The “Covid-19” pandemic supports the acceleration of the digitization of traditional tools in the agricultural sector
Swissquote: The UAE provides opportunities for investors in agricultural technology
Shadi Kerbaj: "The UAE aims to rank among the top 10 in the world in the field of food security."
Swissquote Bank Ltd., a provider of financial services and online trading based in the Dubai International Financial Center, stated that the repercussions of the “Covid-19” pandemic led to the acceleration of the digitization of traditional tools in the agricultural sector in the region and at the global level.
He pointed out, in statements to "Emirates Today", that the UAE markets provide opportunities for investors in agricultural technology, with the support of several initiatives launched during the recent period in this sector, pointing out that the UAE currently includes more than 177 advanced farms that use modern agricultural technology, and more Out of 100 organizations adopting organic farming methods.
In detail, Shadi Kerbaj, Deputy Executive Director of “Swisscot Bank” in Dubai, said that “the massive disruptions in supply chains caused by the (Covid-19) pandemic led to the acceleration of the digitization of traditional tools in the agricultural sector, both in the region and at the global level. "With the rise in agricultural commodity prices, we can expect an increase in domestic policies that support agricultural efficiency and attract investors."
He explained that «a large number of the latest technologies have been designed with the aim of improving efficiency in the sector, and also compensating for the shortage of labor due to border closure procedures and obstacles faced by international travel, in addition to the emergence of a strong catalyst for investments in the field of agricultural technology, such as automatic irrigation and self-tracting tractors. leadership and drones,” noting that “this trend is likely to continue after the pandemic, given the amount of cost savings, improved productivity, and higher profitability resulting from these technological solutions.”
He added that «some countries, notably the UAE, are increasingly investing in advanced agricultural technology, to reduce their dependence on global supply chains and improve their food security, and the UAE has established the Ministry of Food and Water Security to focus on food supply and encourage technology-based agricultural production. ».
He explained, "According to the latest figures issued by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment for 2019, the UAE currently has more than 177 advanced farms that use modern agricultural technology, and more than 100 organizations that adopt organic farming methods throughout the country, while the Abu Dhabi Investment Office invests at least $100 million in agricultural technology companies, as part of its food security strategy.
He said, "Last May, Dubai launched the (Food Technology Valley) project, which is a partnership between the Ministry of Water and Food Security and wasl real estate company, in order to research urban planning issues for smart and food-independent future cities, and the project will be centered around four groups, based on It focuses on agricultural technology and agricultural engineering, with a center for food innovation, research and development facilities, and an advanced and intelligent food logistics center.”
He pointed out that "Thanks to initiatives of this kind, the UAE aims to rank among the top 10 globally in the field of food security, compared to its 21st position globally today."
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news