Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has inaugurated its first on-campus AirFarm, an inflatable and portable farm. AirFarm has launched in association with Midbar, a smart ag-tech South Korean company, and RBK Company, the holding company of Mr. Rashed Bin Khalfan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri.
The inauguration is a result of a recent agreement signed between ADU, Midbar, and RBK to establish a business framework for delivering supply and research as well as development solutions to the UAE market across several sectors.
These sectors include but are not limited to agriculture, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), health, and water desalination.
Through this facility, ADU aims to maximise its innovation efforts to provide students, faculty, and the wider UAE community with sustainable and inclusive solutions to overcome challenges and foster innovative thinking.
The space will enable students and faculty with the opportunity to positively impact the UAE community by providing practical learning opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting innovation, and contributing to sustainable solutions in agriculture, which reflects the UAE’s commitment to a sustainable and innovative future.
A wide group of ADU’s senior management attended the inauguration, including Professor Ghassan Aouad, ADU Chancellor, Mr. Saeed Bin Rashed Khalfan Al Dhaheri Vice Chairman at RBK and Moses Seo, Midbar CEO, in the presence of representatives from RBK, Gracia Group, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, American Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi, Modus Capital, and Elite Agro Projects.
During the inauguration, attendees had the opportunity to tour and explore the Airfarm in addition to witnessing the inaugural harvest of fresh produce. They have also experienced firsthand delicious and nutritious produce grown on the Airfarm, underscoring its potential for promoting food security and sustainable farming practices globally.
Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University (ADU), stated that, “We are honoured to collaborate with Midbar to establish an AirFarm on campus, a facility that yields sustainable solutions to our community. Through this facility, we aim to provide our students and faculty with the tools and resources to explore new ideas that will enable them to become influential leaders.
“At ADU, we are dedicated to nurturing an environment that not only encourages innovation and critical thinking but also empowers our students to develop groundbreaking ideas that will shape a more sustainable future for generations to come,” the Chancellor added.