Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Okays Launch Of AgriFood Growth And Water Abundance Cluster

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, approved the AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) Cluster launch to tackle food shortages and water scarcity.

AGWA, led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), aims to become a global hub for novel food and ingredients alongside increasing access and utilization of water resources.

This initiative will serve as a platform for the local suppliers as well as exporters to maximize commercial opportunities and meet increasing global demand, alleviate pressures on agricultural systems, address shifting dietary patterns, capitalize on technological advancements, and support global food security.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi emphasized the importance of the AGWA cluster in improving food and water security, noting that using advanced technologies and innovative methods, the cluster will support sustainable local production and meet the growing demand for food and water both regionally and internationally.

He said that food and water security is a top priority for the country's leaders, adding that they aim to create a strong agricultural and water production system using smart solutions and promoting research and innovation in modern farming technologies.

This will help diversify the local economy and support sustainable development, aligning with the National Food Security Strategy 2051 and the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the ADDED, said that the launch of AGWA is a "game changer" to further diversify the economy, enhance innovation, and achieve the objectives of the UAE food security strategy 2051.

"It enables us to accelerate innovations in advanced technologies to address the pressing needs for sustainable water and food sources both locally and globally," he added, according to WAM.

"Abu Dhabi has been exploring sustainable solutions to food production challenges since the late 1960s. In 1969, the late Sheikh Zayed, the visionary founder of the UAE, established the first network of greenhouses on Saadiyat Island, employing advanced technologies of that era to ensure sustainable food production," Al Zaabi added.

He went on to share that the recent initiatives continue this legacy of long-term vision and commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusive socio-economic development.

Badr Al-Olama, Director General at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), said this initiative will address "sustainability, critical global challenges, and new investment opportunities," noting that this is the "next step in achieving Abu Dhabi's economic diversification strategy by accelerating non-oil sectors."