Abu Dhabi AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development: 7 Powerful Breakthroughs Transforming Climate-Smart Farming

The AI-powered agricultural ecosystem launched by the United Arab Emirates marks a decisive and hopeful breakthrough in the global fight against climate change, food insecurity, and agricultural vulnerability. By uniting cutting-edge artificial intelligence, global research institutions, and development partners, the UAE is positioning itself as a global leader in climate-smart agriculture.

Unveiled in Abu Dhabi, the initiative brings together Abu Dhabi–based institutions, the Gates Foundation, CGIAR, and leading academic and AI organizations to deliver real-world solutions for farmers facing erratic weather, water scarcity, and declining yields.

This ambitious ecosystem builds directly on the USD 200 million UAE–Gates Foundation partnership announced at COP28, translating global climate commitments into practical tools that reach farmers on the ground.

A Landmark Global Announcement in Abu Dhabi

The announcement took place in the presence of Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court; Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation; and Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR.

Following the launch, Her Excellency and Bill Gates attended the UAE–Gates Partnership Showcase, an immersive presentation demonstrating how Abu Dhabi’s AI leadership, research strength, and global partnerships are being harnessed to support climate-vulnerable agricultural communities worldwide.

UAE–Gates Partnership: Turning Climate Science into Action

The AI-powered agricultural ecosystem is not an isolated innovation—it is part of a broader strategy to transform climate commitments into scalable, farmer-centered solutions. The USD 200 million UAE–Gates Foundation partnership aims to accelerate agricultural innovation across Africa, Asia, and other climate-sensitive regions.

By integrating artificial intelligence into agriculture, the ecosystem ensures that data, forecasts, and advisory services reach farmers who need them most.

AI-Powered Agricultural Ecosystem: Four Transformative Initiatives

CGIAR AI Hub

Hosted in Abu Dhabi with AI71 as a core technology partner, the CGIAR AI Hub is designed to make Abu Dhabi a global center for AI in agriculture. The hub leverages over 50 years of CGIAR data across 13 research centers.

Key projects include:

• AI-Water, improving transboundary water management in climate-stressed regions
• AI Genebank, screening 700,000 plant samples to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops

External link: CGIAR – Agricultural Research for Development

Institute of Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence (IAAI)

Based at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the IAAI delivers digital advisory tools, training, and technical assistance to governments and NGOs.

The institute currently supports more than 43 million smallholder farmers, helping them adapt to extreme heat, droughts, floods, and unpredictable weather patterns.

External link: MBZUAI Official Website

AgriLLM: AI Knowledge for Farmers

AgriLLM is an open-source large language model developed by ai71, trained on agricultural research, climate data, and real-world farmer Q&A.

This powerful AI tool provides:

• Region-specific farming advice
• Role-based guidance for farmers, extension workers, and policymakers
• Four AI agents currently under field testing

The full model will be released as a public good, ensuring global access to climate-smart agricultural knowledge.

AIM for Scale

The Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale), based at NYU Abu Dhabi, delivers AI-powered weather forecasts and digital advisory services directly to farmers.

At COP30, partners reaffirmed their ambition to reach 100 million farmers by 2030, building on successes such as India’s AI-driven monsoon forecasting system, which supported 38 million farmers in 2025.

External link: NYU Abu Dhabi

How AI Is Strengthening Climate-Resilient Farming

The AI-powered agricultural ecosystem enables farmers to:

• Anticipate extreme weather events
• Optimize planting and irrigation schedules
• Access localized climate forecasts
• Improve yields while conserving water and soil

By transforming raw data into actionable insights, AI bridges the gap between climate science and everyday farming decisions.

Global Impact on Smallholder Farmers and Food Security

Smallholder farmers produce nearly one-third of the world’s food yet are among the most exposed to climate risks. This ecosystem directly addresses that imbalance by placing advanced AI tools into farmers’ hands.

Leadership Voices: A Shared Vision for Global Good

Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri stated:

“The UAE is harnessing artificial intelligence for global good, helping protect farmers and communities most exposed to climate volatility. By connecting our national AI capabilities with global partners, we are turning science into real tools that reach people on the ground.”

Bill Gates added:

“Smallholder farmers face the harshest impacts of climate change with the fewest tools to adapt. This AI-powered agricultural ecosystem helps put practical, data-driven solutions directly in farmers’ hands.”

Why This Ecosystem Is a Global Game-Changer

What makes the UAE’s AI-powered agricultural ecosystem truly transformative is its scalability, inclusivity, and real-world application. Rather than remaining confined to research labs, AI solutions are being deployed across continents to strengthen food security, resilience, and sustainability.

This model demonstrates how technology, diplomacy, and climate leadership can work together to protect humanity’s food systems.

Conclusion: A Bold and Hopeful Path Forward

The UAE’s launch of an AI-powered agricultural ecosystem represents a powerful and optimistic milestone in global climate action. By combining artificial intelligence, international cooperation, and farmer-centered design, the initiative offers a replicable blueprint for climate-resilient agriculture worldwide.

As climate pressures intensify, such bold innovations may define the future of food security for generations to come.