A $32.7 million AgriTech hub spanning 100,000 square meters is set for Al Ain, UAE. This initiative is a collaboration between Abu Dhabi's Silal and China's Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG). The deal, witnessed at the Make it in the Emirates conference by UAE ministers, aims to transition agriculture from water-intensive to data-driven and climate-resilient systems. The facility will test "smart farming" under extreme conditions.
SVG's "Shouguang Model," developed in China's Shandong province, will be adapted to the UAE's environment. The Al Ain site will include photovoltaic glass greenhouses and solar-powered structures. Advanced technologies like automated climate control and precision irrigation aim to reduce water and fertiliser use by up to 30%.
The complex will feature post-harvest infrastructure, including a fold storage centre and logistics systems. This collaboration, following a previous partnership in vegetable seed breeding, seeks to enhance production efficiency and supply capacity in the UAE.
Source: The National