Khalifa University of Science and Technology and Maple Gulf AgriTech Poultry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on applied research in food production, circular resource use, and advanced agricultural technologies.
The partnership, aligning with the UAE Food Security Strategy 2051, establishes a research-driven alliance to accelerate innovations in advanced agritech, resource-efficient poultry production, and local food manufacturing.
The MoU was signed by Professor Bayan Sharif, Provost of Khalifa University, and Ala Jaff, CEO and Founder of Maple Gulf. Professor Fawzi Banat, Director of the Food Security and Technology Center, will coordinate the project from Khalifa University, while Jaff represents Maple Gulf.
The two partners will collaborate on applied research and technical studies to strengthen food security in arid environments, advance non‑conventional water use, improve water efficiency, and implement circular water management.
They will enhance productivity through improved feed quality and feed conversion optimization, develop biosecurity-aware circular production frameworks, and explore Industry 4.0–enabled agritech systems with data analytics, automation, and environmental monitoring, while shaping farm-to-fork local manufacturing to reinforce national supply chains.
The collaboration will further extend to academic engagement through student research opportunities, joint academic projects, and potential co‑authored publications that support knowledge generation and capacity building across the sector.
Professor Bayan Sharif Provost – Khalifa University
“We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Maple Gulf as part of our commitment to driving impactful scientific research that supports national strategic priorities. This partnership strengthens our ability to advance innovative AgriTech solutions tailored for arid environments and helps reinforce the UAE’s leadership in food security. By combining our academic expertise with Maple Gulf’s industry driven agricultural technologies, we will accelerate the development of sustainable, data driven production models that contribute to a resilient food ecosystem.”
Ala Jaff, CEO and Founder of Maple Gulf, said that. “This partnership with Khalifa University marks a foundational step in building a scalable AgriTech platform aligned with the UAE Food Security Strategy 2051. Our objective is not only to produce poultry locally, but to develop resilient, resource-efficient food production systems that can be validated and scaled over the long term through Industry 4.0-enabled automation, robotics, and data-driven operational technologies.”
Ala Jaff added that, “By combining Khalifa University’s scientific leadership with Maple Gulf’s commercial operating environment, this collaboration enables applied research that strengthens productivity, circular resource utilization, and technology-enabled smart agricultural systems under real operating conditions.”
