Watch: How Emirati woman transformed her rooftop into smart farm

She’s not an agricultural engineer, nor did she have any agricultural background, but UAE national Maha Al Muhairi has ingeniously converted her rooftop into a smart farm that yields fresh vegetables and leafy greens throughout the year.

Ahead of the celebration of Emirati Women’s Day on August 28, it is good to look into Al Muhairi’s journey into the field of smart agriculture that has not only changed her perspective but also propelled her to explore a vast realm where she strives to fulfill her grand aspiration for greener, more sustainable communities.

With no agriculture background, Al Muhairi’s green discovery began with her participation in a science competition during her computer engineering studies in Dubai. Her journey started with a smart refrigerator — she’s the founder of Fresh Fridge, a farm within a fridge that can grow different varieties of vegetables in a controlled environment within 10-15 days.

From smart fridge to smart farm

Her invention of a smart fridge advanced to a smart farm, and the creation of smart planter. Today, she owns her own agricultural project and cultivates an array of agricultural produce.

She said in an interview: "After the success of the smart fridge, I envisioned utilising my rooftop space. Then, I collaborated with a company to construct a plastic house, employing a hybrid system of hydroponics and traditional farming.”

"I cultivated lettuce, arugula, basil, parsley, mint, tomatoes, eggplants, and cucumbers. The experiment was remarkably successful, teaching me valuable lessons and deepening my agricultural knowledge."

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic granted Al Muhairi more time to focus on her farm, driving her to contemplate additional solutions for food sustainability.

‘Mahayasfarm'

Aside from achieving vegetable self-sufficiency for her 10-member family, Al Muhairi also now owns a private farm called ‘Mahayasfarm’, where she grows and sells a variety of plants and vegetables.

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