The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), marking World Food Day, observed annually on 16 October, affirmed that ensuring food security and enhancing the sustainability of food systems are a fundamental pillar of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's comprehensive development journey, in line with the UAE's vision and future-oriented aspirations to build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven and sustainable economy.
ADAFSA explained that this year's World Food Day celebration, held under the theme "Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.", provides an opportunity to highlight Abu Dhabi's ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable, resilient and future-ready food system capable of responding to global challenges related to climate change, scarcity of natural resources, population growth and supply chain disruptions.
It stressed that food security is one of Abu Dhabi's strategic priorities and occupies a central position within its comprehensive development vision. This reflects the Emirate's firm belief that providing safe and sustainable food goes beyond meeting current community needs and represents a long-term investment in economic stability, quality of life and the sustainability of natural resources for future generations.
ADAFSA noted that this year's World Food Day comes in the wake of the remarkable success of Global Food Week (GFW) 2026, hosted by Abu Dhabi, which witnessed broad participation from governments, international organisations, investors, experts and innovators from around the world, further strengthening the Emirate's position as a global platform for dialogue and collective action in food security, sustainability and agricultural innovation.
GFW attracted more than 47,000 visitors and brought together 2,580 exhibitors and brands from 92 countries. The event also saw the signing of 97 agreements and partnerships worth more than AED 6.9 billion, reflecting growing international confidence in Abu Dhabi's food and agriculture sectors and the Emirate's ability to translate global dialogue on the future of food into tangible investments, partnerships and projects.
ADAFSA affirmed that the outcomes of GFW help strengthen international cooperation and expand opportunities for investment and innovation across the food and agriculture sectors. They also help translate the strategic direction of the Agricultural Transformation Strategy in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi into practical action. The strategy leverages technology, innovation and strategic partnerships to stimulate local production, strengthen food-system sustainability and improve efficiency across agricultural and food value chains.
In this context, ADAFSA is leading the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Strategy in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, an integrated roadmap for achieving a transformative shift in the agricultural sector by 2040. Guided by the vision of "Grow more with less", the strategy aims to reinforce Abu Dhabi's position as a global benchmark for tech-powered, water-smart and financially-sustainable agriculture.
The strategy aims to build a more productive, sustainable and resilient agri-food system, powered by advanced technologies, scientific research, data and artificial intelligence. It seeks to strengthen self-sufficiency, improve the sector's competitiveness, enhance the efficiency of water and natural resource use, and develop all stages of the agri-food value chain — from agricultural and livestock production inputs through manufacturing and logistics to trade and consumption.
By 2040, the strategy aims to achieve a number of ambitious, measurable targets. These include raising Abu Dhabi's ranking in the Food Security Index (RFSI) to fifth place globally; increasing the agricultural sector's contribution to GDP from AED 9.5 billion to AED 34.6 billion— an increase of 264%; and raising essential food self-sufficiency from 30% to 70%. These targets will enhance the Emirate's ability to meet its food needs more sustainably and efficiently.
The strategy also aims to significantly improve natural resource efficiency by reducing irrigation water consumption from 24,700 cubic metres per hectare to 12,700 cubic metres per hectare, representing a reduction of approximately 49%. In addition, it aims to expand the adoption of advanced agri-tech to 70% of operating farms in the Emirate and enable 75% of farms to access capital through agricultural financing and investment tools and programmes. These measures will support the sector's competitiveness and improve its productivity over the long term.
The Agricultural Transformation Strategy is built on five pillars: Self-Sufficient & Productive, Resource Efficient, Resilient, Safe & Secure, Tech-Enabled, and Financially-Enabled. ADAFSA is implementing these pillars through 13 flagship programmes covering the agricultural value chain, including infrastructure, agricultural and livestock production inputs, manufacturing and logistics, trade and consumption. The strategy places particular emphasis on empowering farmers, livestock breeders and beekeepers to benefit from technological solutions and smart applications, expanding agricultural research, development and innovation, attracting high-value investments and accelerating the adoption of future technologies. These efforts contribute to improving production efficiency and sustainability, enhancing the competitiveness of local products and increasing the sector's economic and developmental contribution.
To advance this vision, ADAFSA continues to develop high-impact initiatives and projects to support the transition to climate-smart agriculture and the use of data and artificial intelligence to manage resources and improve production processes. This work is complemented by the development of food safety and biosecurity systems to strengthen the integration of the food security system and ensure the provision of safe, high-quality food for the community.
ADAFSA is also strengthening scientific research and applied trials to develop solutions suited to local environmental conditions. It is reinforcing the role of its agricultural research stations in testing innovative agricultural technologies and solutions, verifying their effectiveness and supporting their transition from pilot stages to full implementation and wider adoption.
These efforts are complemented by initiatives to strengthen the agricultural innovation ecosystem, attract high-value investments and develop platforms for collaboration among government entities, research and development institutions, the private sector, entrepreneurs, start-ups and investors. These initiatives support the development of practical, scalable solutions to agricultural and food-related challenges and promote sustainable production in desert environments.
