Abu Dhabi: Mariam Almheiri, Head of International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court, yesterday welcomed Bill Gates, Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to the UAE for the unveiling of a project update one year on from the announcement of the Gates Foundation and UAE Partnership on agriculture innovation and food system transformation in response to climate change.
According to Emirates News Agency, the unveiling took place during COP28 hosted in the UAE, where the Gates Foundation and the UAE announced a combined US$200 million investment in agricultural innovation. This initiative aims to harness the power of AI and technology to address immediate and long-term threats to food systems caused by climate change.
Since its announcement, the investment has supported organizations like CGIAR in developing agricultural innovations to support and enhance the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries around the world.
During a visit today at the Emirates
Palace, Almheiri held a bilateral meeting with Gates. The visit included distinguished dignitaries such as 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). The event concluded with a tour of four key innovative projects funded by the Gates Foundation and UAE Partnership.
Among the projects unveiled were the CGIAR AI Hub and AgrilLLM, focusing on using large language models to automate the initial stages of agricultural extension services, and the International Red Palm Weevil Consortium, aimed at minimizing the global threat posed by the Red Palm Weevil. Additionally, the Technical Assistance project has established the Future Food Systems program supporting 15 countries in developing analytical products to inform their national policies.
Another project, AIM for Scale Weather and AI-based Weather Forecasting, is dedicated to scaling innovations to improve the livelihoods of
farmers by developing high-quality weather forecasts for millions of farmers over the next two years.
Mariam Almheiri stated, “The UAE has taken concrete steps to turn pledges and investments into action. The groundbreaking work on display today is a testament to the UAE’s commitment and global leadership on food security and agricultural innovation.” She expressed her delight at having Bill Gates as a guest of honor to witness the progress in tackling global agricultural challenges due to climate change.
Faisal Al Bannai commented on the meeting with Bill Gates, highlighting a shared vision of using AI and technology to address global challenges. He emphasized the UAE’s commitment to advancing this vision through innovation and partnerships, showcasing AI’s potential to create a better future for all.
