Water scarcity is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Agriculture alone consumes nearly 70% of global freshwater, yet the World Bank estimates that by 2030, demand will outstrip supply by 40%. Nowhere is this tension more visible than in arid and semi-arid regions, where feeding growing populations has always been a delicate balance between climate, soil, and water.
The Middle East and North Africa import between 85% and 90% of their food. This dependence on global supply chains leaves the region exposed to disruptions, from geopolitical tensions to climate shocks. At the same time, local agriculture often relies on water-intensive methods that are difficult to sustain in desert conditions. The result is a cycle of vulnerability: food security tied to imports, and water security strained by local production.
As climate change accelerates, this balance becomes even more fragile. Rising temperatures, salinisation of groundwater, and shifting rainfall patterns mean that traditional farming is increasingly under pressure. Crops that once thrived may no longer be viable, and the gap between food demand and supply is widening.
To meet this challenge, we must rethink how we grow food. Incremental efficiency gains will not be enough. Agriculture needs to become fundamentally more water-smart. That means producing more food with less water, closer to where it is consumed, and in ways that are less vulnerable to climate shocks.
Technologies such as hydroponics, vertical farming, and fogponics are part of this shift Each provides a way to grow food without relying on soil or rainfall. Hydroponics has already shown that plants can thrive in nutrient-rich water solutions. Fogponics takes this principle further by delivering nutrients in a fine mist, allowing roots to absorb water and minerals more efficiently while reducing overall consumption. Fogponics uses 98% less water than field farming, while also enabling cultivation in places where soil is either too poor or too scarce. This method was first explored in space research, where scientists had to imagine how to grow food in the absence of soil and flowing water. Today, those same principles are proving valuable for regions on Earth where water scarcity makes traditional farming unsustainable.
This is not just about science. It is about resilience and sovereignty. When communities are able to produce even part of their food locally, they reduce dependence on imports and buffer themselves against supply chain crises. When farmers can grow crops with lower water input, they can sustain livelihoods in regions where agriculture might otherwise collapse. For arid and semi-arid areas in particular, fogponics and hydroponics demonstrate how food production can adapt when both water and fertile soil are in short supply.
Policymakers have a critical role to play in creating the conditions for this transition. Investment in research and development, support for pilot projects, and partnerships between governments, universities, and innovators can accelerate the adoption of water-efficient farming systems. In the UAE, the Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund is an example of how targeted support can encourage solutions that directly address food and water security. By creating space for experimentation and scaling, such initiatives help shift agriculture towards models that are more resilient to climate pressures.
The stakes could not be higher. Global food demand is rising, while water scarcity is becoming one of the defining features of the twenty-first century. Regions already living with these pressures can either become the most vulnerable or the most innovative. By rethinking agriculture now, they have the chance to lead the world in building food systems that are resilient, sustainable, and adapted to the climate realities ahead.
The future of farming will not be decided only in fertile fields. It will also be shaped in deserts, cities, and laboratories, where the boundaries of possibility are being redrawn. The Middle East has a unique opportunity to lead the world in pioneering resilient and climate-smart agriculture. Water may be scarce, but solutions are not. What is required now is the vision, investment, and collective will to turn these solutions into scalable systems that safeguard both food and water security for generations to come.
By: Alberto Aguilar, Co-Founder & CEO of Plantaform Technology Inc