The UAE co -ordination of internal and external resources to grow agriculture

● Wang Junpeng

The food security strategy is one of the core strategies of the UAE. As the first country in the world to appoint the Minister of Food and Water Security, the UAE introduced the "2051 National Food Safety Strategy" as early as November 2018. The goal of this strategy is to build a sustainable high -tech agricultural ecosystem in the UAE, enhance local food output, and at the same time strengthen the sources of international cooperation and enrich food imports, and ensure that there are at least 3 to 5 optional solutions for major food crops. It is under the leadership of this strategy that in recent years, the development of the UAE's smart agriculture has developed rapidly, the international procurement capabilities of grain and agricultural products have significantly improved, and the global grain safety index ranking has continued to improve.

Vigorously develop smart agriculture

85%of the UAE's grain relies on imports. The scarce water resources and harsh natural environment make the UAE have to choose the road of science and technology to promote agriculture. Through the development of high -scientific and technologicalized smart agricultural rich crop planting varieties, and improving food production.

In May 2021, the "Dubai Food Technology Valley" officially landed. The project aims to increase the existing grain output of the UAE by developing vertical agriculture and incubation agricultural technology by more than double the development of vertical agriculture and incubation agriculture, and achieve self -sufficiency and sustainable agricultural development of grain supply. Dubai Food Technology Valley focuses on the four major clusters, namely agricultural technology and engineering, food innovation centers, research and development centers, and advanced smart food logistics centers. I hope to attract the world's latest agricultural technology to land on the UAE, establishing a continuously providing agricultural sustainable development provision. Comprehensive platform for technical support.

According to the design plan, the Dubai Food Technology Valley will build a vertical farm, using the world's latest planting technology to cultivate various crops, and at the same time promote advanced technologies such as biological engineering, automation, and artificial intelligence into agricultural production. In addition, Dubai Food Technology Valley will also explore the application of 3D printing technology in algae culture and replacement of protein production.

The headquarters of the International Biological Salt Agricultural Center (ICBA), which is also headquartered in Dubai, focuses on salt, drought -resistant, and heat -resistant crops suitable for planting under the strict environmental conditions of the UAE. At present, crops such as quinoa, amaranth, and salt grass are not only widely planted in the UAE, but also introduced to Egypt, Morocco and other countries. The International Biological Salt Agricultural Center also established a desert life joint laboratory with Washinga Gene. It uses genetic technology to discover and promote crops that are more nutritious, more easy to plant, and more suitable for the UAE's climate characteristics.

In order to encourage the development of smart agriculture, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) provides $ 100 million in funding support, cooperates with a number of agricultural technology companies, establish the world's most advanced agricultural technology research and development center in Abu Dhabi How to better save water resources. According to estimates, the current vertical agricultural projects that the UAE currently vigorously promote will save 90%of the water consumption than traditional agriculture.

Rich food import sources

In addition to vigorously developing domestic science and technology agriculture, the UAE also attaches great importance to cooperation with relevant countries around the world. It has adopted the acquisition of overseas agricultural enterprises, signed or lease agreements, and led the development of overseas agricultural projects to enrich the source of food imports and achieve food safety.

Through cooperation with governments, the implementation of a series of overseas agricultural projects and mergers and acquisitions of agricultural enterprises, the UAE has already owned a large number of agricultural assets around the world. According to the "2051 National Food Safety Strategy", the UAE hopes that by 2051, the goal of its global grain security index ranking first.

(Excerpted from the Economic Daily)

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