The UAE has taken a significant step toward future-proofing its food supply, with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) jointly launching the National Agricultural Initiative for the Adoption of Climate-Smart Crops at the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2026.
The initiative is designed to move scientific research out of the lab and into working farms, with a focus on crops that can perform under the UAE's harsh climate conditions while consuming far less water than conventional alternatives.
At the center of the programme are foxtail millet, proso millet and sorghum — grains that use up to 50 percent less water than traditional crops and remain productive in temperatures above 45°C. Blue Panicum grass has also been introduced as a water-efficient fodder option suited to saline and drought-prone environments.
Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, described the initiative as a turning point for national food production.
"We are establishing a new phase of food sovereignty built on knowledge and innovation,"
she said, adding that the programme would equip Emirati farmers with the tools to adopt these practices at scale.
ICBA Director-General Dr Tarifa Alzaabi noted that the initiative draws on over 25 years of biosaline research, calling it a milestone in translating that expertise into real agricultural outcomes.
Implementation will roll out in two phases. The first involves 45 field trials across UAE farms, alongside training for 45 farmers and 50 agricultural extension officers. The second phase targets commercial expansion through private sector partnerships and market access.
A prototype food product called Resilience was also unveiled, illustrating how climate-smart crops can be integrated into everyday consumer applications.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
