The launch of festivals and competitions accompanying the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence in its 4th session

ABU DHABI, 1st November / WAM / The festivals and competitions activities accompanying the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence, in its fourth session, organized by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, were launched today, to celebrate excellence and innovation in the agricultural and food sector, and to enhance the role of farmers and livestock breeders in achieving sustainability and food security in the UAE.

These accompanying events are a pivotal part of the award, highlighting the societal and creative aspects of agriculture and food, providing an interactive platform that brings together producers and consumers, and celebrating distinguished practices and local innovations.

The events accompanying the award include five major festivals held within the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, which constitute integrated platforms to celebrate excellence in various fields of agriculture and food, reflect the diversity of the agricultural sector in the UAE, and provide the public with an interactive experience that combines knowledge, innovation, and taste.

At the forefront of these events is the Al Wathba Food Festival, which focuses on highlighting the quality of local food products and celebrates innovative Emirati projects in the field of food manufacturing.

The festival includes live cooking competitions, interactive displays for emerging food projects, as well as awareness events on smart packaging and effective marketing, making it an ideal platform to promote the national food identity and enhance consumer confidence in the local product.

While the “Al Wathba Agricultural Festival” highlights the latest agricultural technologies used in the country, celebrates model farms that apply the best practices in sustainability and production, and includes competitions for the best agricultural crops, and displays of technical innovations in irrigation and smart agriculture, allowing farmers and those interested the opportunity to learn about the latest agricultural solutions and exchange experiences.

Al Wathba Livestock Festival highlights the efforts of livestock breeders in the country, and celebrates distinguished local breeds, through live shows and competitions for the best animal production, including accurate assessments of quality, care, and nutrition, which enhances the position of this vital sector in the national food security system.

Al Wathba Honey Festival celebrates the quality of Emirati honey, and showcases its diversity and unique specifications, through competitions for the best production, best packaging and marketing. It represents an opportunity to introduce the public to the efforts of local beekeepers and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices in beekeeping and honey production.

The “Flowers Festival” concludes the series of events accompanying the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence in its fourth session, and displays local flower arrangements in innovative designs that combine natural beauty and agricultural innovation.

The festival encourages the development of aesthetic and ecological agriculture, and gives participants the opportunity to compete in presenting the best flower arrangements.

In addition to the specialized festivals, the fourth session of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence will witness the organization of 77 accompanying competitions covering all fields related to agriculture and food, targeting various segments of society, including farmers, livestock breeders and honey producers, in addition to the youth category for whom a competition has been allocated for the first time since the inception of the award.

These competitions come within the award’s vision of establishing a culture of excellence, stimulating innovation, and enhancing community interaction on issues of food security and agricultural sustainability.

His Excellency Mubarak Al-Qasily Al-Mansouri, Chairman of the Festivals and Accompanying Competitions Committee, stressed that the festivals and accompanying competitions represent an extension of the award’s vision of consolidating the concepts of excellence and innovation, enhancing community interaction, and highlighting success stories in the agricultural and food sector.

He pointed out that the Al Wathba Food Festival embodies the spirit of interaction and creativity, and reflects the quality of the Emirati product and its ability to compete in local and regional markets, stressing that organizing these events comes within the framework of the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority to support the food security system, empower local producers, and establish a culture of excellence in the agricultural and food sector.

He explained that these events are not limited to being exhibition platforms, but rather are a strategic step that contributes to building an integrated system of community partnerships, and opens new horizons for local entrepreneurs and producers to develop their businesses and expand the scope of their influence.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority called on all citizens, including farmers, livestock breeders, and young producers across the country, to actively participate in these events, by registering on the award’s official website: www.smaea.ae, as these events are an opportunity to honor, develop, and engage in the agricultural and food sustainability system in the country.

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