Tathmeer Agri Tech launches UAE agri-tech innovation centre
Tathmeer Agri Tech, the UAE’s first agri-tech crowdfunding platform approved by the Securities and Commodities Authority and operating on a Sharia-compliant basis, has established the initiative with Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, known as SPARK. The centre is planned for a dedicated site inside SPARK in Sharjah.
Its facilities will cover controlled-environment agriculture, hydroponics, vertical farming, automation, internet-of-things systems and artificial-intelligence monitoring. Tathmeer’s FarmBridge digital platform will form part of the centre, which is also intended to host applied research pilots, farmer education, technology assessment, startup support and links among producers, suppliers, investors and markets.
SPARK will provide land, infrastructure, access to its innovation ecosystem and assistance with development. The park’s role includes helping companies develop, test and commercialise technology-driven solutions in Sharjah and the wider region.
Tathmeer has separately entered a partnership with Elevate Farms, a vertical-farming technology company with operations and a presence in Canada, the United States and Switzerland. The arrangement is intended to give the centre access to Elevate Farms’ vertical-farming technologies for demonstration, validation and possible use in the UAE and elsewhere in the region.
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, SPARK’s chief executive, said the park wanted to attract companies combining technology, applied research, physical infrastructure and market access. He said the collaboration would allow solutions to be demonstrated, connect developers with government and industry, and support their progress towards commercial use. He also said such projects would help bring international technologies into the region for testing and development.
FarmBridge Agri-Ecosystem will connect farmers, technology companies, investors, government bodies, entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, supply-chain operators and food and beverage companies through digital and physical channels. Its stated purpose includes helping farmers decide what to produce, how to produce it and where to sell it, while allowing technologies to be assessed in operating agricultural settings.
The centre is planned to offer certification, field-based learning and skills programmes for farmers, agronomists, entrepreneurs and technology users. It will also operate as a test site for startups and technology providers seeking to demonstrate products, measure performance and establish commercial viability. Tathmeer is expected to take part in the Agriculture Innovation Zone at Sharjah Next – Sustainability, including possible demonstrations and workshops. The project is linked by its sponsors to UAE priorities covering food security, sustainable production, entrepreneurship, innovation and economic diversification, including the use of technology in response to water shortages, limited arable land and difficult climate conditions.
