Madar Farms encouraging UAE residents to consume locally grown produce

UAE-based Madar Farms aims to solve the region’s food problems and provide enough locally grown produce all-year round, in support of the UAE government’s National Food Security Strategy 2051.

Towards this goal, Madar Farms has been leading a new agriculture revolution by using advanced methods to grow high-quality, local fresh produce with cutting-edge farming techniques on its hydroponic-vertical systems.

“We are living in a diverse country where the supermarkets are full of different ingredients and products from many different countries. Sometimes, we do not look at which country vegetables come from but if we can help adults to think carefully and choose a UAE-grown produce instead of one from another country, then we are going in the right direction,” says Kyle Wagner, head of operations, Madar Farms.

“At schools, we have launched a sustainability programme ‘Sustainable Futures’ where students are getting hands-on learning experiences. This has been a great success so far as it gives them an opportunity to learn more about pressing environmental topics. And by engaging with the younger generation, we can create that change that can have a long-term effect,” he adds.

Madar Farms is one of the few local and sustainable growers in the GCC region with its technologies using approximately 95% less water than traditional farming. As part of its strategy, Madar Farms will continue working with the government to help the UAE be among the top 10 countries in the Global Food Security Index by 2021.

“Agriculture technology in the UAE is just getting started and we understand that food security is a high priority for the UAE government. As an Emirati company, we are committed to working alongside the government to help achieve the best possible results. The transformation of agriculture technology is exciting and there is enormous potential for us to make a positive change that can benefit not just the consumers with the production of nutritious and predictable food but also the whole ecosystem of the UAE,” Wagner concludes.