UAE's Al Miyah Challenge accelerates global innovation in water-efficient agriculture

The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative recently announced a big step forward in its efforts to fight water shortages in farming through something called the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture. This competition, which is actually the first one under the larger Al Miyah Challenge program, marks an important move towards encouraging innovative solutions that can cut down on water use in agriculture—while still keeping or even improving crop yields. And, as you might guess, that’s pretty critical, especially for dry areas like the UAE.

After a pretty thorough and competitive selection process, involving hundreds of applicants from 54 different countries, 21 teams made the cut to move on to the next stage. These teams come from all sorts of places—Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas—and include startups, established companies, and research groups. Their ideas cover a wide range of tech: everything from precision irrigation and greenhouse automation to AI-driven data analysis, biodegradable water-saving materials, microbial soil enhancers, atmospheric water generators, wastewater recycling, plant biosensors, and water storage solutions. It’s quite an eclectic mix, really, and it shows just how creative people are trying to get when it comes to tackling one of agriculture’s toughest problems—doing more with less water.

The structure of the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture is pretty well-designed. It’s a multi-phase contest. After these teams give their presentations to a panel of expert judges, the finalists will get the chance to test their solutions in real-world conditions in the UAE starting from November 2025. They’ll be working in both indoor setups and actual outdoor farms. The winners will be announced in January 2026, and then the top teams—winner and runners-up—will be revealed in December 2026. The goal isn’t just to get good ideas but to see if they really work in the tough climate of the UAE and in other regions facing similar water issues. Basically, it’s about making sure these innovations are practical and scalable.

This initiative is happening with support from key partners like the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), ASPIRE—which is the startup accelerator side of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC)—and Silal Food and Technology. It underscores how serious the UAE is about pushing sustainable farming solutions, especially ones that make smarter use of water. They’ve put together a hefty prize fund of AED 8 million to motivate and reward those solutions that are ready to go to market.

People involved in the project see it as part of a bigger strategy. Ayesha Al Ateeqi, who’s the Executive Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, emphasized that bold, scalable innovations are needed to handle the global water scarcity problem. She pointed out that “water use in agriculture remains—well, at least to me—a huge opportunity to make a real difference for global water shortages, especially in areas that are already dry.” She also said that the ingenuity shown by these teams really reflects the kind of large-scale, bold thinking that’s necessary to solve this urgent issue—while also supporting and empowering farmers and the agricultural sector.

H.E. Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA, echoed this by highlighting how the work ties into the UAE’s national food security aims. She mentioned that ADAFSA has research stations and test centers designed to simulate the UAE’s climate and farming conditions, which helps ensure that these new ideas are thoroughly tested before being widely adopted. “ADAFSA is proud to be part of this ambitious scientific effort,” she said, “and this collaboration lines up well with the UAE’s big-picture goals around boosting food security and leading in innovation and sustainability on the global stage.”

Similarly, Dhafer AlQasimi, who’s the Group CEO of Silal, reinforced how critical this challenge is. He explained that through their partnership with the Al Miyah Challenge, they’re aiming to find practical ideas that can really make a difference—whether it’s improving how water is used, cooling greenhouses more efficiently, or recycling water. “By adopting these kinds of innovations,” he said, “the UAE can create more sustainable farming methods, better protect its water resources, and secure food supplies for the future.”

Stephane Timpano, the CEO of ASPIRE, stressed that testing these ideas in real conditions is crucial. “It’s not enough to have a good idea in the lab,” he explained. “We need to see how solutions work in real farms—especially in tough environments like the UAE. Our goal is to help these innovations move from concept to real-world use, where they can actually make a difference—globally, too.”

The overall Al Miyah Challenge program, which is part of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, aims to keep fostering new innovations related to water issues. Each challenge, including this one focused on agriculture, lasts between 18 and 24 months and invites participation from all kinds of groups—universities, startups, big companies, and non-profits alike. The emphasis is on finding and developing technologies that are ready to be deployed in the UAE and can be adapted to similar environments around the world.

All this international and cross-sector participation shows that solving water scarcity really needs collaborative, multifaceted efforts. The competition isn’t just about coming up with cool ideas but also supporting the UAE’s strategic vision to combine sustainability, food security, and tech leadership. As the 21 teams prepare to pitch their ideas and run pilot projects, eyes from around the world are watching closely. This contest could be a real turning point—showing how agriculture that historically uses a lot of water can be rethought to be more efficient and sustainable. And that’s essential not only for the UAE but for many dry regions facing shrinking water supplies. The months ahead will be crucial for seeing which solutions can truly make a difference on the ground and help push progress against one of today’s most critical environmental challenges.

Source: Noah Wire Services