Dubai, UAE – 2025 – On 21 November, ORF Middle East hosted the first edition of its From Market to Policy Roundtable Series, titled “The Role of AgriFoodTech in Revolutionising the UAE’s Food Security.” The invite-only closed-door session, held at Dubai World Trade Centre, convened regional experts from public institutions, private-sector innovators and academic research centres to examine how AgriFoodTech advancements can support the UAE’s national food-security strategy.

The discussion was moderated by Ms. Leigh Mante, Junior Fellow, ORF Middle East, who opened the session with an overview of the UAE’s long-term ambition to expand domestic food production and strengthen resilience across the water-energy-food nexus.
The roundtable featured the following participants:
• Mr. Ahmad Mukhtar, Senior Economist / Head of Strategy and Policy – Food Security, FAO
• Mr. Hassan Halawy, CEO, Elite Agro Projects LLC
• Mr. Juan Carlos Motamayor, CEO, Topian Aquaculture (NEOM)
• Ms. Daria Shchurik, Head of Product & Marketing, Greeneration (AgriTech)
• Mr. Fadi Sbaiti, Vice President / General Manager, Khalifa University AgX
• Ms. Aya Hallak, Partner, Strategy& Middle East – PwC Network
• Ms. Mannat Jaspal, Director & Fellow, ORF Middle East
• Ms. Shruti Jain, Associate Fellow, Centre for Development Studies, ORF

Participants opened the dialogue by discussing the UAE’s goal to produce more of its food domestically and reduce exposure to global supply-chain pressures. They agreed that AgriFoodTech is becoming a central pillar of this effort, with vertical farming, hydroponics, regenerative practices, biotech and AI-supported supply-chain systems offering new pathways for stable, climate-resilient output.
Panelists explored how these technologies can better align with market demand. Speakers highlighted the need to synchronise tech-enabled production with consumer preferences, nutrition requirements and the realities of desert agriculture. They also examined how improved cold-chain logistics, stronger data governance and AI-driven monitoring can reduce food loss and waste across the value chain.

Representing the controlled-environment agriculture sector, Daria Shchurik shared insights from Greeneration’s experience with hyperlocal production and data-driven cultivation. She noted that same-day harvesting and controlled environments offer greater predictability, consistency and traceability—important factors for foodservice operators and retailers across the UAE.

Throughout the discussion, panelists stressed the importance of aligning innovation with regulatory frameworks. Key themes included:
• prioritising research, talent development and financing for region-specific crops, regenerative agriculture, biotech and bioenergy
• strengthening clean-energy integration to reduce production costs in high-tech agriculture
• improving public-private linkages through joint ventures, shared infrastructure and local–foreign collaboration
• channeling capital toward de-risking tools such as crop insurance, agri-guarantees and fintech-supported financing
• developing clear AI and data-governance frameworks to guide responsible innovation in agriculture

Speakers also highlighted opportunities to strengthen the role of Emirati startups in the AgriFoodTech sector and discussed how food hubs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai can be adapted to support progress across all emirates. Participants noted that regional collaboration and policy dialogues across the MENA region will be essential, particularly in financing mechanisms and knowledge-sharing platforms that accelerate scalable, climate-smart solutions.

The session closed with a shared understanding that the future of food security in the UAE will depend on stronger alignment between market realities, technological advancements and policy direction. Participants agreed that sustained cooperation between innovators, research institutions and government bodies will be vital to building a resilient and self-reliant food system.

Greeneration expresses its appreciation to ORF Middle East for convening this important dialogue and looks forward to contributing to future discussions shaping the UAE’s AgriFoodTech landscape.