UAE Looks To Agritech To Ease Food-Security Concerns

SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - SEPTEMBER 25: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Leafy plants farmed at Veggitech, a farming start-up utilizing agro technology and vertical farming techniques on September 25, 2023 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2021, Veggitech operates advanced greenhouses where they cultivate over 60 various vegetables, including leafy greens and herbs. As a desert nation with significant water scarcity, the UAE is currently reliant on imports for over 80% of its food. But, as part of its National Food Security Strategy 2051, the country is making substantial investments in food-tech and agricultural technology, with a goal of tripling domestic food production. This year, Emirates Development Bank, a state-owned lender that provides financing to the UAE's priority sectors, has introduced an Agriculture Technology Loans program, earmarking Dh100 million ($27.2 million) in financial support for the nation's food-security sector. While the primary aim of this initiative is to bolster the country's food security in a climate-stressed region, the investments have the potential to make the UAE a leader in agricultural innovation. (Photo by Andrea DiCenzo/Getty Images)