ABU DHABI (WAM)

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has announced farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms have only 15 more days to register for the third Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award (SMAEA).

The Supreme Committee of the Award confirmed the submissions window for eligible parties across the UAE will close on November 15.

Held under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ADAFSA, this year’s edition, themed “Innovative Farmers & Breeders with a Sustainable Vision”, features four main categories, 13 sub-categories, and 87 accompanying competitions with a total prize pool of more than Dh 10 million.

To help farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms register for the award, ADAFSA shared an informative video explaining the steps of the registration process. It showcases the documents and information required to submit complete nominations that fulfil the eligibility requirements.

Mubarak Ali Al Mansouri, member of the SMAEA Supreme Committee and Chairman of the award's Accompanying Competitions & Festivals Committee, said, “We are delighted with the great turnout for the third edition of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award. We encourage all farmers, livestock farmers, and commercial farms in the UAE to take advantage of this opportunity and highlight the values of innovation and sustainability they incorporate into their business.

"The Award’s benefits go beyond the lucrative cash prizes, delivering a tangible positive impact for winners and participants alike. The Award will enhance the winners’ market competitiveness, driven by the consumer confidence that comes with the Award’s recognition of quality.”

To ensure equal opportunities among candidates, the third Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award is featuring an array of new additions and improvements, particularly in the evaluation criteria. For example, the production water footprint is now assessed, as is production efficiency, cost value for developing plant and animal farms, and the financial return of the farm.

The Supreme Committee called on interested parties across the UAE who are keen to learn more about the categories, evaluation criteria, and registration process to visit the official website https://smaea.ae, or call 800-76232.