Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi will host Global Food Week from October 21 to 23 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, with organisers reporting record growth across the event’s key metrics.
The footprint has expanded 15% to 33,542 sq.m; exhibitors and brands are up 9% to 2,070; and the number of participating countries has increased to 75, including 18 first-time entrants.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the week will convene a select group of experts, innovators, and industry leaders to address pressing challenges in food security, agriculture, and sustainability.
National companies account for over half the participants, with 1,055 exhibitors, while international firms make up 49%. A total of 543 exhibitors are making their debut this year.
Besides programme-regulars like the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award and Global Food Dialogues, new features include the AgriTech Forum, the Agricultural Investment Exhibition, and the launch of the Protein Alternative (PALT) initiative.
Ahmad Shaker, CEO of Capital 360 & Events, said this year’s edition is “exceptional by every measure”, citing larger space, new programme, and higher exhibitor numbers.
“We’re launching new agricultural cloud products, in addition to the first Agricultural Investment Exhibition. We also have an initiative on alternative proteins, plus a large number of side events throughout the week,” he added, speaking to Aletihad.
The three-day programme is also set to welcome more than 400 global buyers under a Hosted Buyers Programme, aiming to drive international partnerships and commercial agreements.
The previous edition saw Dh6.2 billion in signed deals, and organisers say they expect similar, if not higher, outcomes this time around.
Badr Hassan Al Shehhi, Director of Communication and Community Engagement Division at ADAFSA, said the authority will use the platform to connect local and international stakeholders and to spotlight practical tools the UAE food system can adopt.
“Our participation will be extensive this year. We will launch several initiatives and projects in artificial intelligence and training, as well as new techniques in the honey sector - alongside programmes such as visual monitoring and smart inspection, and a new ‘Golden Food Product List’ for food establishments,” he told Aletihad.
Al Shehhi noted that ADAFSA will “sign MoUs with local and international entities to develop the food security ecosystem,” and host forums and dialogues to position the event “as the main platform for agriculture and food security — locally, regionally, and globally”.
He added that for the Authority, the focus this year is first-time local farmer participation, with an emphasis on technologies they can implement on their farms.
Dr Mohammed Albreiki, Reference Laboratory Section Head at ADAFSA, described the programme as a venue to address food security challenges, advance strategic partnerships and showcase agritech innovation. This edition has registered a 9% increase in brands and an 11% increase in participating countries compared to last year, he added.
Organised by ADNEC Group in partnership with ADAFSA, this year’s edition will run alongside the 4th Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition and the 11th Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition.
Dr Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Secretary-General of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with Erth Zayed Philanthropies Foundation, said the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition has grown into a meeting point for leading producers, exporters and innovators.
“This 11th session features distinguished participation from 17 date-producing and processing countries, with 90 booths - an elite group of leading producers, exporters, and innovators,” he told Aletihad.
He said that, since 2007, the Award has “supported innovation and promoted the best scientific practices” in date cultivation and food security through partnerships with ADAFSA and ADNEC.
The UAE’s leadership vision, Dr Zaid added, has “enabled the Award to expand its impact and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for agricultural innovation, food security, and date trade”.
