovation, and the facilitation of business growth in food tech. It will incorporate production zones, warehousing, logistics, and cold-storage facilities, an innovation and R&D center, an academy, a business park, a marketplace, a visitor center, and residential areas.

For more information, visit:

Website: https://www.foodtechvalley.ae/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/food-tech-valley/

About ReFarmTM:

ReFarmTM group of companies, has been formed to own technologies and develop decarbonized food security projects deploying its own technologies in combination with complementary third-party solutions. The ReFarmTM platform has been developed over the last 25 years within the Christof family Group of companies, a leading, privately owned, process engineering solutions group that has grown significantly through three generations of leadership by the Christof family. Having delivered more than 4,500 international projects, gaining the requisite knowledge and experience, the ReFarmTM team has leveraged this, and developed proprietary process engineering capabilities across more than 6 different decarbonized food security technologies.