Abu Dhabi Launches AGWA Cluster to Combat Global Food and Water Scarcity

The AGWA Cluster will drive economic diversification and food security, and its development aligns with Abu Dhabi’s plan to counteract the rising global food demand and water scarcity. Launched by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the investment initiative is expected to enhance the emirate’s gross domestic product to AED 335 billion by 2045.

Key Economic Impact

The AGWA Cluster is expected to contribute Dh90 Billion to the AD GDP ,Employ over 60,000 people in immediately and attract investments of Dh128 Billion. This move targets the huge agrifood market of Dh77. 4 trillion and confirms the emirate’s positioning on innovation as well as sustainability.

Strategic Objectives

Launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) with the support of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the AGWA Cluster seeks to build the emirate of Abu Dhabi as a Net Zero global destination for innovative food and water solutions. It will also create an enabling environment for local suppliers and exporters in the cluster to appoint better commercial prospects, as the world opens up to more sustainable food and water provision.

Sheik Khaled emphasized on the diversification of the cluster’s offering in the landscape of the national food and water security by leveraging on enhanced and advanced technologies. This initiative co-chimes with the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 and Water Security Strategy 2036 thus emphasizing the UAE Food Security Strategy of sustainable local production for enhancing agricultural systems.

Technological and Environmental Focus

These solutions will make particular use of cutting-edge developments in the areas of algal protein and make a world food and water via reversing osmosis improvements of traditional food and water production methods. The cluster will also cover the environmentally friendly ways of availing the required increased production in agriculture and water by 2050.

Historical and Future Vision

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, laid down the over-arching strategic direction of Abu Dhabi and its future vision in matters of sustainable food production and supply which was initiated since 1969 by the late Sheikh Zayed and who established green houses in Saadiyat Island among others. The AGWA initiative employs a similar model designed to advance innovation, sustainability, and economic diversification.

The AGWA Cluster has been characterized by Badr Al-Olama, the Director General of ADIO as a strategic plan in the diversification of the economy the Middle Eastern capital that tackles global issues in sustainable agriculture while at the same time presents fresh investment opportunities in the global markets.

Conclusion

In having developed the AGWA Cluster, Abu Dhabi has certainly stated another first in the ever-evolving search for high-technology solutions for sustainable food and water security.

Image Credit: WAM