The International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court has signed a $1.5 million technical cooperation agreement with the Asian Development Bank to support the scaling of agricultural innovations for farmers across eight countries in Asia and the Pacific.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 59th Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting and is aimed at advancing agricultural innovation in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Maldives.
The initiative also receives support from Japan’s Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR).
It will focus on working with government counterparts to integrate evidence-based solutions into national agricultural programs.
The initiative will support the deployment of technologies such as AI-powered weather forecasting, digital advisory platforms, and livestock productivity tools, with the objective of improving agricultural efficiency and expanding access for farmers at scale.
The partnership will be implemented through the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale), an initiative supported by the UAE and the Gates Foundation.
The program works with governments, multilateral development banks, and development partners to scale agricultural innovations that enhance productivity and improve rural livelihoods.
Khalfan Al Matrooshi, Advisor at the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, stated that, “Through Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development, the UAE is convening the partners, expertise, and financing to make that possible. Today’s partnership with the Asian Development Bank and the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, delivered through AIM for Scale, is a testament to what international cooperation can deliver when global partners come together with shared purpose.”
Image via WAM | Cropped by GBN
Earlier this year, the International Affairs Office allocated $5 million in AIM for Scale grants to institutions including Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, and the Rwanda-based organization C4Impact.
These grants support the scaling of agricultural innovation programs across several African countries in collaboration with development partners.
With the latest agreement, Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development has expanded its reach to governments in both Africa and Asia within six months of its launch.
The initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader commitment to global agricultural development, including the $200 million UAE–Gates Foundation partnership announced at COP28 and the UAE’s membership in the CGIAR System Council as the first donor from the SWANA region.
Qingfeng Zhang Senior Director Asian Development Bank
“Digital technologies, innovative financing, and improved fertilizer efficiency are critical to addressing the impact of recent shocks that have made millions more people go hungry, many of them in Asia and the Pacific. Collaborative agreements such as this one act as a catalyst towards integrated agricultural approaches—strengthening input systems, boosting productivity, and accelerating the transition towards more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.”
Shigeo Shimizu, Executive Director representing Japan at the ADB Board of Directors, emphasized that Japan’s support through JFPR reflects its continued commitment to innovation, resilience, and digital transformation in agriculture across the region.
Paul Winters, Executive Director of AIM for Scale, underscored that the collaboration with ADB will help expand access to evidence-based agricultural innovations for millions of farmers, strengthening livelihoods across participating countries.
