Abu Dhabi clears path for novel food tastings as AGWA expands fermentation plans

Abu Dhabi has introduced guidelines allowing novel food developers to conduct controlled tasting and sensory evaluations before securing full UAE market authorization, in a move that could help companies test cultivated foods and fermentation-derived products earlier in their development.

The guidelines were unveiled at PALT 2026, an event organized by the AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), where further plans were announced to strengthen the emirate's industrial fermentation supply chain.

• New guidelines cover sensory testing of cultivated foods, precision fermentation and biomass fermentation products.
• Al Ghurair Foods is expected to join the Starfish consortium as a local dextrose supplier.
• AGWA projects AED 128 billion (US$34.9 billion) in investment and more than 60,000 jobs by 2045.

The regulatory framework was developed by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), with support from AGWA. It establishes guidelines for the safe conduct of tasting and sensory evaluations of novel foods before products receive full authorization for sale in the UAE.

For companies developing products using cultivated cells, precision fermentation or biomass fermentation, sensory testing can be an important part of product development. The question of how such evaluations can be conducted ahead of market approval is one of several regulatory considerations for developers entering the region.

The guidelines address that stage of development, although the announcement did not specify the approval procedures, participant restrictions or testing conditions that companies will need to meet.

The framework also allows industry feedback to inform Abu Dhabi's developing regulatory approach, giving companies an opportunity to identify practical requirements for testing novel foods.

Regulation was one of several subjects discussed at PALT 2026, held at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. Representatives from government, established food manufacturers, investors and alternative protein companies examined the costs of industrial fermentation, the availability of manufacturing infrastructure and the financing required to move from pilot facilities to commercial production.

Abu Dhabi also used the event to provide an update on Starfish, its planned protein fermentation ecosystem, which is currently progressing through the engineering phase.

Al Ghurair Foods is expected to join the consortium as a strategic feedstock partner, providing locally produced dextrose for the proposed fermentation facility.

Feedstock can account for a significant proportion of fermentation operating costs, making reliable local supply an important consideration for large-scale production. The proposed arrangement would give Starfish access to a domestically produced input rather than relying entirely on international supply chains.

The announcement did not include details of the volume of dextrose Al Ghurair Foods would supply, the commercial terms of the arrangement or the anticipated production capacity of the facility.

The addition of Al Ghurair Foods follows ADIO's previously announced partnerships with Vivici, The EVERY Company and New Agrarian, which form part of its plans to establish industrial-scale alternative protein production using fermentation technology in Abu Dhabi.

The involvement of these companies reflects AGWA's approach to developing local manufacturing capabilities, with international technology providers working alongside regional industrial and supply chain partners.

The economics of that approach featured prominently in discussions at PALT, where participants examined the influence of feedstock prices, energy costs and infrastructure availability on the commercial prospects of fermentation-based food production.

Financing was another concern, particularly the gap between investment available for early-stage technology development and the substantially larger sums required to construct industrial facilities.

The program also addressed changing market conditions for alternative proteins and novel foods, including the role of halal frameworks and consumer confidence in determining how products can reach customers across the UAE and neighboring markets.

Among the organizations represented were the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, ADQCC, ADAFSA, Nestlé, Arla Foods, Al Ain Farms Group, Vivici, Al Ghurair Foods, UPSIDE Foods and Perfect Day.

AGWA, established through ADIO, is responsible for coordinating investment and industrial development across Abu Dhabi's agrifood and water sectors. Its activities include attracting international companies, developing local supply chains and supporting the infrastructure needed for commercial manufacturing.

The cluster's economic targets extend well beyond alternative proteins. By 2045, AGWA is projected to contribute AED 90 billion (US$24.5 billion) to Abu Dhabi's incremental GDP, create more than 60,000 jobs and attract AED 128 billion (US$34.9 billion) in investment.

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