A new initiative aims to attract community members with the aim of promoting awareness of sustainable agricultural practices and encouraging environmental practices and responsibility among the residents of Dubai.
These hour-long interactive tours, known as "Farm Tours", provide an opportunity for students, juniors, university delegations and community members to learn about the role of local vertical farming in reducing environmental impact and supporting food security.
UNS Farms, a subsidiary of the Speedex Group, which has been specialising in vertical farming in the UAE since 2018, seeks to strengthen consumers' relationship with fresh, directly harvested produce and inspire participants to make sustainable and thoughtful food choices that bring significant benefits to health and the environment.
The initiative is in line with the UAE's National Food Security Strategy 2051 and highlights the environmental benefits of local products. These tours adopt an interactive learning approach to introduce participants to the role that relying on local products plays in reducing carbon emissions and conserving valuable resources, which in turn supports food security and climate action.
Mehlam Murtaza, Executive Director of UNS Farms, said: "The Farm Tours aim to introduce participants to their food sources and highlight the importance of sustainable practices in everyday life. The initiative is based on our awareness of the importance of raising community awareness of the role of local farms in supporting healthy food choices and promoting environmental responsibility. We also emphasize the importance of collaboration in shaping a food-secure future in which fresh and sustainable food is accessible to all."
The tours provide an in-depth look at UNS Farms' sustainability practices, and each tour begins with an introduction to its vision and mission to promote the value of sustainability in the UAE.
The tour program includes a visit to areas designated for agriculture, where crops are produced in controlled farming environments with limited resources, followed by a tour to explore crop types including microgreens, fresh vegetables and edible flowers.
Visitors will be able to learn about soil composition and plant life cycles, monitor hydroponic systems that allow plants to grow without soil, and learn about precision harvesting and packaging mechanisms that meet the highest quality standards and reduce wastage levels. At the end of the tour, each participant will receive a gift that includes a set of home farming tools, to inspire farming practices from home and foster a connection to sustainable practices.
The Farm Tours aim to contribute to building a food-conscious community familiar with local food systems and support the adoption of environmentally conscious practices.
