Eco agriculture & Green cities

    How loss of urban trees affects educational outcomes
    19 Dec 2024

    It’s well established that urban tree cover provides numerous environmental and psychological benefits to city dwellers. Urban trees may also bolster education outcomes and their loss could disproportionately affect students from low-income families, according to new research by University of Utah social scientists. Economics professor Alberto Garcia looked at changes in school attendance and standardized […]

    Storm brewing: How climate change could cause a coffee crisis and threaten other key crops

    Since agriculture developed in the Middle East about 12,000 years ago, farmers have been at the mercy of the weather when hoping for a good harvest. That remains the case today, but the age-old dependence on the weather is now being complicated by climate change’s effects on rainfall, temperature and nutrient availability, among much else. “The problem of climate […]

    Now, ‘miracle soil’ biochar from camel dung in Dubai

    Dubai: A collaboration in Dubai has started the industrial-scale production of biochar from camel dung. Biochar, short for biological charcoal, is made from the thermo-chemical conversion of biomass – such as animal manure – into a charcoal-like material that boosts the properties of soil for agriculture. Dubai-based German firm Viqa Investment has announced its cooperation […]

    Could hydroponic farming offer solution to region’s food security struggles?

    An Egyptian company has teamed up with a Saudi start-up to bring sustainable farming practices to the kingdom. Schaduf, a hydroponic farming business in Cairo, and Mishkat, a Saudi Arabian agritech company, will grow dozens of varieties of produce in the kingdom, strengthening the country’s food security by decreasing reliance on imports. Schaduf was the […]

    UAE: First meeting of Farmers Council yields solutions to agricultural challenges

    Dubai: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has hosted the first meeting of the Farmers’ Council, presided over by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. The meeting highlighted the government directions to promote sustainable modern farming systems across the UAE to increase the agricultural sector’s productivity and commercial value […]

    UAE: 10 acts to avoid on green spaces in Sharjah

    Sharjah: Sharjah City Municipality (SCM) recently specified the most common wrong behaviours that should be avoided when using green spaces. It urged community members to follow the rules in order to allow families and all members of society to enjoy themselves unhindered. Jamal Abdullah Al Mazmi, head of the city’s appearance control department, said that […]

    UAE is committed partner for climate action, US Secretary of Agriculture says

    ABU DHABI: Tom Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture, has affirmed that the UAE is a firm and committed partner for climate action and is in their very interest will steward climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation globally. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP27, currently being held […]

    Ministry of Climate Change, Philippines department of agriculture sign MoU to develop agricultural sector

    DUBAI, 28th June, 2022 (WAM) — The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) and the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to step up collaboration in developing the agricultural sector in both countries. The scope covers multiple areas, including soil science and management, biotechnology, post-harvest transactions, […]

    EGA, AUS to research food waste re-use for soils made with bauxite residue

    ABU DHABI, 26th May, 2022 (WAM) — Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) today announced a collaboration with the American University of Sharjah’ (AUS) College of Engineering to research the economic and environmental benefits of re-using food waste to enrich manufactured soils made from bauxite residue, and further applications in waste-to-energy. The AED1.6 million three-year research project […]

    ADAFSA signs two Musataha contracts to construct two farms worth AED 310 million

    ABU DHABI, 17th May, 2022 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has signed two Musataha contracts with two local private sector companies to build and operate two farms, one in Al Ain and the other in Abu Dhabi, with a total value of around AED 310 million. The first Musataha […]