KOTRA Supports Export of Korean Smart Farm Startups to UAE

Domestic Startup Exports 100 Modular Containers for Vertical Farming to Abu Dhabi

On the 24th, Mariam Al-Muhairi, UAE Minister of State for Food Security (right), visited the container vertical farm of our company located in downtown Abu Dhabi. (Photo by KOTRA)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] KOTRA announced on the 25th that it is supporting domestic smart farm startups in exporting their systems to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

KOTRA is advising the Korean company ‘N.Thing’ on all processes including local agricultural product distribution, export, and investment attraction in the UAE. N.Thing is a startup holding patents for modular vertical farms using containers and an Internet of Things (IoT)-based farm management system, producing fresh leafy vegetables through hydroponic cultivation. They possess technology that reduces water usage while achieving production per unit area up to 100 times higher than before.

Once the local technical verification (PoC) in the UAE is completed, 100 modular containers for vertical farming are expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi by the end of the year. The trade of 100 vertical farm units represents the largest scale of smart farm product exports from Korea.

On the 24th, Mariam Al-Muhairi, UAE Minister of State for Food Security, visited the Korean company’s container vertical farm located in downtown Abu Dhabi. The UAE, which depends on imports for 90% of its agricultural consumption, established the Minister of State for Food Security position in 2017 and created the ADIO agricultural technology fund worth $270 million last year to invest in startups.

KOTRA will also invite key buyers and investors from major Middle Eastern distribution networks to Abu Dhabi in October to promote investment attraction for the companies.

Lee Kwan-seok, head of KOTRA’s Middle East regional office, stated, “The UAE is making every effort to diversify its industries and localize supply chains by easing foreign investment restrictions in agriculture and providing incentives. We will support the entire process from initial settlement to export and investment attraction so that our smart farms can expand not only in the UAE but throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.