Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has revealed the six finalist teams of the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, a significant advancement in agricultural water efficiency efforts.
These finalists emerged from a pool of 21 shortlisted groups, selected from an impressive 846 teams hailing from 54 nations, each presenting groundbreaking strategies to lower water consumption in farming.
The finalists are as follows:
- CRETA (UAE): Implements underground cooling systems to lessen water demand in controlled farming conditions.
- Raincatcher (UAE): Enhances soil moisture retention for prolonged root zone hydration.
- Agri-vit (Egypt): A bio-fertilizer that enables crops to endure heat and salinity while minimizing water use.
- Krilltech (Brazil): Employs nanotechnology-led bio-stimulants to enhance resilience and water efficiency in crops.
- M4Life (Argentina): Designs microbial solutions to boost water absorption and tolerance to drought.
- EF Polymer (India): Transforms fruit waste into a natural soil enhancement, fostering crop growth with reduced water needs.
These teams will proceed to field trials in the UAE, taking place at Silal’s Innovation Oasis in Al Ain, equipped with greenhouses, open fields, and research labs.
Organized in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Silal, ASPIRE, and the Zayed for Good Foundation, the challenge boasts a total prize pool of AED 8 million, aimed at scalable solutions for water-scarce areas.
Officials underscored the importance of efficient water use in agriculture, as it consumes the largest portion of global freshwater. This initiative aspires to champion actionable technologies that can enhance productivity and curtail water usage.
Winners and runners-up will be announced by the conclusion of 2026, following comprehensive trials and evaluations in the UAE's unique conditions.
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