The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has taken a significant step in advancing the UAE’s agricultural future with the ‘Plant the Emirates’ national programme. During an introductory meeting with key private sector stakeholders, the ministry addressed the agricultural sector’s main challenges and explored solutions to drive innovation and sustainability.
Led by Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, the meeting reviewed the objectives of the newly launched National Agricultural Centre. These include increasing productive farms by 20%, raising organic farms by 25%, promoting climate-smart agriculture across 30% of UAE farms, and cutting agricultural food waste by 50%. The gathering also reinforced the critical role of private sector collaboration in achieving these goals.
The meeting followed the recent launch of ‘Plant the Emirates’ and the National Agricultural Centre by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Both initiatives aim to enhance food security, expand green spaces, and ensure long-term sustainability.
Highlighting the sector’s challenges, Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, MOCCAE Undersecretary, called for urgent adoption of modern climate-smart systems to address workforce shortages, low organic farm numbers, and lackluster marketing for local products. He emphasized the National Agricultural Centre’s role in providing grants, promoting innovation, and supporting farmers.
With upcoming events like the ‘Plant the Emirates’ Festival and the National Agricultural Exhibition, the programme is set to engage the wider community through initiatives such as the ‘AgroTourism Experience’ and school competitions, fostering a culture of sustainable farming and afforestation across the UAE.
