Bill Gates joins UAE to mark progress on climate-smart agricultural initiative
US$200m investment boosts food security and tech-driven farming solutions
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday to review the progress of an agricultural innovation project launched one year ago.
Backed by a US$200 million investment from the Gates Foundation and the UAE, the initiative aims to harness AI and technology to address climate-related food system challenges, benefiting smallholder farmers in developing countries.
UAE and Gates Foundation
A year after the UAE and the Gates Foundation committed to a US$200 million partnership, Bill Gates returned to the UAE to unveil key advancements in agricultural innovation.
The initiative, which was first announced at COP28, seeks to combat the climate crisis by improving food security and supporting smallholder farmers in low-income countries through AI-driven solutions and sustainable farming practices.
During a meeting at the Emirates Palace, four key projects funded by the partnership were highlighted:
- CGIAR AI Hub & AgrilLLM: A project that uses large language models (LLMs) to enhance agricultural extension services for smallholder farmers in resource-constrained regions affected by climate change.
- International Red Palm Weevil Consortium: A global initiative designed to mitigate the damage caused by the Red Palm Weevil, a pest threatening palm trees worldwide.
- Future Food Systems Programme: A programme supporting 15 countries to create vital analytical tools for improving climate resilience in agriculture and formulating adaptive strategies.
- AIM for Scale Weather & AI-based Forecasting: Aiming to deliver high-quality, cost-effective weather forecasts to millions of farmers in low-income regions, this initiative focuses on scaling innovations to help farmers adapt to changing climate patterns.
The UAE’s commitment to agricultural innovation and food security was underscored during the event.
"The UAE has taken concrete steps to turn pledges and investments into action," stated Mariam Almheiri, Head of International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court. "The groundbreaking work on display today is a testament to the UAE’s commitment and global leadership on food security and agricultural innovation."
AI’s role in shaping the future of agriculture was also highlighted by UAE officials, who see these partnerships as crucial to sustainable growth. "Meeting with Bill Gates highlighted our shared vision of harnessing AI and technology to address global challenges. With AI71's agri-tech solutions powered by TII's Falcon models, we aim to enhance food security, sustainability, and inclusive growth," said Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President on Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, and Secretary General of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC).