5:06 am - September 2, 2025
Scottish agritech company Intelligent Growth Solutions teams up with Modutec to develop Dubai’s ambitious GigaFarm, aiming to revolutionise food production and sustainability in the UAE with the world’s biggest vertical farming complex by 2026.
A pretty exciting development—something that’s set to shake up how we think about food production and sustainability in the UAE—is happening right now. Basically, Scottish agritech innovators are teaming up to build what could become the world’s largest vertical farm. Based in Edinburgh, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) has brought on Modutec, a specialist engineering and construction company from Aberdeen, to help put together the first 20 vertical farming towers at Dubai’s Food Tech Valley. And this is just the beginning—the plan is to eventually develop a massive 200-tower “GigaFarm” over a sprawling 900,000-square-foot site.
This GigaFarm project, which IGS introduced during COP28 in December 2023 in partnership with Dubai’s ReFarm Global, aims to reshape agriculture in the UAE by creating a kind of self-sustaining, closed-loop ecosystem. The idea is to use resources much more efficiently, while also diverting over 50,000 tonnes of food waste from landfills each year. That waste will then be turned into useful products through waste-to-value and regenerative farming tech. When fully up and running around 2026, the facility is expected to generate more than three million kilograms of fresh produce annually—enough to replace about one percent of the UAE’s current fresh food imports.
The technology behind IGS’s vertical farms involves 12-metre-high towers fitted with their proprietary climate control systems. This setup allows plants to grow under optimally controlled conditions—regardless of the hot and dry Dubai climate, which makes it especially impressive. Andrew Lloyd, IGS’s CEO, mentioned that their partnership with Modutec came about through a very competitive tender process. He’s confident that Modutec’s extensive experience—over 20 years working on HVAC, electrical, instrumentation, and utilities projects in the Middle East—will help speed up, secure, and scale up the deployment of these towers, ultimately helping to tackle food insecurity and climate issues at the same time.
On Modutec’s side, Group Operations Director Christopher Andrew stressed how important this partnership is for showing Scottish engineering talent on the global stage. He called it a natural extension of Modutec’s long-standing work across energy, marine, and defense projects in the Middle East. And, interestingly, he pointed out how moving into agritech demonstrates the company’s flexibility and future-forward approach.
Construction officially kicked off at the end of 2024. Earlier this year, the first batch of components—including 800 growth trays meant for the initial towers—was shipped from the UK to Dubai. The plan is to install these trays within the towers in the last quarter of 2025, which will be a key milestone for the project. The location—within the UAE government-backed Food Tech Valley—helps support the country’s push to cut carbon emissions from food production and improve food security, especially given the unpredictable nature of global supply chains and the growing climate challenges.
Experts in the industry are pretty optimistic about vertical farming’s potential, especially in regions dealing with water shortages and extreme weather. Having an enclosed environment means water use and pesticides can be significantly reduced, and production can happen all year round. Dubai’s investment in this sort of technology really reflects a broader regional effort to adopt innovative solutions to environmental issues and food security concerns.
All in all, the GigaFarm looks set to become a real flagship project—combining the latest agritech with sustainable resource management. It aims to meet the UAE’s rising demand for fresh produce while limiting reliance on imports. Plus, it showcases how international cooperation, leveraging Scottish engineering excellence, can find new and impactful ways to push forward sustainable development.
As the first modern towers begin production in 2025 and the full operation kicks in by 2026, industry watchers in the agritech and sustainability worlds will be paying close attention. This project isn’t just about advancing vertical farming technology—it also offers a compelling case of how closed-loop agricultural ecosystems can contribute to global climate goals, particularly in environments as harsh as the desert.
Ultimately, the Dubai GigaFarm stands as a prime example of how innovation, collaboration, and strategic investment—driven by Scottish know-how and international partnerships—can help tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the world today: food security and climate resilience.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.agritechtomorrow.com/news/2025/08/26/scottish-businesses-unite-to-build-world-first-%E2%80%98gigafarm-in-dubai/16886 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/press-release/gigafarm-announcement-in-dubai – In December 2023, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) partnered with ReFarm to initiate the ‘GigaFarm’ project in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley. This innovative farm aims to recycle over 50,000 tonnes of food waste annually and cultivate two billion plants each year. The project is set to begin construction in mid-2024, with completion expected by 2026, and will be capable of growing more than three million kilograms of produce annually, supporting the UAE’s efforts to decarbonise food production and reduce reliance on fresh produce imports.
- https://www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/press-release/gigafarm-initiative-lays-foundations-dubai – In November 2024, construction commenced on the ‘GigaFarm’ project in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley. Developed by IGS and ReFarm, the farm is designed to maximise resource efficiency and prevent waste from going to landfill. The 900,000 sq. ft. facility will begin food production in 2025, capable of growing over three million kilograms of produce annually using IGS’s vertical farming technology. The project aims to divert more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill each year, advancing the UAE’s efforts to decarbonise food production and offset one percent of the country’s fresh produce imports.
- https://www.foodtechvalley.ae/node/10 – Food Tech Valley, a UAE-government-led initiative, is developing the ‘GigaFarm’ project in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley. The project aims to establish a self-contained closed-loop ecosystem designed to maximise resource efficiency and prevent waste from going to landfill. The 900,000 sq. ft. facility will begin food production in 2025, capable of growing over three million kilograms of produce annually using IGS’s vertical farming technology. The project aims to divert more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill each year, advancing the UAE’s efforts to decarbonise food production and offset one percent of the country’s fresh produce imports.
