UAE Minister of Environment and Water inaugurates Agricultural Innovation Center

DUBAI, 17th December, 2014 (WAM) -- Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, inaugurated today the Agricultural Innovation Centre in Al-Dhaid, Sharjah, aimed to promote latest agricultural advancements and maintain the agricultural sector’s sustainability in the UAE through state-of-the-art technological innovations, research works, and relevant consultations.

The Centre will coordinate with top-notch international centers specializing in agricultural technologies through the execution of joint scientific research and partnership programs and schemes to develop the country’s agricultural system.

Speaking on the occasion, Bin Fahad said the Agricultural Innovation Centre falls in line with UAE Vision 2021, which is inspired by the National Work Program of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and aims to position the UAE as one of the world’s best countries by 2021.

The launch also complements the National Innovation Strategy recently unveiled by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This Strategy will strive to make the UAE one of the world’s most innovative countries in seven years by focusing on seven major sectors including renewable energy, technology and water.

Bin Fahad added that the Agricultural Innovation Centre is part of the Ministry’s strategy to enhance food safety in the country and promote the sustainability of local production. Amidst the growing technological developments in the agricultural sector such as the use of modern techniques and DNA profiling, he said it is imperative to keep the country’s research works on agriculture abreast of advanced science and technological developments in order to discover new dimensions of the local agricultural sector.

He was also briefed on the ongoing research about greenhouse and hydroponic systems development as well as the experiments conducted to cultivate quinoa.

Following last year’s successful experimental results, the Ministry of Environment and Water is planning to expand the cultivation area for quinoa to introduce the farmers to its uses and benefits. This will pave the way for the integration of quinoa, which is being used in many food industries as it offers lucrative economic returns and has the ability to grow in hot and dry climates.

The Agricultural Innovation Centre encourages innovations to maintain food sustainability and drive sustainable agricultural development. This is in line with its vision of implementing modern technological innovations in the agricultural sector to promote a sustainable industry given the available resources. The Centre’s mission revolves around employing local and international expertise to establish sustainable agricultural development in the country.

The Centre further aims to reinforce research in various agricultural applications and segments, including modern innovative technologies, to address the numerous requirements and challenges of modern agriculture. It aims to promote cooperation and exchange of expertise among concerned local authorities and relevant regional and international research centers in the UAE and the rest of the world.

It will also collaborate with international organizations, authorities and industry experts, namely the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Area (ICARDA). The Centre will cooperate with the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), as well as participate in various joint studies covering local agricultural segments, such as a study on the effects of multiple levels of salinity on the production of some salinity-tolerant agricultural and pastoral crops.

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2014.