Abu Dhabi, UAE : DANA, a leading Abu Dhabi-based venture builder and investment platform, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s hub for technology innovation and research and development. The collaboration will focus on advancing the agritech sector and addressing food security challenges in the UAE and the wider MENA region.

As part of the partnership, DANA and Masdar City will jointly establish a beta site in Masdar City dedicated to agritech startups. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a testing ground for innovative solutions aimed at improving food security and sustainability. The beta site will provide local and regional startups, particularly those in the agritech, circular economy, and energy & water solutions sectors, with the infrastructure and resources needed to pilot their projects and bring them to market.

The agreement between the two organizations is a significant step towards achieving the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051, which aims to enhance local food production, improve the efficiency of agricultural practices, and support sustainable food systems. The partnership aligns with the UAE’s broader goals of increasing innovation and fostering the growth of women-led startups in sectors crucial to the region’s future, such as agritech and desert tech.

DANA, founded by three female entrepreneurs from the UAE, Palestine, and Israel, is dedicated to supporting women-led startups in the region. The new initiative is aligned with DANA’s mission to empower female entrepreneurs in agritech and other sustainable industries. By providing a dedicated space for testing and developing new technologies, the partnership will offer women-led companies the opportunity to scale their solutions and contribute to the region’s food security goals.

The beta site will focus on supporting startups with solutions at the ‘pre-seed’ and ‘Series A’ stages, and it will act as a catalyst for developing viable, scalable agrifood solutions that can be tested in desert environments. This testing facility will be equipped with modern infrastructure, including greenhouses, net houses, and open-field farming areas, allowing startups to explore new techniques in crop production, water conservation, and soil regeneration.

The partnership also emphasizes Masdar City’s role as a regional leader in technology and innovation. Abdulla Balalaa, Executive Director of Masdar City, highlighted the importance of R&D in fostering new solutions for sustainable industries. He stated, “This beta site will be an invaluable hub for agritech innovation, where technology and creativity, especially driven by women, will lead to long-term sustainability and success.”

The facility is expected to help address several challenges related to food security, such as water scarcity, efficient irrigation systems, greenhouse cooling, and soil regeneration. It will also test the resilience of new seed varieties suitable for the region’s desert climate.

The collaboration with Masdar City comes at a crucial time for the agritech sector in the MENA region. As food security issues and resource scarcity intensify, the need for innovative, sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. The regional agritech market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% through 2026, making it an ideal time to invest in new technologies that can address these challenges.

Zada Haj, CEO and Co-Founder of DANA, emphasized the importance of having a platform where agritech solutions can be tested and developed in real-world conditions. She said, “For agritech, the pivot is not just about developing new technology; it’s about testing its feasibility, accessibility, and affordability. This beta site will provide the hands-on testing that many agritech solutions need to succeed.”

Construction of the beta site is expected to begin in July 2022, with operations slated to commence in Q4 2022. The site will feature 1,700 square meters of agricultural space designed to foster sustainable farming methods and support the testing of technologies that address the region’s food security and sustainability goals.

With the support of venture capitalists and incubators across the MENA region, DANA and Masdar City are committed to driving the growth of the agritech sector and making a lasting impact on food security in the UAE and beyond. This partnership promises to serve as a springboard for groundbreaking innovations that will shape the future of agriculture in desert environments.

– QANTARA (c) 2024