Abu Dhabi receives the finalists "Food technology challenge"

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ABU DHABI, 8 JANUARY / WAM / This week, Abu Dhabi receives ten international innovators in the field of agricultural technology to compete for the first prize in the UAE Food Technology Challenge, which is a global competition aimed at finding innovative solutions in the field of global food security.

The finalists’ projects range from protein-producing insect farms to AI-powered tools to reduce food waste.

Before the end of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, they will participate in a series of workshops and sessions organized by partners, aiming to provide them with practical insights into the innovation system in Abu Dhabi, and to strengthen relations and build partnerships with the sector, which will contribute to supporting the expansion of their business from the UAE to serve the countries of the Global South and beyond.

The UAE Food Technology Challenge seeks to identify promising agricultural technology solutions and scale their application in dry and climate-change-affected environments, where food security systems are most vulnerable. The challenge is organized by the Office of International Affairs in the Presidential Office in cooperation with “Tamkeen” Company, and is implemented in partnership with the Gates Foundation, the National Initiative to Reduce Food Loss and Waste “Naama” and “Salal” Company. The third cycle of the Food Technology Challenge focuses on two main areas: increasing food production and reducing food loss and waste.

This year’s finalists come from 7 countries, including the UAE, the UK, the US, Malaysia, Kenya, Egypt and France. The winners of the previous two editions of the challenge received a total of $48 million in funding and launched 50 pilot projects in several markets.

Rima Al-Mukarrab, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of the Food Technology Challenge, said: “Meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population is not limited to increasing food production, but requires a comprehensive transformation of food systems, reducing loss and waste, and building more resilient, inclusive and sustainable supply chains. Local innovation and international cooperation are two essential pillars in this urgent endeavor.”

She added: “The UAE Food Technology Challenge contributes to connecting talented innovators working to address food security challenges in their communities, with partners and investors able to support them and expand the impact of their solutions globally. By supporting their integration into the world-class innovation system in Abu Dhabi, and by benefiting from a network of partners with shared visions, the challenge enables these solutions to expand from the UAE to the countries of the Global South and beyond.”

Highlights on the finalists’ agenda over the next week in Abu Dhabi include policy discussion sessions at the National Initiative to Reduce Food Loss and Waste “Naama” Council, in addition to a visit to “Hub71,” where they will learn closely about Abu Dhabi’s pioneering role in supporting the growth of startups. Previous winners of the Food Technology Challenge have joined the global technology ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, benefiting from programs that give them access to global expertise and qualitative growth opportunities in Abu Dhabi.

Fatima Al Mulla, Senior Development Specialist in the Office of International Affairs in the Presidential Office of the United Arab Emirates, said: “The “Food Technology Challenge” competition is a role model and the best evidence of the pioneering role that the UAE plays in promoting innovation and ways of international cooperation, in order to find effective solutions to existing global challenges. We aspire to attract an elite group of the most prominent innovation leaders in the field of agricultural technology from all over the world to Abu Dhabi, the leading destination for excellence. Technology and extensive global expertise in the field of development, to provide an innovative platform for translating promising ideas with great potential into solutions applicable at the global level.”

Kholoud Hassan Al Nowais, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of the Naama Initiative Committee, said: “The Food Technology Challenge is evolving into an important platform for transforming the food sector, by identifying appropriate innovations, technologies and solutions that address supply chain challenges, enhance efficiency, and contribute to preventing or reducing food loss and waste on a large scale. The Naama Initiative Council is a cornerstone of this collaborative approach, where finalists, partners and stakeholders come together in constructive dialogue on issues Food and ways to reduce loss and waste. These discussions are necessary to employ these innovations and adapt them to the local context in the UAE, which will accelerate the achievement of tangible results that strengthen our food systems for future generations.”

Ahmed Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said: “Hub71’s partnership with the Food Technology Challenge reflects our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs who develop innovative solutions to address food security and sustainability challenges. We look forward to hosting the selected companies in Abu Dhabi, to enable them to benefit from our system, in a way that supports their growth.”

The finalists will also participate in a specialized training program to refine presentations organized by KBW Ventures with His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Al-Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, with the aim of developing their presentations and preparing to communicate with investors. They will also visit the advanced “Innovation Oasis” of the “Salal” company, where they will learn about the experiences of previous winners of the Food Technology Challenge who cooperated with the leading agricultural and food technology company in the UAE to accelerate the transfer of ideas from the concept stage to the market. The program also includes a visit to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture to learn about the latest research on climate change-resistant crops, in addition to an exclusive networking evening hosted by Venture Souq, aimed at strengthening ties with regional sovereign wealth funds and major institutional investors from various Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Since the announcement of the finalists on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York last September, the ten teams have participated in six remote preparatory workshops focused on supporting business incubators, integration into the local market, and research and development efforts.

The winners’ names will be revealed during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the region’s leading platform aimed at promoting global sustainability and climate innovation. The winners will be selected by a jury consisting of eight members representing various sectors, including His Excellency Maryam Al Muhairi, Head of the International Affairs Office in the Presidential Office of the United Arab Emirates; Rima Al-Mukarrab, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tamkeen Company; His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Al-Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, founder and CEO of KBW Ventures; Kholoud Hassan Al Nowais, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of the Naama Initiative Committee; Dr. Shamal Mohammed, CEO of Sellal Innovation Oasis; Shelley Sandberg, Deputy Director for Adaptive and Fair Food Systems at the Gates Foundation; Dr. Asmahan El-Wafi, Executive Director of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research; and Dr. Agnes Kalibata, Founder and President of the C4LMPact Consultants Group.

The winners will receive a cash prize package worth a total of US$2 million, in addition to further in-kind support to develop and expand the scope of their projects by taking advantage of the advantages offered by the UAE’s innovation ecosystem and its global networks.