Ministry of Economy and Tourism delegation visits Czech Republic to strengthen cooperation in food security, R&D and AgriTech

H.E. Dr Maria AlQassim highlights the visit’s role in advancing sustainable food ecosystem practices and supporting the development of the UAE Food Cluster

 A delegation from the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, comprising H.E. Dr Maria Hanif AlQassim, Assistant Undersecretary for the Policies and Economic Studies Sector at the Ministry, and 24 representatives from universities, food companies and the industrial sector in the UAE, recently visited Prague, Czech Republic.

The visit aimed to strengthen economic and research cooperation between the UAE and the Czech Republic; expand partnerships between companies, academic and research institutions in both countries; and explore opportunities for cooperation in food security, sustainable food production, AgriTech, research and development (R&D), innovation, food-waste reduction and circular waste management. It also aimed to promote trade in food and agricultural products and develop private-sector partnerships.

In this context, H.E. Dr Maria AlQassim said: “The Ministry of Economy and Tourism continues to develop the UAE Food Cluster in line with global best practices and strengthen connections among companies, universities and research institutions, helping transform scientific research outcomes into commercial applications and innovative projects that support the competitiveness and sustainability of the UAE’s food sector.”

H.E. added: “The UAE delegation’s visit to the Czech Republic represents a significant opportunity to gain insights into advanced and successful practices in food production, AgriTech and the development of a sustainable food ecosystem, and to explore ways to leverage R&D outcomes to develop implementable solutions. Meetings with universities, research institutions and specialised companies also provide an opportunity to identify areas of cooperation in technology development, exchange knowledge and expertise, and connect scientific innovation with market needs. This unlocks new avenues for business development and the creation of solutions and products that support the future of the UAE’s food sector.”

In detail, the delegation visited the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague to share best practices in food security, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable production, as well as explore opportunities for research cooperation and knowledge exchange between relevant institutions in both countries.

The delegation also visited the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences to explore areas of cooperation in sustainable food production technologies, microalgae technologies, food-waste reduction and circular waste management. Discussions also covered ways to leverage scientific research and technological applications to develop solutions that enhance resource efficiency and the sustainability of food production chains.

As part of efforts to explore the latest innovations in the food sector, the delegation visited Bene Meat Technologies to learn about cultivated meat technologies and their scientific and industrial applications, and explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, R&D cooperation and technology transfer.

Furthermore, the UAE delegation participated in the UAE–Czech Economic Roundtable, which brought together representatives of government entities, companies and academic institutions from both sides to explore cooperation in the trade of food and agricultural products, AgriTech, R&D, and commercial and investment partnerships. The programme featured presentations by participating companies and universities, as well as bilateral meetings aimed at connecting research capabilities with private sector needs and exploring trade and investment cooperation and joint research projects.