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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

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  1. wheat
    • ex. Wheat is used to make bread, pasta, and many other kinds of food.
  2. a variety
    • ex. The farm introduced a new grape variety, and it is now being used for local wine production.
  3. export
    • ex. Brazil exports a large amount of coffee to countries around the world.
  4. surpass
    • ex. The athlete’s performance in today’s game surpasses what he did in the last game. He has improved.
  5. valuable
    • ex. The teacher shared some valuable advice to help us do well on the exam.

Article

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Sharjah, a city in the United Arab Emirates, is growing a new kind of wheat with 19.3% protein, the highest in the world. This variety of wheat is called “Sharjah 1.” It can grow on dry land. This wheat is grown at the Mleiha Wheat Farm and has caught the interest of food companies around the world. Sharjah 1 has received awards for its high quality, so the city plans to export it.

UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr. Amna Al Dahak said the farm uses smart technology, like AI watering systems, which save 30% of water. The farm also uses satellite images and weather systems to help the crops grow better. The wheat is grown on desert land using modern farming tools. Scientists tested over 1,400 types of wheat to find the best one.

Sharjah 1 is already used in local bread, pasta, and cereal. The project was started by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. A representative from the city’s agriculture department said that Sharjah’s wheat surpasses global standards, as this variety is rich in valuable nutrients.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Modern and Smart Farming

  • Sharjah 1 is a new type of wheat that can grow on desert land. What do you think about growing wheat in the desert? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what is more important in farming: tradition or new technology? Discuss.
  • Imagine you have a farm in your town/city. What kind of modern or smart technology would be helpful for you (ex. AI watering system, indoor farming)? Discuss.

Exporting Food

  • Sharjah plans to export its new variety of wheat to other countries. Do you think it’s a good idea for Sharjah to export its wheat to other countries? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What is a crop or food that your country exports (ex. corn, rice)? Discuss.
  • Do you think your country can benefit from buying wheat from Sharjah? Why do you say so? Discuss.