Date: 11 Sep, 2024
Location: Dubai - UAE
The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) participated in the 5th Edition of the Global Vertical Farming Show 2024, which was held at the Le Meridien Dubai Conference Center on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. The show is a prominent event that brings together agricultural innovation and modern technology, aiming to showcase the latest techniques and agricultural methods focusing on the sustainability of natural resources and increasing productivity in limited spaces.
In this context, H.E. Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al-Zaabi, The Chairman of the Board of AAAID, delivered a speech at the opening session titled ” Agricultural Advancements Leading Towards Achieving Food Security in the Middle East ” at the Global Vertical Farming Show 2024, held at the Le Méridien Dubai Conference Center on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
It is worth mentioning that the exhibition was inaugurated in the presence and patronage of H.E. Marwan Abdulla Alzaabi, Assistant Undersecretary of Regions Sector – Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
In his speech, H.E. Dr. Al-Zaabi presented AAAID’s visions and goals, explaining the distribution of its contributions and investments and its role in enhancing food security. He pointed out that the Arab food gap was approximately $36.2 billion in 2022, emphasizing that Arab countries have significant agricultural potential that requires the adoption of innovative agricultural methods and more efficient food production systems to increase production and meet the needs of the population.
He also emphasized that localizing smart and vertical farming in Arab countries will enhance the efficiency of agricultural input use, increase crop productivity, control costs, and ensure the profitability of agricultural projects, in addition to preserving natural resources. He explained that vertical farming offers a promising solution to many challenges faced by the Arab agricultural sector.
He pointed out that studies predict significant growth in vertical farming in many countries in the region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, thanks to innovations in agricultural technologies. These countries are expected to witness the highest growth rates in this sector from 2023 to 2030.
H.E. Dr. Al-Zaabi added that many Middle Eastern countries recognize the potential of vertical farming and have launched policies and initiatives to encourage investment in this field, such as investing in research and development for vertical farming technologies, enhancing local food production, and creating funds to support agricultural technology.
In conclusion, H.E. Dr. Al-Zaabi explained that future trends are moving towards technological advancement, including reliance on artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve crop growth and overall farm efficiency, as well as using robots for tasks such as planning, harvesting, and packaging. He also emphasized the importance of diversifying crops, focusing on high-value crops, developing techniques to produce a variety of crops year-round, and exploring the cultivation of medicinal plants for the pharmaceutical industry. At the end of the opening session, AAAID and several participating entities were honored.
