His Excellency Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, made the announcement at a special ceremony organized by MOCCAE. The event drew the participation of Staff Pilot Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, Her Excellency Jameela Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, His Excellency Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, and His Excellency Saeed Al Nazari, Director General of the Federal Youth Authority.

As part of the scheme, MOCCAE will establish state-of-the-art integrated centers for modern agriculture across the country to develop farming skills among young people, and teach them to implement and manage modern farming systems to improve productivity. The program aims to build the capacities of emerging businesses in the sustainable food production sector.

Implemented in collaboration with the National and Reserve Service Authority and Hamed Al Hamed, Emirati businessman and founder of Gracia Farms – the first hydroponic farm in the Middle East, the inaugural edition will involve the training of 50 Emirati reserve service recruits.

Furthermore, MOCCAE will partner with the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of State for Youth Affairs to encourage youth participation in the initiative and to connect graduates with financial institutions that will support them in launching their agricultural startups.

His Excellency Dr Al Nuaimi said: “The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the paramount importance of food security and sustainability. MOCCAE works closely with its strategic partners from the public and private sectors to ensure uninterrupted food supply by strengthening imports and boosting homegrown food production in terms of quantity and quality with the aim of increasing the share of local food products in the market.”

Speaking of the venture, he said: “The Youth Food Security Stations align with the Ministry’s objectives of leveraging modern technologies in agriculture, and harnessing the potential of our youth to drive sustainable development and build a better future for our nation. The initiative follows an integrated approach through training subsequent batches of young Emiratis on various aspects of agricultural entrepreneurship.”

Staff Pilot Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan said: “The Youth Food Security Stations initiative is a major step in the country’s efforts to scale up national food security and engage our youth in shaping its future. It also aligns with the forward-looking vision of our leaders, who pay the utmost attention to food security, as expressed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, when he assured everybody that ‘food and medicine are a red line’.

“The initiative will be led by reserve service recruits, who have proven themselves worthy of the trust that our leaders placed in them. They have demonstrated their ability to serve and protect this country to ensure the continuity of vital sectors at a time of crisis.”

He noted that the partnership between the National and Reserve Service Authority and MOCCAE leverages the capabilities of reserve service recruits to enhance food security and sustainability, paves the way for young innovators to become entrepreneurs, and increases the flow of investments into the food sector.

His Excellency Dr Al Falasi said: “Youth is a key player in the efforts to fulfil our leadership’s vision to drive progress across all vital sectors over the next 50 years. The agricultural sector is among the most important, given its potential to help us ensure our self-sufficiency, guarantee our country’s food security, and shape a better, more prosperous future for generations to come.

“The future of agriculture and food security is rife with promising opportunities for young entrepreneurs, where they can play a significant role in devising innovative solutions to food security challenges, and come up with creative ways to increase our agricultural production. With that in mind, we spare no effort to establish a nurturing environment, where young people can find the resources and capacities they need to drive agricultural development. We aim to motivate them to use their energy and skills to develop modern and innovative agricultural methods that serve our strategic objective to maximize local agricultural output.”

Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Food and Water Security, said: “As a source of hope for a better future, youth empowerment and capacity building is a key element of advancing the UAE’s vital priorities, including food security. To this end, the Youth Food Security Stations will engage Emirati youth and harness their power to create innovative food projects. Building human capacities is a strategic enabler of the National Food Security Strategy, and so I am delighted to be a part of this project. I commend the efforts of MOCCAE and its contribution to the development of a food ecosystem that has sustainability at its core. We are committed to supporting youth through this project and other food-related projects in the UAE.”

Her Excellency Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, said: “Guided by the vision of the UAE leadership, we are investing heavily in our young generation as a means to serve the UAE’s strategic development. We are committed to engaging young people, honing their skills, and building their capacities to meet the requirements of key sectors – particularly national food security. Our objective is to significantly enhance our national capabilities in this field over the next few years.

“Youth is the largest segment of our society and the most capable of fulfilling our country’s aspirations. Just as we were able to engage and empower young leaders in sectors such as space, economy, technology, and humanitarian work, we are confident that we will soon have pioneers in modern and sustainable agriculture, who will establish a robust supply network and ensure our self-sufficiency in line with best practices in the sector.”

Project stages

Developed in accordance with international standards, the three-stage program blends academic learning with hands-on training. Stage one focuses on the fundamentals of agricultural business management, modern farm design, sustainable agricultural production, agricultural innovation, and marketing. Participants will also explore the ways local production can support food security and meet the needs of the population at a time of an emergency.

In stage two, trainees will apply the theories they learned in stage one with a focus on the design and installation of farming systems, management of protected and open-field agriculture systems, livestock and poultry breeding, aquaculture, feed processing, and beekeeping and honey production. In addition, the program will introduce them to the basics of modern farm management, such as feasibility studies, budgets, accounting, asset management, and procurement.

The final stage comprises hands-on training on processes that take place post-harvest until the products reach the retail outlets, such as marketing, contract negotiation, and sales. Every trainee must complete a graduation project that involves preparing a proposal for an agricultural business, project, or technology that is assessed by the trainers, who will provide their recommendations so that it can be submitted to financial institutions.