ADAFSA announces UAE AI food security collaboration
UAE Ministers sign strategic agricultural technology partnership
#UAE #foodsecurity - UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama has signed a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) to advance AI applications for food security. The collaboration between the federal AI, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office and Abu Dhabi's agriculture regulator ADAFSA focuses on developing innovative digital solutions, building AI talent capabilities, and creating forward-looking technological solutions through workshops, competitions, and hackathons aligned with institutional needs for sustainable farming practices and elevated food safety standards.
SO WHAT? - The new partnership directly supports the UAE's National Food Security Strategy 2051, which aims to position the country as the top-ranked nation in the Global Food Security Index by 2051. The new collaboration aligns with the strategy's core pillar of technological innovation and research and development. The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has already made significant progress, and recently became the first organisation in the agriculture and food security sector to be awarded the ISO 42001:2023 certification for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems.
Here are some key details from this announcement:
UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama, on behalf of the AI, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, has signed a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) to advance AI applications for food security.
The collaboration emphasises hands-on learning through workshops, competitions, and hackathons designed to create innovative solutions that address specific institutional needs whilst fostering technological creativity among working teams.
ADAFSA recently became the first organisation globally in the agriculture and food security sector to receive ISO 42001:2023 international certification for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems, also marking a government sector first in the UAE.
The partnership aims to stimulate digital skills development and cultivate an innovation culture within teams, supporting the UAE's broader digital transformation objectives across government entities.
The initiative places humans at the centre of the UAE's technological ecosystem, supporting AI-driven projects that benefit communities whilst enhancing sector efficiency and responsible technology use.
The partnership advances ADAFSA's efforts to adopt and implement artificial intelligence solutions specifically targeting sustainable farming practices and food safety standard improvements across the emirate.
ZOOM OUT - Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) was established by Law No. 7 of 2019 as the emirate's dedicated government entity responsible for agriculture, food safety, and food security affairs. ADAFSA operates with comprehensive regulatory authority to issue licenses and permits for agricultural and food activities, whilst conducting supervision and inspection of farms, food facilities, and agricultural input materials throughout Abu Dhabi. The Authority develops policies and strategies to ensure sector sustainability, launches programs to increase agriculture's contribution to Abu Dhabi's GDP, and manages emergency food reserves in cooperation with competent authorities.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]