Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Mariam Almheiri, head of International Affairs at the UAE Presidential Court, explored the future of agricultural technology at an event showcasing artificial intelligence-powered solutions for the industry.

The event, held on Wednesday at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, aimed to build on the $200 million partnership announced during the Cop28 climate change summit in December 2023, when the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed to accelerating agricultural innovations aimed at tackling threats to food systems. The investment has supported efforts to help smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia build resilience against climate change.

The collaboration highlights the urgency of addressing food security and climate adaptation for vulnerable farming communities, focusing on scaling solutions through organisations such as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a global partnership focused on improving food security. It also seeks innovative solutions for small-scale farmers, particularly in developing countries.

Among the standout innovations presented was a project to tackle the destructive red palm weevil. The pest causes annual losses of $2 billion in 49 countries, said Tarifa Al Zaabi, director general at the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture.

A consortium involving the UAE, the Gates Foundation, the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas and CGIAR is being formed to assess the weevil's effect on the global and regional economy and environment.

"The red palm weevil is a global challenge," Ms Al Zaabi told The National. The insect can destroy a healthy 40-year-old date palm tree in six months, she added.

"It has been affecting many date palm trees and oil trees worldwide. We're talking about 49 countries and 35 million trees affected," he said.

She emphasised the need for a comprehensive solution to manage and eradicate the pest. "We're looking at a consortium that will bring together national efforts, local collaborators and international organisations to work on a solution."

As part of the red palm weevil project, advanced technology such as gel traps, drones for early detection and other pest-management systems are being explored. "For example, we use drones to identify infected date palms, which allows us to target the areas most in need of intervention."

This effort will help control the spread of the red palm weevil, which can ruin entire palm tree populations within months.

More than two million palms in Abu Dhabi have been treated for infestation by pests such as the red palm weevil and stem borer since the beginning of the year, state news agency Wam reported. The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has used pheromone and light traps to attract and control pests, and limit their spread.

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