Abu Dhabi (ALETIHAD)
The UAE is mobilising the community’s efforts towards sustainability and food security, in alignment with the country’s strategic plans. The agriculture sector, as a key pillar of food security, has witnessed significant support over the five decades of the UAE’s existence. First championed by founding father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, support for the agriculture sector, which was his top priority, has continued to strengthen. 

Beyond nationwide agriculture projects, both local and federal authorities are encouraging the public to adopt home gardening initiatives as a community-driven effort to promote sustainability and accelerate food sufficiency.  Cultivating home gardens or converting available spaces within buildings into small gardens contributes to economic, social, and environmental sustainability. 

The home gardening initiatives are aligned with the “Impact” pillar of the recently launched “National Sustainability” campaign, coinciding with the UAE’s preparations for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), scheduled to be held from November 30 to December 12 in Expo City Dubai. The campaign aims to encourage environmentally friendly behaviours, raise awareness about sustainability issues, and encourage community participation. In particular, the “Impact” pillar reviews the results of the UAE’s sustainability initiatives across various sectors.

Supportive Legislation, Government Initiatives
The UAE has established the foundations of local agriculture through supportive laws and legislation and the creation of government entities dedicated to agriculture and environmental conservation. These efforts have been further strengthened by the launch of the National Food Security Strategy 2051. 

The UAE established the Emirates Food Security Council to promote collaboration among all community and government entities to ensure rapid progress towards achieving food self-sufficiency, reducing food gaps, preserving soil, and optimising water usage, especially groundwater.

In July 2018, a decision by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, provided a structured framework for community and home gardening. The decision called for the utilisation of residential spaces, building rooftops, and educational institutions to develop and expand agricultural activities. It also emphasised the social benefits, environmental advantages, and the expansion of green spaces that such initiatives would achieve. 

The decision also highlighted the role of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in promoting community agriculture, community farming seasons, farming within educational institutions, efficient irrigation practices in community farming, seed provision, marketing, and monitoring. The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and in collaboration with national statistical centres and private sector supporting organisations, conducted fieldwork to survey home gardening to assess the extent to which the UAE’s population engaged in home gardening for food purposes. The survey measured the prevalence of home gardening, and sought to understand the challenges, irrigation methods used, crop types, and quantities cultivated. This data was analysed using globally recognised scientific research methods and methodologies to provide high-precision data to support sustainability practices in the country.

Continuous awareness campaigns and workshops have been organised by the relevant authorities in the UAE to regulate initiatives supporting home gardening. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has established a specialised guidance garden with over 80 local plants. They have also developed awareness and training programmes for school students and evaluated community farming projects initiated by schools, providing technical support as needed.

Furthermore, a task force was formed to support the initiative of enhancing national farmer sustainability. This initiative aims to increase the percentage of major participating entities’ purchases of food products from local sources to 50% by the end of 2023, 70% by the end of 2025, and ultimately 100% by 2030.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has also launched a guidance manual for home gardens and rooftop farming. The manual includes information on the importance of home gardens, planning for their establishment, steps for designing and creating the garden, key considerations, defining the site map for cultivation, environmental requirements for home garden plants, and specifies tree and vegetable varieties that can be cultivated in home gardens. It also covers medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as interior and semi-exterior ornamental plants. In addition, several agricultural guidance manuals have been released on the Sustainable Farming Portal.

As part of the National Ecotourism Project “Treasures of Nature in the UAE”, the Ministry launched the Agricultural Tourism segment in 2019. This initiative is part of the Ministry’s efforts to showcase tourist sites and promote tourism within environmental sectors in the UAE. Agricultural tourism is based on the UAE’s thriving and advanced agricultural landscape, with private farms hosting various plant and animal species.

The Agricultural Tourism initiative aims to enhance the UAE’s position on the global ecotourism map, raise awareness of agricultural practices in the country, promote the quality of local food, connect the public with nature, and encourage the adoption of community practices for sustainable agriculture. It empowers and encourages farmers to develop their agricultural activities to generate additional income, replant certain plants, revive sustainable agricultural practices within the community, link them to consumption needs, provide opportunities for training in agriculture, and enhance related recreational activities.