Agritech firm Terraplus Solutions has completed successful trials of open-air rice production in the UAE.
The company said the staple crop has been grown economically and sustainably in the country for the first time.
The news comes on the eve of the Food for Future Summit in Dubai.
Terraplus said in a statement that the results of the trials are a “big step forward” for the possibility of rice being grown in the UAE, as they indicate that rice can be produced domestically for a cheaper price than import.
This is a key discovery that could benefit the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051, which outlines rice as a core food item, it added.
Patrick Stevens, managing director and co-founder of Terraplus Solutions, said: “Access to affordable and secure rice production is essential. Traditionally this has meant relying on imports, but these findings show that with the right technology the UAE can produce rice right here in its own soil at a competitive price and using a sustainable amount of water.”
The average subsidised price for an imported tonne of rice in the UAE is approximately $817. The country has imported more than 900,000 tonnes of rice over the past 12 months.
The trials targeted production of rice to be grown for $817 per tonne or cheaper across a sample farm in Dhaid, Sharjah.
The homegrown UAE business factored in all known rice production costs including labour, seeds, fertiliser and water.
Stevens added: “We are delighted to support the UAE in finding cheaper and more sustainable ways to produce food domestically. We welcome the opportunity to explore these findings further with the public and private sector. Through innovation and collaboration, the UAE can be a global leader of food production in desert climates.”
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