Ministry of Environment and Water launches three initiatives on second day of UAE Innovation Week
The Ministry of Environment and Water launched today the first-of-their-kind environment-related initiatives dubbed as Drop of Life, Biological Filter, and Innovation in Agricultural Work during the second day of the first-ever UAE Innovation Week celebrations. The UAE Innovation Week launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, kicked off on November 22, 2015 and will run until November 28, 2015.
Introduced in Al Hamraniya, Ras Al Khaimah, the national Drop of Life initiative focuses on a prototype device designed to draw moisture from air and turn it into water for plant irrigation in hopes of preventing water shortage and preserving groundwater supply. Sufficient water supply is one of the UAEs fundamental national indicators.
A prototype model of the Biological Filter project was also showcased during its launch. The device was brought to an organic production farm in Al-Khawaneej, Dubai to demonstrate how it can be used in organic farming, especially in terms of production, agricultural marketing, soil fertility, and seed production. The project is aligned with the Ministrys aim to develop local organic farming.
The Agricultural E-Guide initiative, on the other hand, is a website that aims to attract innovative ideas in the field of agriculture from UAE citizens and residents as well as those living outside the country. The proposals are reviewed by experts and water specialists to assess their impact and applicability, as well as determine how these ideas can be turned into concrete projects backed by technological support from the Ministry.
The e-guide will provide the answers to all inquiries and inform interested individuals about the best international practices and benefits. The site has been designed to include several features to aid the agricultural sector, local farmers, and those involved in organic farming, beekeeping and agricultural marketing. It will help facilitate agreements between the Ministry of Environment and Water and cooperative groups to find markets for and promote domestic products as well as seek solutions to challenges facing the local farming sector.
