Global agritech manufacturer, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), has appointed Aberdeen-headquartered Modutec as its deployment partner for the UAE. The initial contract covers construction of the first 20 vertical farming growth towers of a planned 200-tower ‘GigaFarm’ in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley.
The Scottish-based businesses will come together to build the towers as part of a self-contained closed-loop ecosystem designed to maximise resource efficiency and divert waste from landfill.
Specialising in the delivery of HVAC, E&I, architectural, and utilities projects in the energy, marine, and defence industries, Modutec has a well-established reputation in the Middle East, having spent more than 20 years working in the region. This partnership with IGS will give Modutec opportunity to apply decades of learning and experience to a rapidly emerging new industry.
IGS first unveiled the GigaFarm project alongside partners ReFarm during COP28 in December 2023. Ground has since been broken on the 900,000sq ft site, with the first components for construction of the vertical farming towers shipped from the UK ready for deployment to commence in Q4 2025.
When complete, the site will be capable of growing more than three million kilos of produce annually using IGS vertical farming technology. Additionally, by integrating waste-to-value and regenerative farming technologies, the GigaFarm will significantly advance the UAE’s efforts to decarbonise food production and bolster food security, replacing 1% of the country’s fresh produce imports.
.jpeg)
Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), commented: “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 that 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.”
Christopher Andrew, Group Operations Director at Modutec, added: “We are excited to announce that Modutec has been appointed as the deployment partner for the ground-breaking GigaFarm project in Dubai by Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS).
“As a leader in the delivery of HVAC, E&I, Architectural & Utilities projects within the Energy, Marine& Defence sectors, 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.”
.webp)