To make better use of space, farms of the future may move into high-rise buildings. Now, the world's biggest vertical farm is set to be built – like so many other "world's biggest" things – in Dubai, where it will grow salads and leafy greens for Emirates Airlines passengers.

As a partnership between Emirates Flight Catering and Silicon Valley-startup Crop One, the new facility is expected to cover 130,000 sq ft (12,000 sq m). At its peak, the companies say it will produce as much food as 900 acres (364 ha) of conventional farmland, with a yield of three tons (2,700 kg) every day.