There is no doubt that agriculture is the cornerstone of human civilization throughout the ages, but its sustainability poses many challenges, due to the difficulty of achieving a balance between feeding the growing numbers of the world's population, and at the same time preserving environmental and natural resources. Agriculture, for example, is the most demanding for water, compared to other sectors. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural activities leads to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and water pollution. If we add to this the economic challenges and social obstacles related to changing old agricultural practices in favor of sustainable solutions, we will find that the agricultural sector represents a real test for sustainability.

To meet these challenges, innovative and sustainable agricultural practices have been developed and are being implemented around the world, including organic agriculture, smart agriculture, vertical agriculture, renewable agriculture, and many other technologies and solutions. However, what I want to focus on today is the innovative solutions that the UAE comes up with and puts it at the forefront of sustainability. Despite its dry climate and limited water resources, the country has implemented innovative agricultural practices that combine to enhance food security and protect the environment, such as vertical agriculture, which is the future of sustainable agriculture, because of its ability to double production several times, from the same area or spot of land, and with much less resources as well.

In addition to this, the rationalization of irrigation and the application of high technologies that have gained local production a great momentum. Today, the country produces a variety of vegetables and fruits, but also exports, such as the UAE blueberry crop, which has spread to other countries even in those with the most stringent quality standards. There are also endless innovations in food production, which are not limited here to crop cultivation, but also extend to meat and fish production, such as the sustainable salmon farming project in the Dubai desert, as well as advanced livestock breeding practices across the country based on data analysis techniques.

All of the above is just the tip of the iceberg. For example, there are home farming initiatives to achieve sufficiency, and there is government support and encouragement to buy cultivated products, to reduce dependence on imports and ensure stability in national supplies. The country's efforts in the field of sustainable agriculture are a key part of its National Food Security Strategy 2051, which aims to make the UAE the best in the world in the Global Food Security Index by that year. Of course, this is only a continuation of its global leadership that we are witnessing today in various indicators and metrics.

Founder of Suhail Smart Solutions