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Dubai plans to set up food business park

DUBAI, May 6, 2021

UAE-based wasl Properties has joined hands with the Ministry of Food and Water Security to launch 
its new food business park. 
 
The Phase One of the project, Food Tech Valley, includes its headquarters, research and development facilities, innovation centre in addition to a smart food logistics hub and areas for vertical farming.
 
Unveiling the project, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said: "Food Tech Valley is a new modern and vibrant city that would help further develop vertical farming and other advanced agriculture technologies and bolster the UAE's food security."
 
"The state-of-the-art centre aims to triple the UAE's food production and make the country more self-sustainable," he stated.
 
"We launched the first phase of Food Tech Valley that will serve as a global destination for start-ups and industry experts in the food ecosystem," remarked Sheikh Mohammed, while speaking at the launch ceremony which was also attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of State for Food Security. 
 
"It will host R&D [research and development] facilities, an innovation centre, a smart food logistics hub and areas for vertical farming," he stated.
 
Sheikh Mohammed pointed out that the UAE had become a global food logistics hub with its annual food trade exceeding AED100 billion ($27.2 billion).
 
"We will work to create a nurturing environment for agribusinesses to develop new farming technologies and enhance our future food security," he added.
 
Al Mheri said the Food Tech Valley was critical to the goal of achieving self-sufficiency and conserving essential resources.
 
"It represents an instrumental stride towards enhancing food security and will serve as a global destination for expertise in the entire food ecosystem," stated the minister.
 
"It will also be an economic zone, which is particularly significant considering that the size of the AgTech market is projected to grow from $13.5 billion to $22 billion over the next four years," she noted.
 
According to her, the food hub will be made up of four main clusters; agricultural technology and engineering, a food innovation centre, R&D facilities, and an advanced smart food logistics hub.
 
The project features a food innovation centre that has been designed to resemble a head of wheat and will incorporate laboratories, research centres and prototype agricultural systems.
 
"Strategically located close to universities and academic institutions, it will support the R&D ecosystem and explore and deliver sustainable solutions around food," she added.-TradeArabia News Service



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