Below Farm Leads With Innovative Mushroom Farming Solutions In Arid Climates

Bronte Weir, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-based Below Farm, announced that the company is the world’s first agritech firm specializing in end-to-end mushroom farming solutions in arid climates. Utilizing advanced tech innovations, Below Farm cultivates mushrooms through circular farming practices. Weir made these remarks during her participation at the Food Innovation Conference 2024.

Weir stated, "Below Farm is on a mission to create a climate-smart food system designed for arid climates, coupled with our commitment to providing healthy, sustainable products." She emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and building partnerships to drive innovation in mushroom cultivation and the UAE’s food industry.

The UAE’s focus on food security and advanced infrastructure made it an attractive location for Below Farm. The company aims to offer locally sourced, high-quality foods at reasonable prices. Weir believes in the role of innovation in sustainable food production and the need for advanced technology to increase productivity and enhance quality.

Below Farm has adapted technology to overcome the UAE’s high temperatures, which create an unfavorable environment for cultivating mushrooms that require cool, damp, and dark conditions. Initially developed for climates in the USA and Europe, indoor mushroom farming has been localized by Below Farm to suit the UAE.

The company succeeded in cultivating specialty mushrooms such as Oyster, King Oyster, Shiitake, and Lion’s Mane by localizing the value chain from seed to fruit. They established the region’s first commercial mycelium laboratory. The farm consists of four climate-controlled chambers insulated to keep temperatures cool.

Crops are grown without pesticides or fertilizers and have a relatively low water impact—mushrooms require only 10% of the water needed for tomatoes. Below Farm has applied innovative technologies to control light, temperature, and humidity levels, creating ideal conditions for mushroom cultivation.

In addition to offering high-quality produce at reasonable prices, Below Farm is committed to environmental sustainability. The company recycles date palm waste and spent coffee grounds into the specialized mass on which mushrooms grow. Their product range includes mushrooms, mushroom growing kits, mushroom powder, and mushroom extract drops for health and wellness.

Food Innovation Conference 2024

The Food Innovation Conference 2024 is hosted in Dubai from 13 to 15 May. Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) in cooperation with the World Economic Forum (WEF), the event is held under the theme ‘Reimagining Future Food Systems’.

With inputs from WAM