A partnership between Bayer and Silal to create a platform for demonstrating sustainable desert farming practices is to be extended.
The companies said the collaboration is designed to advance agricultural practices in desert environments while addressing climate change challenges.
The initial project, announced last year, was focused on implementing “best-in-class” agricultural practices, with the aim of strengthen the UAE’s agricultural innovation landscape. Silal, established in 2020, is focused on diversifying food sources and stimulating manufacturing and distribution in the agri-food sector in the UAE and neighbouring markets.
Building on this work, the expanded collaboration will develop four areas, including digital farming solutions; vegetable seed trials; agricultural capacity building and traceability; and Bayer’s ForwardFarming Model. A Memorandum of Understanding to extend the collaboration to 2028 was signed at the World Argitech Innovation Summit taking place in Dubai.
In the area of digital farming, Bayer and Silal will develop solutions tailored for the region’s agricultural needs, with the partners looking to set up a ForwardFarming demonstration site at the Silal Innovation Oasis in the UAE, showcasing sustainable desert farming practices. ForwardFarming is Bayer’s knowledge platform used to demonstrate regenerative agriculture systems. It brings together farmers, value chain partners, academia, scientists and civil society with the aim of developing a modern sustainable agricultural system.
Scaling up regenerative agriculture practices suitable for arid climates will see the partners implement digital monitoring and verification platforms. The partners will also extend seed trials which are seeking to identify crops better suited to local growing conditions and market demands.
Silal CEO, Salmeen Al Ameri, said: “By combining our local expertise with Bayer’s global technological capabilities, we are creating a framework for sustainable agricultural innovation that will benefit UEA farmers and reinforce our commitment to local production.”
Further reading:
• Sustainable agriculture: rethink subsidies to support innovation?
• Businesses and policy makers invest in sustainable agriculture
• Bayer partners with Kimitec to accelerate discovery of natural molecules for crop protection
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