Global Vertical Farming Show in Dubai stresses profitability and food security

UAE – The 6th Global Vertical Farming Show concluded in Dubai on September 11, 2025, after two days of debate and demonstrations that began on September 10.

Policymakers, technology providers, investors, and growers came together to examine how controlled environment agriculture can expand in the Middle East and help strengthen food security.

The opening session on September 10 set the tone with remarks from Tahir A. Bari, CEO and Managing Director of TAB Group, followed by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

The session, titled Advancements in Agriculture: Stepping Towards Achieving Food Security in the Middle East, underlined the government’s commitment to diversify food supply chains.

Across both days, the exhibition floor attracted steady activity as growers, suppliers, and investors viewed new systems. Companies such as IEMA, Enjazponic, Wallfarm, and Körber displayed products ranging from harvesting robots to small-footprint fertigation controllers and integrated automation platforms.

For many visitors, seeing these systems in operation added as much value as the formal panels.

Scaling and profitability under scrutiny

Discussions on September 10 quickly turned to financial realities. Sky Kurtz, CEO of Pure Harvest Smart Farms, warned against growth without discipline.

“Scaling broken things ends badly. We’ve seen that. Billions of capital wiped out,” he said.

Tisha Livingston, Co-Founder of 80 Acres Farms, highlighted the importance of strong financial planning.

“We’re not going to build a farm unless we know we have the money and that we’ll be able to sell the products,” she noted.

She continued, “The biggest challenge that we’ve had as 80 Acres, and we continue to have, is how do you build the infrastructure to support the sales and the number of sites without losing the essence of who you are.”

Tom Stenzel, Executive Director of CEA Alliance, added, “Companies need to understand two major things. Their cost structure, and who’s going to buy the product.”

Partnerships and long-term resilience

On September 11, the program shifted toward partnerships and long-term strategies for resilience.

Derek Oxford, CEO of Total Grow Control, told delegates, “We will succeed together. Leverage relationships in new markets so that you’re not starting from scratch.”

Ra’ed M. Ben Shams, Advisor at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs of Bahrain, broadened the discussion to sovereignty and culture.

“Food security asks the question, do we have enough? Food sovereignty asks, do we control our destiny?” he said.

He added, “When we pursue food sovereignty, we are not just changing agricultural methods. We are asking communities to reimagine their relationships with land, tradition, and future security. Without cultural intelligence, the most brilliant vertical farming technologies become expensive decoration.”

As the show closed on September 11, the message was clear: the future of vertical farming in the Gulf depends on profitability, financial discipline, and partnerships that align with cultural values.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.