Agritech is the way forward for food security, says UAE investment banker-turned-urban farmer

“With the global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, we will have to increase agricultural production by 70% to feed such a large population. This means that over the next 30 to 40 years we will have to grow more food than the past 12,000 years combined, but the amount of land, resources and farmers has decreased,” Oda said.

“Agriculture today is a massive global industry, controlled by a handful of companies in five countries and consuming vast resources. But recently there has been a series of technological breakthroughs aimed at making the industry more productive, efficient, sustainable and affordable Since then, the UAE has established itself not only as an innovation hub, but also as a champion and leader in agricultural technology. [In fact]smaller, more flexible countries like Singapore, Switzerland and the UAE [better able] Attract entrepreneurs, investors and partners to lead the next wave of technological innovation and commercialization,” he added.

Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the UAE, attended the parliament, along with other officials, educators, entrepreneurs and industry experts.

Oda, who specializes in indoor vertical farms and farm management software, said he expects Emirati companies to offer agtech solutions to the region soon.

“The UAE has a competitive education system to support the next generation of homegrown talent. It has launched a number of accelerator programmes and start-up competitions to establish itself as an innovation hub. Backed by a national strategy and roadmap, the UAE has committed to becoming a world leader by 2051 Going to the most food-secure country not only reassures residents, but also inspires the next generation of agritech innovators flocking to the region,” Oda said.

The innovator himself got his first taste of the UAE’s passion for entrepreneurship when he entered the startup competition in 2016.

Oda goes on to explain why agricultural technology is the way forward to ensure food security.

“Today, only five countries in the world produce most of the major crops, as well as 30 types of fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy and food products. The pandemic has exposed the Lots of vulnerabilities,” he said.

The five countries of the United States, China and India are rich in labor, arable land and natural resources. But these alone are not enough to support a rapidly growing global population, especially because of the demands of traditional agriculture on resources like water and its large share of carbon emissions.

“Agricultural value chains consume vast resources, including 41% of the planet’s habitable land and 72% of its freshwater reserves. In addition, 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. As the global population increases and the demand for agricultural products continues to increase, The industry must find more sustainable and climate-friendly methods of production, processing and logistics,” Oda said.

To this end, indoor vertical farms are seen as a promising solution, as they can produce hundreds of crops each year, regardless of the amount of available arable land or climatic conditions.

“Compared to conventional farms, indoor vertical farms can grow 300 times more food per square meter while using 100 times less water and without the use of pesticides,” Oda said.

In addition, biological fermentation facilities are helping to produce proteins and food additives in specialized tanks.

“Some companies are also looking into nature to develop plant-based meat alternatives that are more sustainably produced and consumed healthier, and the texture of these products is slowly becoming indistinguishable from animal-sourced products. Large insect farms are harnessing the nature of insects Appetite and natural digestive processes to upgrade organic waste and break it down into nutrient-rich fertilizer,” explains Oda.

There is another set of initiatives to develop mushroom and fungal products into natural plastics, leather and packaging.

“There are so many incredible technologies developing unique solutions [for food security], these technologies give every country the opportunity to ensure its own food and nutrition security.They are also more productive, generate less waste and significantly reduce costs [over time]Oda said.

As a result, the food and agriculture industries are at an exciting intersection, which presents opportunities for flexible, innovative economies such as the UAE, said the urban farmer.

“The UAE has many important factors that attract great talent and companies, and it has the opportunity to build a vibrant ecosystem by supporting early- and growth-stage companies,” Oda said.

He also called on people to eat a more varied diet, instead of concentrating on meat and meat products, and eat locally produced foods to help support food security efforts.

“Changing our diet [to be less meat-intensive] can have a huge [positive] the effect on the environment. Eating local food helps ensure local and regional food security, while also minimising food waste,” explains Oda.