- https://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/dubai-vertical-farm-gigafarm-refarm – Scotland-based agritech manufacturer Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is preparing to commence the construction of what will be the world’s largest vertical farm in Dubai. Dubbed the ‘GigaFarm’, the project was initially conceived at COP28 in December 2023 and is pegged to be fully operational by 2026. IGS appointed Modutec, a specialist design company working in energy, marine, and defence industries, to construct the first 20 of 200 growth towers for the 900,000 sq. ft. facility at Dubai’s Food Tech Valley. Once complete, the site will be capable of growing more than three million kilograms of produce annually. IGS will also integrate waste-to-value and regenerative farming technologies to help decarbonise production. The facility will replace one percent of the country’s fresh produce imports.
- https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/6838750/aberdeen-vertical-farm-dubai/ – Aberdeen and Edinburgh firms have teamed up for a project to build a huge vertical farm in Dubai. The 200-tower ‘GigaFarm’ is expected to replace one percent of food imports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Agri-tech company Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), of Edinburgh, has appointed Granite City-based Modutec as a construction partner. The value of the contract was undisclosed. IGS technology development takes place in Fife and on Tayside. Modutec has its headquarters in Bridge of Don. The north-east firm specialises in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical and instrumentation engineering, and architectural and utilities projects. Its customers are predominantly within the energy, marine and defence sectors. The business is owned by Inverness-based investment group Envoy and Partners. Christopher Andrew, group operations director, Modutec, said: ‘We pride ourselves on our adaptability and expertise, particularly in the Middle East, where we have built a strong reputation. We are thankful to IGS for placing their trust in Modutec and look forward to a successful collaboration that showcases what Scottish businesses can achieve together on the global stage.’ IGS chief executive Andrew Lloyd said: ‘Our decision to award this contract to Modutec came at the end of a rigorous tender process. Our shared Scottish roots was a happy accident, but has only served to strengthen the bond between our two businesses as we enter into this partnership. Crucially, I am confident the skill, discipline, and expertise of the Modutec team will enable IGS to safely deploy its growth towers at both pace and scale, delivering on the gigafarm project’s promise to help the UAE tackle the twin challenges of food insecurity and changing global climate.’
- https://www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/press-release/gigafarm-tech-shipped – In April 2025, IGS shipped 800 Growth Trays to the UAE for the first phase in the deployment of a 200-tower ‘GigaFarm’. The trays will sit within 12-metre-high towers, using patented technology to offer advanced climate control for optimal plant growth. This shipment marks a significant milestone in the development of the world’s first ‘GigaFarm’ at Dubai Food Tech Valley, a 900,000 sq. ft. site being developed by Dubai-based group ReFarm Global as part of an initiative designed to address food security.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being August 26, 2025. The project was first announced at COP28 in December 2023, and construction began in November 2024. ([foodtechvalley.ae](https://www.foodtechvalley.ae/node?utm_source=openai)) The report includes updated data, such as the shipment of 800 growth trays to Dubai in April 2025. ([scottishfinancialreview.com](https://scottishfinancialreview.com/2025/04/08/vertical-farming-pioneer-igs-ships-first-gigafarm-parts/?utm_source=openai)) However, the content has been republished across multiple outlets, including High Growth Scotland and The Courier, indicating potential recycling of information. ([highgrowth.scot](https://highgrowth.scot/scottish-businesses-unite-to-build-world-first-gigafarm-in-dubai/?utm_source=openai), [thecourier.co.uk](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/4831942/intelligent-growth-solutions-dubai/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
Direct quotes from Andrew Lloyd, CEO of IGS, and Christopher Andrew, Group Operations Director of Modutec, appear in multiple sources, suggesting potential reuse of content. ([pressandjournal.co.uk](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/6838750/aberdeen-vertical-farm-dubai/?utm_source=openai)) The wording of the quotes varies slightly across different reports, indicating possible paraphrasing. No online matches were found for the exact wording of the quotes, raising the score but flagging them as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a press release, which is typically considered a reliable source. However, the report has been republished across multiple outlets, including High Growth Scotland and The Courier, indicating potential recycling of information. ([highgrowth.scot](https://highgrowth.scot/scottish-businesses-unite-to-build-world-first-gigafarm-in-dubai/?utm_source=openai), [thecourier.co.uk](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/4831942/intelligent-growth-solutions-dubai/?utm_source=openai)) The press release is based on information from IGS and Modutec, both of which have established reputations in the industry. However, the reliance on a single source for the information raises some concerns about the diversity of perspectives.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the GigaFarm project align with previously reported information, including the project’s scale, location, and objectives. ([foodtechvalley.ae](https://www.foodtechvalley.ae/node?utm_source=openai)) The involvement of IGS and Modutec, both reputable companies, adds credibility to the narrative. The project aims to address food security and sustainability challenges in the UAE, which is consistent with regional initiatives. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate communications, and the report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents recent developments regarding the GigaFarm project, with updated data and quotes from involved parties. However, the reliance on a press release and the recycling of information across multiple outlets raise concerns about the originality and diversity of sources. While the claims are plausible and align with previous reports, the potential reuse of content and limited sourcing warrant further scrutiny.
