The development of the new autonomous and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology will accelerate CAFU’s goal to plant one million Ghaf tree seeds
CAFU, the Dubai-based leader in technology and car services, has announced the latest development in furthering its commitment to planting one million trees as a part of its Ghaf Tree Project. The development of the new autonomous and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology will accelerate CAFU’s goal to plant one million Ghaf tree seeds in the UAE. Equipped with custom speedball planting technology and tracks designed specifically to operate in desert conditions, this first-of-its-kind planting technology will help CAFU’s ambitions to address the global challenge of climate change and support the UAE’s goal to become net-zero by 2050.
In 2021, CAFU launched the ‘Ghaf Tree Project’ – a bold initiative to re-green barren ecosystems across the Emirates by planting one million Ghaf seeds. Through an extensive R&D phase that focused on seed optimisation and viability and with a goal to find the best solution to plant trees more quickly in arid conditions, CAFU pivoted its initial ariel tech to robotic solutions to solve this issue.
The improved technology has the ability to penetrate deeper into the ground and distribute seeds more effectively, leading to more successful trees being planted. The innovative technology not only speeds up the planting process but also guarantees the survival of the Ghaf trees.
The collaboration with United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) which focused on R&D for seed optimisation and viability and CAFU’s new UGV technology, marks a significant milestone in the project’s development. Launched at CAFU’s labs in Sharjah, as the first-of-its-kind in the MENA region, the technology is expected to quadruple the number of seeds planted, strengthening the company’s commitment to a greener future and supporting the UAE’s ecosystem.
“We believe that technology is a force for good, not just for services, but for the community and the world in which we live,” said Nabra Al Busaidi, Community and Sustainability Manager at CAFU. “This is why we’re proud to introduce and use our cutting-edge technology to support the UAE’s commitment to building a cleaner and greener future. Over the past year, we have significantly re-engineered our processes.”
With the remarkable ability to survive and prosper in some of the harshest environmental conditions, the Ghaf tree stands tall as a symbol of hope, inspiring ground-breaking work to revolutionize farming methods across the Emirates and can survive on very little water while also sustaining other plants and animal life.
