Abu dhabi: Ten global agri-tech innovators will arrive in Abu Dhabi this week to compete for the top prize at the UAE FoodTech Challenge, an international competition designed to support breakthrough solutions for global food security. Ahead of the finale at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the finalists - whose ventures span protein-producing insect farms to AI-powered tools for minimizing food waste - will participate in a series of workshops and partner-led sessions designed to offer practical insights into Abu Dhabi's innovation ecosystem and build industry connections with the potential to help scale their businesses from UAE to serve the Global South and beyond.
According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE FoodTech Challenge seeks to identify and scale promising agri-tech solutions in arid and climate-stressed environments where food security is most at risk. Organized by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, and delivered in partnership with the Gates Foundation, ne'ma, and Silal, the third iteration of FoodTech Challenge focuses on two primary areas: increasing food production and reducing food loss and waste.
This year's finalists come from seven countries, including the UAE, UK, US, Malaysia, Kenya, Egypt, and France. Previous winners have secured over US$48 million in funding and launched 50 pilot projects across multiple markets.
Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of the FoodTech Challenge, emphasized the importance of transforming entire food systems to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. She highlighted the significance of minimizing loss and waste and building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable supply chain, noting that local innovation and global collaboration are essential in this pursuit.
Highlights of the finalists' schedule over the upcoming week in Abu Dhabi include policy discussions at the ne'ma Food Loss and Waste Majlis and a visit to Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, where they will gain insights into Abu Dhabi's role as a champion of startup growth. Previous FTC winners have joined Hub71's elite cohorts, accessing world-class mentorship and growth opportunities in the UAE.
Fatema Almulla, Senior Specialist Development at the International Affairs Office, UAE Presidential Court, stated that the UAE FoodTech Challenge is a testament to the UAE's leading role in addressing global challenges through innovation and international cooperation. She noted that by convening bold agri-tech innovators from around the world and embedding them within Abu Dhabi's domain of technological excellence and global development expertise, the challenge creates a platform where high-potential ideas can mature into globally deployable solutions.
Khuloud Al Nowais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of the ne'ma Steering Committee, remarked that the FoodTech Challenge is evolving into a pivotal platform for food system transformation. She highlighted the importance of identifying innovations, technologies, and solutions that address supply chain issues and create efficiency in preventing or reducing food loss or waste at scale.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with the UAE FoodTech Challenge, reflecting their commitment to supporting founders building scalable solutions to food security and sustainability challenges. He welcomed the finalists to Abu Dhabi and looked forward to supporting their growth through Hub71's ecosystem.
Finalists will also participate in the KBW Ventures Pitch Clinic with H.R.H. Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud to refine their pitches and prepare for investor engagement. They will tour Silal's cutting-edge Innovation Oasis and hear about past FTC winners' partnerships with the UAE's leading agri-tech food company to accelerate ideas from concept to market. The itinerary also includes a visit to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture to explore the latest research into climate-resilient crops, and an exclusive networking evening hosted by VentureSouq, fostering connections with leading regional sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors from across the GCC.
Since the finalists were announced on the sidelines of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly in New York, the ten teams have participated in six remote preparation workshops focusing on incubation support, local market incorporation, and R and D.
The winners will be revealed at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the region's flagship platform for advancing global sustainability and climate innovation. They will be selected in a final round of judging by a panel of eight experts representing diverse sectors. In addition to sharing a US$2 million cash prize package, winners will receive further in-kind support to refine their agri-tech ventures in the UAE and scale, delivering tangible impact on food systems across the Global South and beyond.
