Host Institution
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative.
Program Benefits
The competition features a total prize pool of around USD 2 million (equivalent to AED 8 million), with the top prize—approximately USD 1 million (AED 4 million)—granted to the first-place recipient.
Eligibility Criteria
The Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture invites participation from teams developing breakthrough technologies in the following areas:
Innovations aimed at reducing water usage in both open-field and indoor agriculture, including cooling systems.
Affordable and energy-efficient water treatment solutions to make groundwater suitable for farming, such as technologies for desalination.
Approaches that modify soil or crops to lower water absorption needs.
Integrated circular solutions combining two or more of the aforementioned components.
Alternative water sourcing strategies.
To qualify, applicants must present solutions with demonstrated feasibility that are ready for pilot implementation in the UAE during the challenge period. The solutions should be scalable for broad use across UAE farms and adaptable to regions with similar climatic conditions, including GCC countries and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Applicants must address at least one of the challenge’s defined problem statements. Those wishing to respond to both must submit separate proposals for each.
Evaluation Criteria:
Submissions will be reviewed based on the following:
Economic viability, ensuring the cost-benefit ratio appeals to local farmers.
*Proposal quality, including a clearly articulated problem, innovative solution, well-described technology, and straightforward maintenance instructions.
*Proven track record in R&D and commercialization, such as existing patents, publications, competition achievements, or industry endorsements.
* **Support for smallholder farmers**, where applicable, must include a practical deployment and training strategy for farm workers.
Collaborative efforts, especially those involving academic institutions, startups, or industry partners.
All proposed solutions must be sustainable, durable, safe, dependable, and simple to maintain.
