Five startups showcase agricultural efficiency innovations

The closing ceremony took place as part of the Emirates Agriculture Conference & Exhibition 2026, organised by the National Agriculture Centre. It featured live demonstrations in which the five winning start-ups presented their business models and technological solutions. The event was attended by His Excellency Engineer Amal Abdulrahim, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; His Excellency Sultan Al Shamsi, Director of the National Agriculture Centre; and His Excellency Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa.

What the leaders had to say

Sultan Al Shamsi said the programme attracted more than 100 applications and that, after a rigorous evaluation, a standout group emerged with practical, scalable solutions directly relevant to the agricultural sector's future. He described the initiative as part of the National Agriculture Center's broader commitment to smart solutions and to supporting startups across diverse fields.

Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said agriculture sits at the heart of how nations plan for the future, shaped by sustainability, food security, and economic resilience. Through Agriboost, she said, five startups put that thinking into practice — developing solutions tailored to the UAE's environment and long-term needs and moving with clarity from concept to application.

Five startups, five solutions

Demo Day gave each startup the opportunity to present its case. CropGuard presented a system combining soil sensing, smart irrigation, and shading, purpose-built for arid climates where precision directly affects crop survival and profitability. Hareth showed how IoT-driven technology can tackle the UAE's agricultural water challenges — optimising irrigation, cutting waste, addressing soil salinity, and helping farmers make data-led decisions that improve yields. Agrotunes introduced an AI-powered platform for intelligent farming in built environments, bringing together crop planning, environmental regulation, and harvest prediction, while connecting farms with buyers and consumers. INNOFarms. AI demonstrated a business AI and robotics platform linking farms, supply chains, and food businesses through real-time tracking, supply risk visibility, and on-site automation. Madiya Farms completed the group with a system that includes standard greenhouses, AI-based farm management, and a fully connected supply chain, making it a possible national model for large-scale food production.

Madiya Farms took first place in the pitch rankings, with Hareth, CropGuard, Agrotunes, and INNOFarms finishing second through fifth, respectively — results that reflect the cohort's overall strength rather than a sharp divide in quality.

The judging panel comprised Abeer Al Ameeri, Director of Ecosystem Development at Sheraa; Kamal Rasool, Chief Technology Officer at RDI; and Hamad Al Hamed, CEO of Gracia. Investors, partners, and industry figures were also in attendance.

From bootcamp to demo day

Agriboost runs for six weeks, opening with a hands-on bootcamp in agile methods and product development. Startups then enter an incubation phase — refining their strategies, testing solutions in real-world market conditions, and engaging directly with the customers they aim to serve. It all culminates on Demo Day, when ideas that once existed only on paper take their first steps towards becoming real-world solutions.

Sheraa has long understood that a thriving startup scene does not happen by accident. Through its programmes and initiatives, the centre has created an environment in which early-stage companies can genuinely grow — particularly in sectors that matter most to the national economy, with agriculture chief among them. The goal is straightforward: to turn viable ideas into lasting economic value and to give the UAE's economy the kind of innovative backbone that keeps it competitive for years to come.