The Ministry of Environment and Water has recently signed a technical cooperation agreement with Sandrob Middle East Ltd. with an aim to conduct researches and experiments in innovative techniques to increase agricultural production and support its sustainability. The move falls in line with the Ministry’s aim to enhance the food safety and sustainability of local production in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and the National Innovation Strategy to achieve a sustainable environment and an integrated infrastructure.
His Excellency Eng. Saif Al Shara, Assistant Undersecretary of Agricultural affairs and Animal Sector, Ministry of Environment and Water and Philip Samibi, CEO of Sandrob Middle East Ltd. has signed the agreement.
Speaking about the contract, H.E. Al-Shara’ said that the Ministry is constantly working to adopt the modern agricultural techniques that can effectively contribute in increasing the UAE’s agricultural production, enhancing its role in the national food security system. This can be achieved only by forging strategic alliances for the establishment and application of innovative concepts in agriculture in area such as protected agriculture and hydroponics. Such concepts rely on the sustainability of natural resources using clean energy and the optimal use of groundwater resources.
H.E. Al-Shara’ emphasized that the move is in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, on innovation and the National Innovation Strategy launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai that aims to make the country among the most innovative nations in the world within seven years in seven sectors, including renewable energy, technology and water.
Explaining further, H.E. Al-Shara’ said that they will design and create a modern and innovative model of greenhouses that uses hydroponics systems. In addition, they will use energy systems that rely on sunrays to cover the electricity needs of greenhouses and help in reducing carbon emissions and benefiting optimally from the available natural resources. He added that through the contract, they will evaluate various desalination systems used in greenhouses and study the feasibility of using salt water in the agricultural sector. In addition, they will assess different cooling technologies used in the greenhouses, which would be more suited to the UAE’s climate.
H.E. Al-Shara’ highlighted that the successful experiments will contribute in securing alternatives and sustainable solutions for the challenges faced by the UAE’s agricultural sector, such as the scarcity of arable water and lack of arable land in an innovative way. He went on to add that they will conduct experiments and researches on the modern agricultural techniques according to the adopted criteria and methodologies in order to evaluate its efficiency and suitability to the regular conditions of the country. He also mentioned that they will design appropriate extension programs for farmers to promote the use of these techniques.
With regard to the Ministry’s role, H.E. Al-Shara’ stated it will continuously enhance cooperation with leading international organizations, agricultural research centers, universities, and institutions in the private sector through exchange of professional experience, expertise, techniques, and knowledge. This will contribute in improving the UAE’s agriculture sector and boost the revenue of the local farmers.
The Agricultural Innovation Center was opened in December 2014 with an aim to design, plan and implement new and innovative research projects that serve the principles ofsustainable agricultural development. It will also contribute to the research network of agricultural innovations among the countries of the region, as it coordinates with other international centers concerned with the development of agricultural techniques. This will be done through the implementation of plans, mutual programs, and scientific partnership with the international and regional groups and organizations operating in this field to achieve the objectives of the UAE’s agriculture sector.