Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, attended the signing of a strategic partnership between Silal—Abu Dhabi’s leading agri-food and technology firm—and Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG), a well-established Chinese company known for its expertise in vegetable seed breeding and counter-seasonal crop production
A landmark partnership between Silal and China’s Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG) is set to transform the agricultural landscape of the UAE, with SVG committing over AED 120 million to establish a 100,000 m² Agritech hub in Al Ain. This ambitious project signifies a major leap forward for both national and regional agri-innovation, blending cutting-edge technologies such as AI and robotics to enhance precision, efficiency, and sustainability throughout the agricultural value chain.
The new facility will introduce SVG’s renowned “Shouguang Model” of greenhouse agriculture, tailored to meet the UAE’s unique climate challenges. It will feature a variety of advanced greenhouse systems, including intelligent photovoltaic glass structures, thin-film connected greenhouses, and large-span solar-powered units. All operations within the greenhouse ecosystem will be powered by solar energy, underscoring a commitment to low-impact, eco-conscious farming.
The comprehensive Agritech complex will encompass the entire agricultural cycle—from seedling development to post-harvest processing, storage, and distribution. Smart technologies will drive all phases of production, with AI and robotics enabling precise planting, automated irrigation, robotic harvesting, and intelligent climate control. This technological integration aims to boost crop quality and operational efficiency while reducing resource consumption, including a projected 30 per cent decrease in water and fertilizer usage.
Silal CEO Salmeen Alameri emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “This collaboration with SVG aims to revolutionize the UAE’s Agritech landscape. By merging SVG’s advanced greenhouse capabilities with Silal’s focus on sustainability and innovation, we are building a replicable model of future-ready agriculture.”
SVG Founder Ming Yang praised the UAE’s forward-looking vision and its openness to adopting emerging technologies. He noted the region’s harsh climate as an ideal environment for refining and testing breakthrough agricultural solutions.
The facility will support the cultivation of over a dozen high-performance crops—including tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and strawberries—engineered for improved flavor, resilience, and yield. It will also host AI research labs, tech test zones, sensory centers, advanced water treatment units, mushroom growing zones, energy storage systems, and on-site accommodation for staff.
Complementing production efforts, a modern post-harvest center will include cold storage, automated sorting lines, and export-ready logistics infrastructure—ensuring product quality and smooth distribution both locally and globally.
