Key Takeaways
- Square Roots has signed a landmark collaboration with Silal’s Innovation Oasis to accelerate climate-smart agriculture in desert environments.
- The partnership includes deploying an AI-powered, modular research facility in Al Ain to test indoor and desert farming solutions.
- Focus areas include low-light crop genetics, AI-driven cultivation tools, and resource-efficient indoor farming systems.
- Square Roots will localize its Next-Gen Farmer Training Program to support Emirati agronomists and growers.
- The initiative aims to fast-track commercialization of scalable farming models aligned with the UAE’s food security strategy.
Square Roots Expands Global Footprint Through UAE Desert Agriculture Collaboration
Square Roots, a global agritech company specializing in modular controlled-climate farming and AI-powered cultivation systems, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Silal’s Innovation Oasis (iO), a research and development hub based in Al Ain. The agreement is designed to advance climate-smart agriculture, strengthen food security, and accelerate the development of farming solutions adapted to desert conditions.
The partnership combines Square Roots’ expertise in indoor crop science, controlled-environment systems, and artificial intelligence with Innovation Oasis’s focus on desert agriculture and applied research. It reflects the UAE’s broader efforts to enhance water efficiency, diversify local food production, and build a next-generation agricultural innovation ecosystem.
H.E. Dhafer Rashed Al Qasimi, Group CEO of Silal, said the collaboration brings world-class agricultural innovation to Abu Dhabi and supports the UAE’s leadership in climate-smart and desert farming by translating advanced research into practical tools for growers.
Square Roots to Deploy AI-Powered Research Facility at Innovation Oasis
AI-Driven Testbed for Indoor and Desert Farming
Under the agreement, Square Roots will deploy a multi-zone, fully cloud-connected, artificial intelligence-powered research facility at the Innovation Oasis site. The facility will function as a national testbed, enabling parallel trials on desert-adapted crops, low-light genetics, modular indoor farming systems, and generative AI applications for agriculture.
The research platform is designed to support rapid experimentation and validation under real desert conditions, helping accelerate the path from research to commercialization. A dedicated research and development farm based on Square Roots’ modular indoor farming technology will also be installed to support joint programs and additional Silal-led research initiatives.
Focus on Low-Light Genetics and Resource Efficiency
A central component of the collaboration is the development of low-light crop genetics to support indoor farming systems with significantly lower energy requirements. Building on Square Roots’ internationally recognized research, the initiative aims to reduce energy consumption by up to 40% compared with conventional indoor farming approaches.
The partnership will also identify and test new strategic crops suited to arid environments, expanding the diversity of locally grown produce in the UAE. Alongside crop development, AI-powered tools will be developed to improve productivity, optimize water and energy use, and enhance overall system efficiency.
Training, Commercialization, and Support for Farmers
Square Roots will localize its globally recognized “Next-Gen Farmer Training Program” as part of the collaboration. The program will equip Emirati scientists, agronomists, and growers with advanced technical skills in controlled-environment agriculture, data-driven cultivation, and modern crop science.
In addition, Square Roots will adapt its modular indoor farming platform into a resource-efficient configuration tailored for smallholder farmers, including scalable systems capable of operating on solar power. These efforts are intended to support broader adoption of advanced farming technologies and improve access for diverse farming operations across the UAE.
Square Roots & Silal: Strengthening Abu Dhabi’s Role in Agricultural Innovation
Kimbal Musk, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Square Roots, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to redefining agriculture in arid environments. He noted that combining Square Roots’ controlled-climate farming capabilities with Abu Dhabi’s agricultural vision will help deliver scalable models that improve food security and resource efficiency.
Through this collaboration, Innovation Oasis and Square Roots are positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for advanced agricultural development, supporting the testing and validation of new technologies and reinforcing the UAE’s long-term sustainability and food security ambitions.
Square Roots
Square Roots is an indoor farming platform designed to support agricultural research and specialty crop production. The company collaborates with commercial and non-commercial organizations to enable year-round, controlled trials and crop development.
Headquartered in New York City and operating five commercial-scale facilities across the Midwest, Square Roots supports research in response to climate challenges and promotes the exploration of plant production for both food and alternative applications.
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