Semi-finalists of agriculture venture programme announced

The semi-finalists of MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme have been officially announced including three researchers from the UAE.

The 20 semi-finalists include Actinobacteria (Ibn Zohr University, Morocco), AOS AI’griculture (Turkey), AquaShade Oasis (University of Jordan), Bactorhiza (Egypt), BlueBounty ProMix (India/UAE), DiseaseExpert (Oman), ECOVER (Morocco), Endophyte Biofertilizers (Dhofar University, Oman), Farm to 2Fs (Estidamah, Saudi Arabia), FertiSolo (KAUST, Saudi Arabia), Indigenous Silvopasture (Qassim University, Saudi Arabia), Microfluidics System (NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE), No-Till Seeder (University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Morocco), OZ-TECH (Heliopolis University, Egypt), RedDot Red Palm Weevil (United Kingdom/UAE), Smart Relay-Intercropping (ICARDA, Morocco), SmartAgri-AIoT (Egypt), TarLab Biyoteknoloji (Turkey) and VerdiSol (UAE).

The announcement was made by Goumbook, a leading social enterprise accelerating sustainability and climate action across the MENAT region as the semi-finalists include researchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs working on solutions ranging from organic and bio-fertilisers, agri-robotics, climate -resilient crops, agrivoltaics, biotech, to AI-powered early disease detection and sustainable livestock systems.

Their work demonstrates how homegrown innovation can effectively respond to local conditions and global challenges alike.

The programme was launched in partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank, HSBC Bank Middle East, with the support of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Food and the Climate Champions Team.

Samantha Kayruz, Strategy and Sustainability Impact Director at Goumbook, said: “The Venture Programme as part of the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Initiative has quickly emerged as a vital bridge between research, science, and entrepreneurship.”