The UAE Agricultural Exhibition reviews the future of sustainable agriculture
Al Ain on May 29/ WAM/ Speakers during the activities of the second day of the UAE conference and agricultural exhibition 2025 reviewed the most prominent technological developments, artificial intelligence, remote sensing technologies, smart robots, and the role of innovation and scientific research in providing sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
The session “Empowering Innovation and Scientific Research for More Small Solutions”, which was moderated by Eng. Amal Abdel Rahim, Assistant Undersecretary of the Support Services Sector in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and participated in it by Dr. Ahmed Ali Al -Raisi, Acting Director of Emirates University, Dr. Ibrahim Al -Hajri, President of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Dr. Aisha Ahmed Bushleibi, Director of Al Dhaid University, the importance of moving from the theoretical academic research to practical applications It contributes to enhancing food security and raising the efficiency of agricultural production, while emphasizing the need to enhance cooperation between universities, research centers, and bodies concerned with the agricultural sector.
The session “Fish farming is a promising sector in enhancing local production”, in the presence of Dr. Ali Hilal Al -Naqbi, Director of Khorfakkan University, Badr Mohamed Obaid, CEO of “Fish Farm”, and Dr. Ihab Reda Ahmed, from the United Arab Emirates University, and managed by Heba Obaid Al -Shehhi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Biological Diversity Sector and Aquaculture in the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment in the Agency, on the role of the toxic cultivation As a strategic tributary to enhance food security in the UAE, the capabilities of this sector in increasing domestic production of high -quality fish protein, and the latest technical trends in the field of aquaculture, with a focus on innovative sustainability solutions that keep pace with the challenges of water scarcity.
The “Recycling of farm waste recycling is an important step towards sustainable development” on the importance of managing farm waste as a basic pillar of the circular economy in the agricultural sector, reviewing the latest solutions and technologies to transform agricultural waste from an environmental burden to an economic resource of added value, in a way that contributes to achieving environmental and economic sustainability of farms, and managed by engineer Rabaa Al -Awar, head of the waste management department in the Ministry of Change The climate and the environment, with the participation of engineers, Alia Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Sustainable Communities Sector in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Eng.
Dr. Lucy Wallace, Director of International Relations at the European Institute for Innovation and Technology in the field of food during her speech, “Lessons in Capacity Building within the Agricultural Sector”, threw it on the importance of bridging the skills gaps in the market through continuous training, and indicated that innovation and technologies do not develop on their own, but that individuals are the ones who develop these innovations and technologies, and highlighted the importance of teaching technical and mental skills, and providing the workforce. With the skills of solving the problems needed to meet the needs of current and future agricultural foods.
Aisha Al -Ateeqi, Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative, spoke during the keynote, “The water challenge to innovate water security solutions” about the initiative’s endeavor to expand the scope of innovative solutions to provide water for all at appropriate costs, based on three basic pillars: accelerating the pace of technological innovation, enhancing awareness about water scarcity, mobilizing efforts and empowering work.
She pointed out that the agricultural sector consumes 70% of fresh water globally, and exceeds this percentage in the UAE, which calls for enhancing the efficiency of water resources management.
She announced the launch of a global competition entitled “Water for Agriculture” in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, ASPIRE and Sallal, with the aim of supporting the development of innovative technologies that reduce water consumption in the agricultural sector while maintaining or improving crop productivity. This challenge offers prizes worth 8 million dirhams, and invited Al -Atiqi innovators, researchers, companies and projects emerging from inside and outside the country to participate.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment held, in cooperation with the “Naama” initiative, a workshop on the first national study to measure the levels of food and waste of food in the UAE, in a step to enhance sustainability, in which His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Food Diversity Sector, stressed the state’s commitment with the aim of sustainable development 12.3, aiming to reduce food waste 50% by 2030, and indicated that the National Food Security Strategy 2051 sets Reducing food loss within its priorities, and called on representatives of the food and agricultural sectors to actively participate in these national efforts, stressing that change begins with consciousness and turns into collective work, stressing the importance of consolidating the culture of preserving grace to ensure a more sustainable future.
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