The world’s experience with coronavirus last year laid bare the inefficiencies in an overreliance on global food supply chains and exports and highlighted the importance of food security and local production.
The UAE has been a forerunner in the region when it comes to supporting agtech initiatives that would bolster its food security, said Sean Lee, director of Smart Acres, a hydroponic vertical farm based in Abu Dhabi.
“Before this Covid crisis, the approach was more geared towards acquiring assets outside the UAE so a lot of companies were buying farmlands in Africa or agricultural assets in Eastern Europe,” explained Lee.
“But after Covid, we've all learned that even if we own farms and different factories outside the UAE, there are countries that might close down their border and we won't have access to these imported produce so I think it is very important that the government is supporting this industry,” he continued.
The UAE has the potential to be a major player in the vertical farming space, said Lee, both because of its climate and the government support for such AgTech innovations. “We believe this region, and specifically the UAE, will be a very important location for the vertical farming sector, not only because there's a lot of great support and interest from the leadership but at the same time, this is actually one of the most ideal places to have and test such a technology,” said Lee.
Read more at Arabian Business (N. Rahal)