Abu Dhabi plans to offer subsidies to local and international agrifood producers in a bid to become a “net exporter in the future,” head of Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s (ADIO) food and water division Fatima Al Dhaheri told Bloomberg. The subsidies will cover everything from livestock and fish farming, to alternative proteins and algae, and will be offered on a case-by-case basis, Al Dhaheri explained.

Subsidies are not all that’s planned: The government could also move to invest directly in some businesses. The investment office will also work with companies to use tech that can boost efficiency in food production, such as desalination, Al Dhaheri added.

Becoming a net exporter is within reach, experts say, despite the UAE currently importing 85-90% of its food, according to the climate change and environment ministry (pdf). The government has “already been very proactive in terms of having greater control and scaling up supply chains,” said Christian Henderson, a lecturer on Middle East studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Tags: