The Abu Dhabi investment office is willing to spend $41 million to explore farming and grow food even in dry conditions such as in the desert and even in space in an effort to boost food supply in the Emirate.
Abu Dhabi will be partnering with other companies to develop technologies that will help produce food in dry conditions.
The partnership will include greenhouse farming which focuses on growing food with less water and as well as maximizing the international space station to research producing food in space and even places on earth with extreme climates.
Countries like United Arab Emirates import as much as 90% of their food since there is not much water in the Emirates compared to other countries.
Ever since the food crisis hit UAE about ten years ago, the country has been working to boost its domestic output and even invest in farming abroad. This has become even more important with the COVID-19 crisis.
The initiative is part of the government’s $100 million investment to encourage AgTech firms to build research and development facilities in Abu Dhabi.
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed countries to rethink ways on how to feed their people such as Abu Dhabi where oil is rich but water is scarce.