Abu Dhabi: The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has launched the Al Miyah Challenge to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative water solutions. Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture is the first in a series of competitions to be launched as part of the Initiative's Al Miyah Challenge programme.
According to Emirates News Agency, the challenge aims to accelerate innovation in developing technological solutions that can reduce water consumption in agriculture while maintaining and improving crop yield. The AED8 million competition is open to local and international participants and will require aspiring teams to test and demonstrate their technology's applicability in the UAE in December 2026, with the potential for deployment in other locations with similar weather and climate conditions.
Al Miyah Challenge programme will include a series of prize competitions intended to identify innovative water solutions with practical applications in a range of sectors. The programme aims to source and support practical solutions that can be implemented in the UAE and have the potential to be scaled-up and deployed in other water-scarce countries.
For the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has joined forces with three sector-leading institutions, including the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), ASPIRE, the innovation acceleration arm of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), and Silal Food and Technology.
Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, commented on the launch's alignment with the Initiative's ambition to support practical water technologies and encourage technical creativity. She highlighted that water use in agriculture accounts for nearly 70% of all water used globally, presenting particular issues for arid and water-scarce regions.
Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA, emphasized the initiative's alignment with Abu Dhabi and the UAE's long-term food security and resource conservation goals. By bridging the gap between research and real-world application, the initiative aims to demonstrate the viability of water-efficient technologies in the UAE's unique agricultural landscape.
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, stressed that innovation is key to sustainable agriculture. He expressed ASPIRE's pride in collaborating on this mission, noting that partnerships are instrumental in transforming innovation into tangible impact for the UAE and beyond.
Salmeen Al Ameri, CEO of Silal, pointed out that water scarcity is a critical challenge for agriculture in the UAE, requiring innovation and collaboration. Eligible teams must have solutions ready to be piloted in the UAE, with a proven feasibility for deployment.
The AED8 million prize purse will see AED3.7 million awarded to the winning team, with the opportunity to further test the technology in the UAE. The remaining prize will be shared among runners-up. Registrations for the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture are now open, and teams are invited to apply online before 30th June 2025.