Key Takeaways
- The 6th Global Vertical Farming Show (GVF) 2025 Dubai took place under the patronage of the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, with participation from international and regional stakeholders.
- Exhibitors presented technologies in lighting, hydroponics, automation, AI, and turnkey farm systems.
- INNOFarms.AI introduced its new GrowSmartRobotics platform, designed for controlled-environment agriculture, greenhouses, and orchards.
- Conference discussions addressed profitability, scalability, policy support, and competitive pressures from imported produce.
- Regional investment analysis highlighted a gap between outbound capital flows and funding directed to MENA-based startups.
Global Vertical Farming Show 2025 Dubai Event Overview
The GVF 2025 Dubai brought together vertical farming companies, technology providers, farm operators, investors, and government representatives. Companies such as IEMA, EnjazPonic, Advanced Nutrients, Wallfarm, Total Grow Control, Korber Technologies, Sundopt LED Lighting, and TrolMaster participated, displaying a wide range of solutions for the controlled-environment agriculture sector.
INNOFarms.AI Launches GrowSmartRobotics
INNOFarms.AI, a technology company from the MENA region, unveiled its patented GrowSmartRobotics platform at the event.
The system integrates AI-powered vision, IoT sensors, and robotic automation to perform functions such as plant health monitoring, maturity detection, and harvesting. Reported results include:
- 5× faster crop scanning compared to manual methods.
- 70% lower capital and operating expenditures for scouting and labor.
- 98% harvest precision in field tests.
GrowSmartRobotics is designed as a modular, plug-and-play system for vertical farms, greenhouses, orchards, and open-field environments. It can also connect to the company’s INNOFarmsXOS operating system, which manages growth cycles, irrigation, and nutrients.
Key Themes from the Global Vertical Farming Show
The two-day conference featured discussions on:
- Advances in automation, AI, and climate control for indoor farming.
- Approaches to building profitability and scalability.
- The role of public investment and policy in supporting food security.
- Challenges for companies in combining farming operations with technology provision.
Speakers included officials from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Economy, the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, the Emirates Environmental Group, and the World Green Economy Organization.
Investment and Market Realities
Investment discussions noted the difference between regional and outbound flows. According to analysis shared at the event by Thea Otto, approximately $3 billion has been invested in international projects, compared to $187 million directed toward startups in the MENA region.
Other observations included:
- Reliance on low- to mid-tech farming solutions in much of the Middle East, with higher-tech projects often supported by public funds.
- Interest from larger corporations, including Korber and IEMA, in exploring farming operations.
- Concerns over competition from low-cost imported produce, particularly from Iran, identified as a challenge for local growers.
Institutional Support
The event was supported by organizations such as the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), the UAE Ministry of Economy, Food Tech Valley, the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), and the Dutch Greenhouse Delta.
GVF 2025 Dubai provided a platform for showcasing new technologies, including INNOFarms.AI’s GrowSmartRobotics, while also highlighting ongoing challenges around investment, competitiveness, and sustainable growth in the vertical farming sector.
