Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ is in talks to acquire a 35% stake in international seed group and cooperative Limagrain’s vegetable seed division, Limagrain Vegetable Seeds, according to a statement. ADQ’s agritech arm Silal is also in talks to set up a joint venture focused on research and development of vegetables crops that can adapt to desert conditions of extreme heat, salinity, and drought, which would take place at Silal’s Innovation Oasis in Al Ain.

The transaction is pending regulatory approvals and consultations with LVS employees’ representative bodies.

The move comes as part of a broader target for the UAE to increase domestic food production to 50% of total consumption and reduce reliance on imports. The UAE currently imports between 80-90% of its food, according to the World Economic Forum.

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