Burniske calls for sustainable urban farming in UAE

Speaking to “Sharjah 24” on the sidelines of the event, Professor Burniske highlighted the growing role of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in building sustainable, food-secure cities. "With advancements in technology, we can now produce food within cities, significantly reducing the need for long-distance transportation that consumes energy and emits greenhouse gases," he said.

He noted that modular food production systems can be established at various scales—from household and neighbourhood levels to peri-urban areas—offering efficient, low-energy, and water-saving solutions. These systems can support the production of not only fruits and vegetables, but also livestock, including poultry, dairy, and even goats and sheep.

Professor Burniske pointed out the potential for the UAE, particularly Sharjah, to reduce its dependency on imported food by investing in local agricultural technologies. “We can produce much more food here than we currently are. With the right investments and planning, food production can become a central part of building sustainable cities,” he said.

He also stressed the need to integrate food security into urban planning and communication strategies, ensuring that future sustainable cities are also food-secure. The goal, he added, is not only sustainable agriculture—but sustainable food security.

Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director General of Sharjah Digital Department was present.