Jim Mellon Targets UAE for Biotech Food Push

Billionaire investor Jim Mellon has unveiled plans to build large-scale biotech “clean food” factories in the United Arab Emirates, positioning the country as a global leader in next-generation food production and food security.

Mellon announced the initiative during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025, outlining how advanced biotechnology could reshape food systems in one of the world’s most import-dependent regions. His vision centres on precision fermentation and cellular agriculture, technologies that could allow the UAE to produce essential food ingredients locally.

According to Mellon, the UAE has the capital strength, policy vision and technological readiness needed to scale clean food production rapidly. If successful, the plan could make the country largely self-sufficient in protein and other food inputs within the next decade, significantly reducing reliance on global supply chains.

Who Is Jim Mellon and Why the UAE

Jim Mellon is chairman of the Burnbrae Group and founder of New Agrarian, a food-security investment platform focused on sustainable food technologies. He believes the UAE offers a rare convergence of factors needed to scale clean food production.

Speaking to The National, Mellon said the country combines political commitment, access to sovereign capital, and openness to innovation. In his view, few nations match the UAE’s ability to move quickly from pilot projects to industrial-scale deployment.

As a result, Mellon sees the Emirates as a natural hub for the global clean food industry.

What Are Clean Food Technologies

Clean food technologies use biotechnology to produce food ingredients without traditional farming. Mellon’s strategy focuses on two core methods: **precision fermentation** and **cellular agriculture**.

Precision Fermentation

Precision fermentation works more like brewing than farming. Scientists program microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria to produce specific food molecules, including proteins and fats. These molecules are bio-identical to those found in conventional foods.

Because production happens in controlled indoor facilities, companies avoid dependence on land, climate, or livestock. This method already operates at scale in pharmaceuticals and specialty ingredients.

Cellular Agriculture

Cellular agriculture grows animal cells in laboratories to create food components traditionally sourced from livestock. While costs remain high today, advances in technology and scale continue to drive prices down.

Mellon believes precision fermentation is ready for immediate expansion into core food ingredients, while cellular agriculture will follow as economics improve.

Why the UAE Is Ideal for Clean Food Factories

The UAE imports roughly 95 per cent of its food, making it highly exposed to global disruptions. Supply chain shocks, geopolitical tensions and rising transport costs all increase vulnerability.

Mellon argues that clean food production offers a strategic solution. By producing protein and other ingredients locally, the UAE could insulate itself from external risks while strengthening long-term food security.

Importantly, he estimates that within ten years the country could meet nearly all its protein needs domestically. This shift would also cut emissions linked to long-distance food transport.

Momentum is already building. In October, the **Abu Dhabi Investment Office** signed an agreement with New Agrarian to explore a large-scale protein fermentation facility. Other partnerships suggest growing institutional support for the sector.

How Clean Food Production Works

Clean food production relies on bioreactors rather than farmland. Microorganisms receive specific nutrients and then generate target molecules. Once production finishes, manufacturers extract and purify the ingredient for use in food products.

This approach offers major efficiency gains. Compared to livestock farming, it uses far less land and water. It also produces lower greenhouse-gas emissions and allows year-round output.

Because the ingredients are bio-identical, taste, texture and nutrition closely match conventional foods. In some cases, producers can improve nutritional profiles through precise formulation.

Food Security and Economic Impact

Food security remains a strategic priority for import-dependent nations. Recent global disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on distant suppliers.

By investing in clean food technologies, the UAE could stabilise food prices and strengthen national resilience. At the same time, the sector could deliver broader economic benefits.

New clean food facilities would create high-skill jobs in biotechnology, engineering and food science. Over time, the UAE could export expertise and technology, positioning itself as a leader in the global clean food economy.

Mellon also believes the sector offers attractive long-term returns for investors, supported by rising global demand for sustainable food solutions.

Environmental and Health Benefits

Clean food production could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of food systems. Livestock farming contributes heavily to emissions, land degradation and water use. Precision fermentation avoids many of these pressures.

Health benefits also stand out. Traditional livestock systems rely heavily on antibiotics, raising concerns about antimicrobial resistance. Clean food technologies remove this dependency entirely.

In addition, producers can control nutrient composition more precisely. This opens the door to healthier food options with fewer additives and improved nutritional balance.

Challenges and Regulation

Despite strong potential, challenges remain. Cellular agriculture still faces high costs, and consumer acceptance will take time.

Regulation will play a critical role. UAE authorities must ensure food safety, transparency and proper certification, including halal compliance for regional markets.

Public education will also matter. Clear communication about safety, nutrition and production methods will help build trust and acceptance.

The Road Ahead

If Mellon’s plans move forward as projected, the UAE could evolve from a food importer into a global clean food exporter within a decade. The country’s combination of capital, policy support and innovation culture gives it a strong starting position.

With government backing and growing private-sector interest, the foundations of a clean food ecosystem are already forming.

Conclusion

Jim Mellon’s plan to establish biotech clean food factories in the UAE marks a bold step toward food security and sustainable production. Through precision fermentation and cellular agriculture, the country could reduce imports, create high-skill jobs and lead the future of food innovation.

As investment and regulation align, the UAE has a realistic opportunity to become a global hub for clean food technologies — and a model for other nations facing similar challenges.