UAE announces AED 11 million grant programme for food technology

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) has announced a grant programme valued at AED 11 million to contribute to global efforts to end hunger, and improve the resilience, sustainability, and health of food and water systems.

This was announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, with the signing of a Letter of Intent between MBRGI and the UpLink Platform by WEF.

The programme aims to drive innovation and ensure sustainable access to food under the Food Innovation Hubs global initiative, launched at COP28 in Dubai.

It seeks to invest in solutions for food insecurity, and support and empower food systems innovators by providing them with the necessary resources to launch their projects.

The programme will also allow them to utilise the vast experience gained by MBRGI from its work in humanitarian aid and relief, as well as the other pillars of its work.

Saeed Al Eter, Assistant Secretary-General of MBRGI, said the programme aims to "respect and acknowledge innovation", "promote creativity" in trying to positively affect change, and represents an "important step in agricultural innovation, especially in the most disadvantaged communities".

Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, said, "Today, we are proud to strengthen our collaboration with the UAE and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives."

He added that through sourcing entrepreneurs and innovators through platforms like UpLink and the Food Innovation Hub, wants to ensure that the world's growing population can "positively benefit from fit-for-purpose solutions" for food and water systems resilience.

Within the framework of Food Innovation Hub UAE…. World Economic Forum and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Announce AED11 M Grant Program to Support New Ideas in Food Technologies across the world pic.twitter.com/3Jr37JH5CH

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) January 18, 2024