Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Talk | July 2025 — In a bold step toward reshaping food security and agricultural innovation, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ is moving to acquire a 35% stake in Limagrain Vegetable Seeds (LVS), a leading French seed company with operations in over 20 countries.
The proposed acquisition, currently in its closing phase, marks a strategic alignment between global agri-tech expertise and the UAE’s ambitious drive to localize food production amid worsening climate conditions.
Sowing the Seeds of Resilience in Al Ain
As part of the deal, ADQ’s agritech arm Silal will join forces with Limagrain to launch a research and development venture based at Innovation Oasis in Al Ain. The venture will focus on breeding desert-adapted vegetable seeds—crops capable of thriving under extreme heat, water scarcity, and saline soils.
“This is not about GMOs,” clarified Gil Adotevi, Group CIO at ADQ. “We’re selecting and enhancing existing traits using precision gene editing.”
The project will initially target cucumbers, tomatoes, and melons, testing them under UAE-specific conditions before commercial rollout. Collaboration with local farmers will follow once high-performing varieties are identified.
Food Sovereignty, Water Security, and Technology at the Core
The initiative ties into the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051, which aims to boost domestic food production to 50%—a major shift for a nation that currently imports up to 90% of its food.
With agriculture consuming 60% of national water resources and groundwater levels dropping by about one metre per year, seed innovation is emerging as a linchpin in ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.
“If you double output on the same land, you reduce costs and water use. It’s a win for farmers, consumers, and the environment,” noted Adotevi.
A Regional Model with Global Relevance
While the immediate focus is on the Gulf region, ADQ’s vision stretches much further. The seeds developed in Abu Dhabi could be exported to regions facing similar climate pressures—North and East Africa, Central Asia, Southern Europe, and Latin America.
“What works in the UAE could transform farming across the world’s driest regions,” said Adotevi. “This is about exporting knowledge, not just produce.”
The Gulf’s Growing Agri-Tech Footprint
The move places the UAE alongside other regional innovators like Jordan and Qatar’s Sahara Forest Project and Oman’s seawater greenhouses, all seeking sustainable solutions for farming in arid environments.
“We expect agriculture to become increasingly precise, technology-driven, and climate-smart,” said Adotevi. “And we want to lead that transformation.”
Looking Ahead
This isn’t ADQ’s first foray into global agri-business. Its portfolio already includes a 45% stake in Louis Dreyfus Company. With Limagrain, ADQ is planting a new kind of seed—one that could grow into a global benchmark for desert farming.
As climate challenges deepen and food security takes center stage, The Gulf Talk sees this move as more than an investment—it’s a long-term bet on sustainability, innovation, and the UAE’s emerging role as a desert agriculture pioneer.
