National Agriculture Centre And Sheraa Forge Strategic Partnership To Enhance AgriTech Entrepreneurship In The UAE

In a move to boost agricultural innovation and sustainable food security, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has partnered with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa). This collaboration aims to advance agritech entrepreneurship across the UAE. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Agriculture Centre and Sheraa during the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition in Al Ain.

Sultan Salem Al Shamsi, Director of the National Agriculture Centre, highlighted the partnership's alignment with leadership's vision for a resilient food future. He stated, "This partnership reflects our continued commitment to the leadership’s vision of building a resilient and sustainable food future for the UAE. Supporting innovation and empowering entrepreneurs and Emirati farmers is central to our strategy for enhancing national agricultural production and competitiveness."

The initiative aims to empower local farmers by introducing them to innovative solutions from startups. This will encourage climate-smart farming practices, creating opportunities to expand operations. Such efforts are expected to enhance their contribution to national food security goals.

Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, expressed commitment to empowering entrepreneurs. She said, "This partnership stems from a shared belief that sustainable agriculture forms the foundation for future readiness and acts as a key driver of innovation." Sheraa supports new founders through its Centre of Excellence for Sustainability.

The MoU outlines cooperation aimed at advancing agri-entrepreneurship in the UAE. It includes supporting startups, promoting knowledge exchange, and launching joint initiatives. The collaboration seeks to foster innovation in sustainable agriculture and technology.

Another MoU was signed between MOCCAE and the Emirates Growth Fund (EGF). It establishes a framework for cooperation focused on economic growth and sustainable development in line with national environmental goals.

Training Programmes for Sustainable Practices

A separate MoU was signed between the National Agriculture Centre and the New Economy Academy. This agreement focuses on developing training programmes, capacity-building initiatives, and institutional collaboration within agriculture. The aim is to enhance competencies in sustainable practices.

The agreement also emphasises strengthening technical capabilities through targeted educational initiatives. These efforts aim to contribute to sustainable development by engaging various societal segments in raising environmental awareness.

Investment in Sustainable Agriculture

The MoU with EGF aims to identify priority areas within sustainable agriculture and food security. It involves developing high-impact projects eligible for support by the Fund, aligning with strategies like the National Food Security Strategy 2051.

This collaboration also seeks to stimulate investment in sustainable agriculture by introducing incentives and promoting entrepreneurship within this sector.

The agreements include mechanisms for governance, monitoring, and evaluation. These ensure effective implementation of initiatives with clear performance indicators aimed at maximising impact while ensuring accountability.

With inputs from WAM