Agritech and several other smart solutions play a key role in ensuring the UAE’s food security. Experts at the 7th Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2024) highlighted that innovative agricultural technologies can transform production and reduce dependency on imports.
A session titled ‘Enhancing Food Security Through Smart Solutions’ featured key speakers including Dr. Khalifa Alteneiji, chairman of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Sharjah; Sara Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa); Hamed Al Hamed, founder and CEO of Gracia Group, and Ahmed Hammoud, UAE general manager of Alesca Technologies, an agritech company focused on vertical farms and precision agriculture solutions.
Organized by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), the forum spotlights the latest advancements in future technologies, digital-era skills, finance and banking, and environmental and renewable energy, influencing the investment landscape. The theme is “A Futuristic Vision for Smart Economies”.
Local wheat production grows
During his participation at the SIF 2024, Dr. Alteneiji shared Sharjah’s success in wheat production as an example of how smart solutions can enhance food security.
“We were once heavily reliant on imports, but today, thanks to advanced technology, we have surpassed global standards by producing wheat locally. Our wheat is heat-resistant, high-yield, high in protein, and consumes less water — proving that sustainable solutions can thrive even in challenging climates,” he noted.
Dr. Alteneiji also cited Brazil’s success in achieving 80 percent self-sufficiency in wheat production in 2022-23, emphasizing that similar efforts in the UAE are crucial for overcoming environmental challenges and securing long-term food security.
Entrepreneurship’s role in advancing smart solutions
For her part during SIF 2024, Sara Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, highlighted the key role entrepreneurship plays in advancing smart solutions for food security.
“At Sheraa, we have incubated over 180 ventures, with more than 20 focused on sustainable agriculture and irrigation technologies. We are actively supporting these innovators with investments and creating networks to help them grow,” Al Nuaimi noted.
She also emphasised Sheraa’s commitment to attracting international agritech companies to the UAE, providing opportunities to relocate and scale their solutions within the region.
Al Nuaimi expressed optimism about the future, citing the National Strategy for Food Security, which aims to make the UAE the world’s best in the Global Food Security Index by 2051, with a key objective of 50 percent local production.
Read | SIF 2024: Agility, sustainability and human capital are keys to smart economies
Creating local tailored solutions
Hamed Al Hamed of Gracia Group highlighted the company’s homegrown solutions for addressing the region’s agricultural challenges. “Gracia Group was born out of the need to find solutions for water scarcity and difficult farming conditions. We have developed integrated systems that cater to the UAE’s unique environment, from advanced irrigation techniques to sustainable crop management,” he stated.
Al Hamed also stressed the importance of creating local solutions that fit the UAE’s needs.“We can either import technology or create our own, adapting it to suit local needs and environment. That is what we are doing to ensure food security from within,” he added.
For his part, Ahmed Hammoud of Alesca Technologies discussed the potential of vertical farming in reshaping sustainable agriculture. He explained: “Since 2013, we have been working on perfecting vertical farming solutions that can be integrated into urban settings, reducing the carbon footprint and providing fresh produce directly to residents.”
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