As part of its efforts to ensure the UAE's food security, Emirates Modern Poultry on Sunday announced that it is investing Dh120 million as an initial investment in its new farm in Abu Dhabi's Liwa area.

The announcement was made during a Press conference in Dubai, during which the company known as Al Rawdah signed the official build-up contract with LAE-Anlagenbau, for manufacturing production machinery; Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co, for designing and building feed mills; and Prompt Contracting, for contractual works.

Officials at the Press conference revealed that the project would take place in a total of three stages and at an approximate value of Dh400 million. Phase one of the project is already under construction, and is due to be completed within 16-18 months.

With the completion of the whole project, a major step will be taken in food security concerns as the farm production will reduce Al Rawdah's reliance on imported hatching eggs by 50 per cent, thus boosting the UAE's food security and creating an ecosystem for sustainable production. The five million sqm Liwa farm will house a parent stock comprised of six hen houses with 7,000 birds in each. It will also include a feed mill built to cater to the needs of local farmers' livestock as well.

Speaking at the Press conference, Abdalla Sultan Al Owais, chairman of Al Rawdah, said: "The UAE's food security and sustainable development has always been a paramount concern for us. Respected sources have reported that Gulf countries are 90 per cent reliant on imports for their food supplies. This is due to environmental challenges and arid conditions, which pose barriers to farming, agriculture and poultry rearing. But Al Rawdah has always been determined to overcome these barriers, and create the local capacity to sustain our own ecosystem."

"We have also listened to our leaders talking about a post-oil future, and recognise that as a collective of 7.2 billion people we all have a responsibility to limit resource use and respect our planet. That's why our new facility is utilising solar panels to generate some of its own renewable energy. We are hoping that this project will be very successful and lay the groundwork for a more universal move to renewables and sustainable energy in food production," he added.

Abdulla Al Qubaisi, vice-chairman of Al Rawdah, also spoke about how Al Rawdah has seen a 300 per cent growth in its production capabilities in the past decade, going from 160 metric tonnes of poultry production a month in 2004 to 1,000 metric tonnes in 2014.

"This success has resulted in annual revenue increases of 184 per cent in the 12 years between 2004 and 2016. In 2004, our revenue stood at Dh61.7 million; by 2014, it had reached Dh175 million. And I am very proud to report that in 2015 Al Rawdah's annual turnover crossed Dh180 million. With growth, has come an emphasis in internal excellence. We have made great strides in increasing animal welfare, while reducing resource use and operating costs. We have managed to bring operating costs down by 20 per cent through careful management," he said.