The United Arab Emirates has launched a groundbreaking AI ecosystem in Abu Dhabi aimed at helping farmers worldwide cope with increasingly erratic weather and strengthen food security.
Developed in partnership with the Gates Foundation, the initiative focuses on turning Artificial Intelligence research into practical, usable solutions that support smallholder farmers in climate-vulnerable regions.
At the heart of the program is an integrated artificial intelligence-driven ecosystem connecting research, AI model development, and real-world application. Key initiatives include AgriLLM, an open-source AI model trained on climate and agricultural data to advise farmers and policymakers; AIM for Scale, a UAE-Gates Foundation project providing AI-enabled weather forecasts and climate guidance in regions with limited infrastructure; and the Institute for Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence at MBZUAI, which trains governments, development organisations, and farmers to use AI tools effectively.
Early results show the ecosystem’s practical value. In India, AI-enabled monsoon forecasting helped 38 million farmers make informed decisions on planting and irrigation in 2025. Apart from weather predictions, AI technology is gradually used for better crop modelling, yield forecasting, soil health monitoring, and climate-resilient agriculture.
All these instruments demonstrate the potential of AI in climate and food security areas to switch from theoretical discussions to real-life scenarios for the communities that are most in need of it.
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By bringing together institutions like CGIAR, NYU Abu Dhabi, the World Bank, and an applied AI company, ai71, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a hub for AI-driven agricultural innovation. “The UAE is harnessing artificial intelligence for global good, connecting national research with international partners to deliver tools that reach farmers on the ground,” said Mariam Almheiri, head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court.
The initiative demonstrates a new approach where technology meets agriculture at scale, signalling the UAE’s commitment to deploying Artificial Intelligence-driven ecosystems to safeguard food systems, accelerate climate adaptation, and support millions of farmers worldwide.