Abu Dhabi: A $12.5 million (Dh45.9 million) global call for solutions that promote a more efficient use of water in agriculture was launched in the capital today (March 10).
An additional $2.5 million (Dh9.18 million) is also available for projects implemented in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The announcement was made at the second edition of the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture, which wraps up tomorrow (March 11). The grants will be provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of their Securing Water for Food programme.
“By 2050, global water demand is expected to increase by 55 per cent, and 70 per cent of global water use occurs in food production,” said Christian Holmes, USAID’s global water coordinator.
“Through a catalytic use of aid, this programme will be able to capture and support the implementation of innovative ideas and new technologies for better water efficiency and sustainable development,” he added.
In its inaugural round, the Securing Water for Food initiative selected 17 recipients, including projects that would develop crops for saline environments and flying water sensor technologies. As part of the second round of grants, six awardees are competing to perfect brackish water desalination technologies.
Recipients receive between $100,000 (Dh367,295) and $3 million (Dh11.02 million) in funds that are geared at bringing their innovations to scale. The programme looks specifically for projects that have been successful during their pilots.
Meanwhile, the three-day innovation forum in Abu Dhabi is also seeing a number of scientists and researchers from across the world present their ideas for food security, sustainable agriculture and water conservation to industry experts and government officials.
Alongside this, visitors can meet with 250 agriculture industry suppliers or attend a number of conferences that focus on climate-smart agriculture, food waste and losses, technological innovations and urban agriculture.
The event is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).
Speaking at the summit today (March 10), Rashid Al Shariqi, Director-General of ADFCA, stressed the immense food security challenges for the Arab world.
“The population of the Arab world is expected to double by 2030, reaching 480 million people. This calls for concerted efforts to ensure the availability of safe and nutritious food,” he said.
