A blog by Giovanni Angiolini, Dutch Greenhouse Delta’s Director Middle East & Africa, which was published on LinkedIn on February 24th.
“Thursday 20th Februry, I had the privilege of joining our NL Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Gerard Steeghs, and Mrs. Simone Landhuis, the regional agricultural councillor for the GCC, along with her team, for an inspiring day visiting three key stakeholders contributing to the UAE’s national food security strategy – each supported by Dutch innovations.
Our first stop was at the soon-to-be-opened Silal Innovation Oasis, where we were warmly welcomed by its Operations Director, Kyle Wagner. We had the opportunity to witness an impressive demonstration by the team of Desolenator, showcasing their groundbreaking solar-powered desalination technology that is revolutionizing sustainable water production, an essential resource for agriculture in the region.
Next, we visited Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority ADAFSA’s Al Kuwaitat Research Station in Al Ain, the second-largest city in the Abu Dhabi emirate. True to Emirati hospitality, we were warmly received while exploring their innovative research projects. It was particularly rewarding to see the use of Dutch technology from Ridder, partner of Dutch Greenhouse Delta, driving advancements in climate control within their greenhouses.
Our final visit brought us to the impressive Armela Farms, an almost fully Dutch-equipped, semi-automated vertical farm built by DGD partner Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects, with contributions from Dutch sub-suppliers such as Hoogendoorn Growth Management, Jiffy Group, and MJ-Tech Fogsystems. This state-of-the-art facility stands as a beacon of agricultural innovation.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this day so memorable, including Nienke Gelderloos for organising this trip, and Alp Katalan of Desolenator, Yazan Abu Jaish, Rachana Shah, and Avir Shah of Armela, and the entire team of ADAFSA, for your warm hospitality and dedication to advancing sustainable agriculture.
This experience highlights the strong ties between the Netherlands and the UAE , showing how Dutch expertise continues to support the UAE’s food security ambitions through innovation and collaboration.”
