UAE launches 1st eco-friendly facility to develop food, fuel

The world's first research facility to grow both food and fuel, using desert lands irrigated with seawater, began operations on Sunday on a two-hectare site in the environmental settlement in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Research and innovation underpin the UAE's ability to overcome environmental and social challenges, such as food and water security, while protecting our ecosystems," UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said.

He added that the project would not only produce bio-energy, but also offer a pathway to grow aquaculture industry, which supports food independence.

The UAE imports roughly 90 percent of its food, at a cost, that if is left unchecked, is predicted to increase 300 percent over the next decade.

The new facility, operated by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, is funded by the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), a group advancing the aviation industry's commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by developing a clean, sustainable and alternative fuel supply.

Energy, water and food security are key, interlinked needs for the UAE, said Behjat Al Yousuf, interim dean of Masdar Institute, a graduate research-based university in Abu Dhabi, and a founding member of the SBRC.

He added that "Masdar Institute is committed to supporting the country's strategic goals, and we are proud to be operating this research facility, which not only develops sustainable bio-energy and food to help fuel and diversify the UAE economy, but also serves as a training ground for a new generation of innovators." Endit