The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Talabat Mart, the grocery and retail arm of Talabat, to support local farmers and producers and enhance the marketing of their products through the Talabat Mart platform. The partnership aims to expand digital sales channels and facilitate greater access of locally produced goods to consumers. The MoU forms part of talabat grow, Talabat's regional initiative designed to empower local businesses by providing them with the skills, tools, and commercial capabilities needed to grow and reach consumers more effectively.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Al Ain Business Future Forum 2026, held at ADNEC Centre Al Ain, as part of ADAFSA's participation in the forum, which showcases investment and agricultural transformation opportunities in Al Ain and highlights the region's agricultural potential by linking it with viable economic and investment opportunities. The signing also aligns with Talabat's participation in the forum as a principal supporter of the business sector in Al Ain.
The MoU was signed on behalf of ADAFSA by His Excellency Nasser Mohamed Al Junaibi, Acting Deputy Director General for Operational Affairs, and on behalf of Delivery Hero Stores DB L.L.C. (Talabat Mart) by Ms Alix de Zélicourt, General Manager of Talabat Mart.
His Excellency Nasser Mohamed Al Junaibi stressed that the MoU reflects ADAFSA's commitment to building strategic partnerships with the private sector that support local farmers and producers and enhance their ability to access modern markets, thereby advancing ADAFSA's objectives in agricultural development, sustainability and food security.
For her part, Ms. Alix de Zélicourt said: “Our collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority marks an important step in supporting local products and farmers and reflects our commitment through the )Talabat Grow( initiative to empowering local businesses across the region. Food security begins at the local farm, which is why we are working to connect producers in Al Ain with a broad consumer base across the UAE, while equipping them with demand insights and commercial tools that help them plan production with confidence and create sustainable economic and developmental value."
The MoU aims to develop a joint programme that connects local farmers and producers with consumers through the platform, while enhancing opportunities to market and sell their products. Under the agreement, Talabat Mart will provide participating producers with a comprehensive support package that includes specialised training programmes in digital skills, pricing strategies, and product presentation, as well as marketing campaigns and dedicated product collections designed to increase the visibility of local products on the platform. In addition, participants will receive weekly and monthly demand insights and seasonal market analyses to support crop planning and production decisions. Producers who meet the approved quality and food safety standards will be onboarded onto the platform. Talabat Mart will also provide ADAFSA with periodic reports on participant numbers, order volumes, sales performance, demand trends, and opportunities to further develop the programme.
Priority during the first phase of the programme will be given to farmers and producers in the Al Ain region, enabling them to benefit from the initiative in ways that enhance the marketing of their products and expand access to markets and consumers. The programme is expected to diversify sales channels, increase demand for local products, support sales growth, and enable participants to develop their marketing and production plans based on demand data and analytics.
By strengthening the sustainability of agricultural activity and enhancing the competitiveness of local products, the programme is also expected to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector to the economy of the Al Ain region and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
