Rohma Sadaqat /Dubai

October 10, 2019

Seeds come in a 'seedpod' and are all non-GMO and certified organic.

For those who have dreamt of growing their own vegetables and herbs - but are limited by the fact that they don't have a garden - a solution is being presented at Gitex Technology Week in Dubai. And it's aptly called 'Kitchen Garden'.

Kitchen Garden, developed by Natufia Labs, is a fully automated indoor garden system, which allows chefs to grow anything from basil to lemongrass or a seed packet of nutrient-rich microgreens.

Seeds come in a 'seedpod' and are all non-GMO and certified organic.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Lauri Kapp, co-founder of Natufia Labs, shared details on the technology and how it is relevant to a region such as the UAE.

"This indoor growing technology gives the power back to the consumer. Restaurants and households can now grow fresh products without worrying about seasons or pesticides and chemicals in their greens.

"This is critical for countries like the UAE that rely mostly on imports," he said.

Kitchen Garden is equipped with 32 ceramic pots, a number that can be increased to 64.

Alternatively, it can be easily fitted with 128 microgreen plates.

It was designed to allow for the full flexibility of a mix between ceramic pots and microgreen plates to suit the user's preferences.

Currently, over 100 seeds of different herbs and plants have been tested and can be grown in the indoor garden.

The technology builds upon the use of hydroponics, but requires less maintenance and less space and offers much more variety in the plants that can be grown.

This garden is just a little bigger than the average single-door fridge and can easily be installed in a home kitchen or a small professional one.

Selma Abualia, project manager at Madar Farms, the local distributor for Natufia in the UAE, revealed that the technology has already found a home in the country, with many different parties expressing their interest.

Currently, one Kitchen Garden is already installed and operational at Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek Hotel.

HOW IT WORKS

. Get your seeds that come in 'seedpods'

. Place your seeds into a 'nursery tray', which provides the necessary light for the plants to grow

. Transfer your seedlings into cups. The system's two pull-out racks hold 32 handmade ceramic cups and a total of 165 microgreen plates, or a combination of both

. Don't worry about watering them - it's fully automated

. Monitor your plants' growth and adjust the controls via an app

. Harvest for mealtime 

rohma@khaleejtimes.com

Rohma Sadaqat

I am a reporter and sub-editor on the Business desk at Khaleej Times. I mainly cover and write articles on the UAE's retail, hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. Originally from Lahore, I have been living in the UAE for more than 20 years. I graduated with a BA in Mass Communication, with a concentration in Journalism, and a double minor in History and International Studies from the American University of Sharjah. If you see me out and about on assignment in Dubai, feel free to stop me, say hello, and we can chat about the latest kitten videos on YouTube.