Key Takeaways
- The upcoming World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in Dubai will showcase regional breakthroughs in sustainable farming and climate-smart systems.
- The Middle East and Africa are emerging as key regions for agri-tech innovation amid global challenges in food, water, and climate.
- Collaboration between governments, research institutions, and the private sector is accelerating agricultural transformation.
- Projects in solar irrigation, controlled-environment farming, and desert agriculture are driving scalable solutions.
- Lessons from the region are increasingly shaping global strategies for food security and climate resilience.
World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit to Spotlight Regional Innovation
As global attention turns toward sustainable agriculture, the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit will bring together leaders, innovators, and policymakers to examine how the Middle East and Africa are becoming vital testbeds for agri-tech solutions. From vertical farms in the Gulf to solar-powered irrigation across Sub-Saharan Africa, the region is driving scalable, climate-smart technologies designed to thrive in extreme conditions.
“The Middle East and Africa are strong testbeds for agri-tech innovation due to pressing challenges and diverse conditions,” said Adnane, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab at UM6P. He added that the coexistence of high-tech commercial farms and smallholder systems has created a “living laboratory” for testing solutions that balance productivity and resource efficiency.
Integration Across the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
The region’s interlinked challenges of water, energy, and food scarcity are prompting the development of integrated, resource-efficient systems. “In Morocco, solar-powered drip irrigation systems help farmers optimize scarce water resources while lowering fossil fuel dependency,” said Adnane. “In Egypt, aquaponics projects combine fish farming and vegetable production, recycling water and nutrients efficiently.”
In the Gulf, companies such as Agrico in Qatar are using solar-powered hydroponic greenhouses to enable year-round production. These innovations—many of which will be discussed at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit—demonstrate how circular systems can reduce water use, stabilize supply chains, and build long-term resilience.
Collaboration as a Catalyst for Agricultural Transformation
Partnerships remain central to the region’s agri-tech progress. “Collaboration between governments, research institutions, and private companies is essential for scaling climate-smart agriculture,” Adnane noted.
Examples include Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund partnering with AeroFarms to build one of the world’s largest vertical farms in Riyadh and Morocco’s IFC-led solar micro-irrigation financing reaching tens of thousands of farmers. The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture in the UAE is also developing salt-tolerant crops suited to arid soils, advancing sustainable production in marginal environments.
“These partnerships align science, policy, and investment, accelerating the shift toward climate-resilient agriculture,” Adnane added.
Desert Agriculture and Regional Leadership
Stuart Donald, Global Head of Farming at Al Dahra, emphasized that desert agriculture is redefining productivity in arid regions. “Al Dahra’s global strategy focuses on growing food and feed across diversified regions,” he said. “Our operations in Egypt, Namibia, Morocco, Serbia, and the U.S. combine large-scale irrigation with sustainable innovation to strengthen food security in the MENA region.”
Donald highlighted the use of precision irrigation, advanced sensors, and data analytics to enhance efficiency. “We’re focused on growing more with less,” he said.
World Agri-Tech: From Regional Solutions to Global Models
As climate pressures intensify worldwide, the technologies developed in the Middle East and Africa are influencing global agri-tech strategies. “Technologies developed here under the harshest conditions, from controlled-environment farming to solar-powered desalination, are increasingly being exported,” said Adnane.
Donald added: “Our experience in water management and large-scale irrigated farming positions the MENA region to play a leading role in shaping global food systems. We’ve learned how to adapt, and that knowledge is now our greatest export.”
Innovation and Investment at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit
The upcoming World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, taking place in Dubai on December 8–9, will convene stakeholders from across the agricultural ecosystem to explore the next generation of climate-resilient technologies. The event will highlight how the Middle East and Africa have turned necessity into innovation—developing tools, models, and systems that can sustain agriculture in a changing climate.
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