Below Farm is producing “specialty mushrooms” such as oyster, king oyster, shiitake and lion’s mane. Managing director Bronte Weir says the indoor farm, about 45 minutes’ drive from downtown Abu Dhabi, is the first in the region to grow and sell high-end mushrooms. Below Farm’s offerings are better than imported mushrooms, she says, because “mushrooms damage very easily and lose their freshness quickly.
Below Farm’s goals are aligned with those of the UAE government. The country imports 85% of the food it consumes but has ambitions to bolster food security by increasing domestic production. Weir says sustainability is also a key goal. The mushrooms are grown on special blocks made mainly from upcycled waste date palms. Dates make up 61% of plant crop production in Abu Dhabi and dead palms are either burnt or left in piles that dot the landscape.