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Sheikh Mohammed launches Food TechValley in DubaiIt seeks to triple the UAE’s food production and will include a smart foodlogistics hub, R&D facilities as well as agricultural technology and engineeringlabs

BY VARUN GODINHOMAY 2, 2021

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The first phase of a new initiative that seeks to triple the UAE’s food production has beenlaunched in Dubai.

The Food Tech Valley was launched on Saturday, May 1, by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is a partnershipbetween the Ministry of Food and Water Security and Wasl Properties to explore urban planningof future smart and food independent cities.

The initiative that aims at helping the UAE meet its National Food Security Strategy 2051 targets,will – in the initial phase of its launch – focus on strategic projects to achieve food self-sufficiency, while ensuring sustainability and conservation of resources, said Mariam Almheiri,Minister of State for Food and Water Security.

The Food Tech Valley will be home to four main clusters: agricultural technology and engineering,a food innovation centre, R&D facilities, and an advanced smart food logistics hub.

The agricultural technology and engineering cluster will have a vertical farm that will employ thelatest food technologies to grow year-round vital crops, noted a statement issued by SheikhMohammed regarding the initiative. The cluster will also focus on developing innovative projectsin bioengineering, automation, robotics and artificial intelligence and supporting capacity buildingacross the food ecosystem.

The food innovation centre meanwhile will provide an integrated agri-business ecosystem toincubate promising ideas and support startups and entrepreneurs. The cluster, which will have aspecialised food factory to produce new foods and second-generation restaurants (restaurants2.0), will explore models that are based on sustainability and production sufficiency to reduceconsumption and wastage of resources.

HH Sheikh Mohammed @HHShkMohd

اإلمارات العرٮ8ٮ6ة المتحدة حساب حكومى! رسمى!

We launched the first phase of Food Tech Valley, a new modern & vibrant city that will serve as a global destination for start-ups and industry experts in the food ecosystem. It will host R&D facilities, innovation center, smart food logistics hub and areas for vertical farming.

12:55 PM · May 1, 2021

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The third cluster will have world-class R&D facilities to train food specialists and support foodestablishments. The facilities will explore the use of agri-robotics to maximise yields and drought-resistant crops. Specialised researchers will also explore the application of 3D printing in algaecultivation and alternative protein production. The R&D facilities will also study the use of AI tomonitor, analyse and manage agricultural crops, and detect environmental impact and climatechange.

It will complement global food security research efforts by exploring successful salineagriculture, nutritional genomics, agricultural mechanisation and the use of drones in foodproduction.

The fourth cluster will feature a fourth-generation food storage system that provides smart andautomated logistical storage services. The smart storage system will apply blockchaintechnologies and big data in sorting, transporting and distributing various food products. It willtrack food quality, origin, components, processing methods, storage and delivery to ensureefficiency of food supply chains.

The initiative aims to create an integrated modern city where over 300 varieties of crops will beproduced using modern farming techniques and which will serve as a hub for future clean tech-based food and agricultural products and an incubator for researchers, entrepreneurs, startupsand industry experts to develop solutions to address issued regarding food production.

HH Sheikh Mohammed @HHShkMohd

اإلمارات العرٮ8ٮ6ة المتحدة حساب حكومى! رسمى!

The UAE's food trade exceeds AED100 billion annually. Our country is a global food logistics hub, and we will work to create a nurturing environment for agribusinesses to develop new farming technologies and enhance our future food security.

12:56 PM · May 1, 2021

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It will support the use of technologies and applied research in food processing and agricultureand apply modern farming techniques – such as vertical farming, aquaculture and hydroponics –to accelerate self-sufficiency in fresh food produce and reduce wastage of resources.

“[The Food Tech Valley project] will be an economic zone, which is particularly significantconsidering that the size of the AgTech market is projected to grow from $13.5bn to $22bn overthe next four years. The project is part of our efforts to achieve our strategic national goals withrespect to food security, as it constitutes an incubator for advanced farms – including indoor andvertical farms – with more than 60 per cent of the project’s space allocated to these activities,”said Mariam Almheiri.

Read: Sheikh Mohammed reiterates UAE’s drive to enhance food and water security

“The project features a food innovation centre that has been designed to resemble a head ofwheat and will incorporate laboratories, research centres and prototype agricultural systems.Strategically located close to universities and academic institutions, it will support the R&Decosystem and explore and deliver sustainable solutions around food,” added Almheiri.

Hesham Abdullah Al Qassim, CEO of Wasl Asset Management Group, noted: “The projectprovides an integrated legislative framework that facilitates new food product development andaccess to the market. Its competitive incentives and services enable investors to utilise local andglobal demand for the UAE brand and leverage Dubai’s global commercial and trade networks toachieve the desired growth.”

According to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s 2019 figures, the UAE has morethan 177 advanced farms that use modern agricultural technologies and hydroponics, and over100 entities that implement organic farming across the UAE. These facilitate the growth of locallysourced produce all year-round and reduce reliance on seasonal farming. The country currentlyhosts over 500 specialised food processing companies that supply to local markets and exportglobally.

As an economic zone, the Food Tech Valley is a valuable addition to the UAE’s 1,250 legislationsthat support agriculture and food production sectors in ensuring food safety, storage andtransport. With food and beverage investments in the UAE currently totalling Dhs62bn, theinitiative is expected to contribute to attracting further local and foreign direct investments withinthe field.

DUBAI FOOD FOOD TECH VALLEY MINISTRY OF FOOD AND WATER SECURITYSHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM UAE WASL PROPERTIES

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