Today's Edition
ASILA AL BADI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi is building a "farm-to-factory" food system that aims to give local agriculture a larger role in industrial production, turning farms and livestock holdings into suppliers for manufacturers rather than limiting them to traditional fresh produce markets.
Led by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the model connects local agricultural output directly with food manufacturing, creating new commercial routes for farmers while supporting the emirate's food security ambitions.
"The 'Farm to Factory' ecosystem aims to connect local agricultural production with food manufacturing, transforming farms and livestock holdings from primary producers into active partners in industry. This helps reduce waste and increase the value of agricultural output," Rafaa Alharthi, ADAFSA's Acting Director of Strategy Division, told Aletihad on the sidelines of Make it in the Emirates 2026.
The scale of the existing production base gives the initiative its weight. Abu Dhabi has more than 25,000 farms and 23,000 livestock holdings that can supply raw materials to food manufacturers, creating a broader pipeline between agricultural production and industrial processing.
ADAFSA is also opening the door for farmers to take part in commercial activity from within their farms. According to Alharthi, the authority has issued 500 commercial licences to enable economic activities on farms, while Abu Dhabi now has 26,360 food establishments, most of them small and medium-sized enterprises.
The model brings households and small producers into the food economy. More than 400 productive families are receiving support, giving community-based production a place within the wider food manufacturing ecosystem. Meanwhile, research programmes are being introduced to make local farming more resilient, including the Agricultural Genome Project and the Good Agricultural Practices programme, which covers 1,530 farms.
"The Authority provides training programmes for farmers, productive families, and food establishments," Alharthi added, noting that 2,833 recruits have also been trained under the Alternative National Service programme to support operations during crises.
Regulation and incentives form another part of the system, giving operators more flexibility to expand beyond primary production while keeping standards high. ADAFSA has approved 145 economic activities that can be practised on farms, the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, valued at Dh10 million, and the National Codex Committee, which works to unify food standards and support exports, Alharthi explained.
Regulation and incentives form another part of the system, giving operators more flexibility to expand beyond primary production while keeping standards high. Alharthi explained that ADAFSA has already approved 145 economic activities that can be practised on farms, while incentives such as the Dh10 million Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award encourage excellence across the sector. The authority also leads the National Codex Committee, which works to unify food standards and support exports.
Technology is one of the main enablers of the initiative, as Abu Dhabi works to raise agricultural output without placing greater pressure on water resources. Alharthi said ADAFSA is focusing on advanced solutions such as Smart Agriculture 4.0, which can increase productivity by up to 30 times and reduce water consumption by 60%, while connecting farming, manufacturing and innovation into a single system that raises the value of local production.
"The 'Farm to Factory' ecosystem represents an integrated vision to strengthen food industries and support food security in the emirate."
