Farming for the future
Innovative agricultural schemes among winners of 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize
Thursday, 15 January 2026
From AI-powered health diagnostics to climate-smart farming, technology-driven solutions were under the spotlight at the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony, where innovators from around the world were recognised for tackling some of the planet’s most pressing challenges.
The awards, held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, drew attention to projects delivering clean energy, safe water, nutritious food, and healthcare to millions of people.
This year’s competition attracted more than 7,700 submissions from 173 countries, with 33 finalists selected for their inclusive, locally adapted approaches to sustainability.
Since its inception, the Prize has touched more than 400 million lives globally, underscoring the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a hub for climate action and innovation.
“Sustainability and prosperity are no longer separate goals, but two sides of the same path forward,” explained Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Prize. “These solutions are affordable, reliable, scalable, and generate socioeconomic value for the communities they serve.”
This year’s winners were:
- Health: Jade (UAE) develops AI and gamified cognitive tools to screen and support neurodiverse children, now adopted in over 450 institutions across 179 countries.
- Food: N&E Innovations (Singapore) creates upcycled, biodegradable antimicrobial sprays and packaging that extend food shelf life and reduce waste, transforming two tonnes of food waste into 400,000 units and reaching 80,000 people in seven countries.
- Energy: BASE Foundation (Switzerland) promotes a cooling-as-a-service model, making clean cooling technologies accessible through pay-per-use, benefiting 160,000 people and cutting 81,000 tonnes of CO₂ across 68 countries.
- Water: Stattus4 (Brazil) uses AI-powered IoT to detect leaks in water distribution networks, saving 540 million litres daily across 250 municipalities and improving water access for nearly 4 million people.
- Climate Action: Build up Nepal develops earthquake-resilient eco-bricks, supporting sustainable construction for 58,000 people, empowering 200 entrepreneurs, and abating over 110,000 tonnes of CO₂.
Each category winner receives US $1 million, while six Global High Schools share up to US $150,000 each for projects that integrate sustainability into education.
The 2026 high school winners presented hydroponic farms in Canada, circular farming systems in Uganda, rainwater harvesting in Jordan, AI-powered wildfire prevention in Türkiye, renewable energy hubs in the Maldives, and water-saving rice cultivation in Thailand.
The Prize, named after the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, aims to turn ambition into action. “When we empower youth, entrepreneurs, and communities, ambition can be turned into action that is inclusive, practical, and global,” said Dr. Al Jaber.
The jury of the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize
