MBRGI, WEF announce Dhs11m grant for food innovation

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) will contribute Dhs11m as part of a grant programme in partnership with the UpLink Platform, which is part of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The grant, which aims to advance innovation in the food sector, will support global initiatives to tackle hunger, as well as improve the resilience, sustainability, and condition of food and water systems.

MBRGI signed a letter of intent with UpLink Platform on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, taking place in Davos, Switzerland.

The agreement is part of a series of programmes and initiatives implemented by the Food Innovation Hub UAE, launched by MBRGI in collaboration with the World Economic Forum in December 2023 during COP28.

MBRGI in collaboration with World Economic Forum and partnership with a number of parties launches the Food Innovation Hub UAE, which aims to drive food security globally and contribute to the future transformation of food systems innovation #COP28 #ClimateActio pic.twitter.com/1su0pv2nRT

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) December 6, 2023

The collaboration seeks to invest in new solutions for food insecurity, and support and empower innovators in the field of food systems.

Through the grant programme, MBRGI hopes to promote creative initiatives on a larger scale that adds to more engagement with some pressing humanitarian challenges, including access to food, education, healthcare, jobs and social security.

Read: Gaza relief –  UAE’s MBRGI contributes Dhs43m in direct food aid

An important step in agricultural innovation

Saeed Al Eter, assistant secretary-general of MBRGI, said, “The grants programme reflects the key principle of being open to new ideas, respect and acknowledge innovation, and promote creativity in everything we do to create the positive change we seek on the largest possible scale. It also represents an important step in agricultural innovation, especially in the most disadvantaged communities. In addition to it being a key step for the Food Innovation Hub UAE, the new agreement with the World Economic Forum reflects MBRGI’s visions and ongoing cooperation with international organisations.”

Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, said, “We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with the UAE and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives through Uplink and the Food Innovation Hubs as platforms that can drive cooperation and a global innovator movement to ensure that the millions of farmers and the growing population of over eight billion people can positively benefit from fit-for-purpose solutions. Uplink will allow for sourcing innovators that will contribute significantly to a sustainable and equitable future.”

The upcoming collaboration is set to highlight flagship initiatives currently in the Food Innovation Hubs network. It will enable innovative solutions across network countries, including the UAE, with the UpLink Platform playing a pivotal role in sourcing and accelerating food system innovations.