Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Minister of State for Food and Water Security, emphasised that the launch of the initial phase of the FoodTech Valley is vitally important at this current time when the world needs strategic projects to achieve food self-sufficiency, while also ensuring sustainability and the conservation of resources. Highlighting that the initiative translates the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for creating projects that can shape the future and build a knowledge economy based on innovation, Her Excellency said that the FoodTech Valley project will establish the position of the UAE as a global laboratory for the latest technologies in innovation-based food security.
“The FoodTech Valley project is an instrumental stride towards enhancing food security and will serve as a global destination for expertise in the entire food ecosystem. It will also be an economic zone – something that is particularly significant considering that the size of the AgTech market is projected to grow from 13.5 billion to 22 billion US dollars over the next four years. The project is part of our efforts to achieve our strategic national goals with respect to food security, as it constitutes an incubator for advanced farms – including indoor and vertical farms – with more than 60% of the project’s space allocated to these activities. The project will include a centre for food innovation that has been designed to resemble a head of wheat and will incorporate laboratories, research centres and prototype agricultural systems. The project is also located strategically close to universities and academic institutions to support the R&D ecosystem and explore and deliver sustainable solutions around food,” said Her Excellency.
“As we celebrate the past 50 years of achievement inspired by our founding fathers, we look forward to the next 50 years with confidence to achieve our National Food Security Strategy and to enhance our capabilities in food production as a nation. We seek to adopt and develop the latest methods for smart agriculture and food production, rationalise water use, accelerate basic food self-sufficiency, and share our successful experiences with countries around the world. This will help us to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and safeguard the future of forthcoming generations,” Her Excellency concluded.
