Dubai’s Terraplus succeeds in Open-air economical rice production in UAE

Dubai’s Terraplus succeeds in Open-air economical rice production in UAE

Dubai-based Agritech firm Terraplus Solutions has successfully completed the trials of economical and sustainable open-air rice production for the first time in the United Arab Emirates.

The result indicates that rice can be produced domestically at a lower price than imports. This is an important discovery that could benefit the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051, which describes rice as a major food item.

Speaking about the successful results, Terraplus Solutions Managing Director and Co-founder Mr. Patrick Stevens, stated that “Access to affordable and secure rice production is essential. Traditionally this has meant relying on imports, but these findings show that with the right technology the UAE can produce rice right here in its own soil at a competitive price and using a sustainable amount of water.”

The average subsidy price for an imported ton of rice in the UAE is about $817. The country has imported more than 900,000 tons of rice in the last 12 months.

The trials targeted the production of rice to be grown for $817 per ton or cheaper across a sample farm in Dhaid, Sharjah. The homegrown UAE business factored in all known rice production costs including labor, seeds, fertilizer, and water.

To overcome the water scarcity in the