Today's Edition
SARA AL ZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Winners of this year's Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation stood out for their work that connects research, innovation, and real-world impact. For them, there's more to farming than growing and harvesting - it is about rethinking practices, applying new ideas, and making a difference.
Gumasha Saif Buti Al Mazrui's Al Alia Farm won in the the Distinguished Producers, Manufacturers and Marketers Category for its system that combines cultivation, processing, and market engagement.
Al Mazrui said they are not only productive farmers - but "successful and distinguished marketers and producers" tending to a fully integrated farm.
"All types of dates are available with us. We also have a dates factory," she told Aletihad, underlining the role of value-added production in strengthening local supply chains.
Eco-Friendly Graphite
From a scientific perspective, Dr Tae Yeon Kim highlighted the wonders that can be done and the innovative materials that can be produced when engineering is integrated in agriculture.
Dr Kim, from the Khalifa University of Science and Technology, won the award's Distinguished Innovative Studies and Modern Technology Category for his research on "bio-derived sustainable graphene alternative".
His study presented a cost-effective and sustainable alternative for graphite.
"Obtaining graphite from the date syrup is really cheaper than traditional graphite," he said.
"This is really sustainable and innovative, eventually applied to concrete material," Dr Kim said.
New Emirati Date Palm Varieties
Meanwhile, Ali Mustafa Mohammed Al Ali of Green Coast Nurseries reflected on more than three decades of work in date palm cultivation, which has led to the development of varieties that have brought pride to the UAE.
"We produced new Emirati date palms that are globally accepted," Al Ali said, underscoring the international reach of locally developed varieties.
He added that "the new palms ripen about one and a half to two months earlier," offering a practical solution for markets affected by seasonal conditions, and emphasised that "the award encourages us to keep trying and producing more".
Green Coast Nurseries was recognised under the Pioneering Development and Productive Projects category.
A Smart Urban Oasis
Dr Shadi Hamadeh spoke on behalf of the American University of Beirut, which won the award for the second time. The university's Smart Urban Oasis project was honoured this year in the Pioneering and Sophisticated Innovations Serving the Agricultural Sector Category.
"We established the urban oasis based on the first award in 2019, before expanding it into a larger initiative," Dr Hamadeh said.
Looking ahead, he said, "the award will enable us to transform the oasis into a smart urban oasis using artificial intelligence, positioning it as a climate monitoring hub".
Inspiring the Next Generation
From the research side, Dr Salim Al-Babili emphasised the importance of scientific innovation in agriculture as he reflected on his win in the Pioneering and Sophisticated Innovations Serving the Agricultural Sector Category.
"My research is about developing growth stimulants that increase crop productivity and reduce fertiliser use," said the expert from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.
For him, the award is larger than personal recognition-it represents a platform for inspiring future generations and advancing agricultural innovation.
"It encourages young people to move towards agricultural research," Dr Al-Babili said, stressing that food security remains fundamental for societies worldwide.
'Date Seeds Are Treasure'
Dr Fawzi Ahmed Banat from the Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi highlighted the value of date byproducts, explaining that "date seeds are a treasure, they contain compounds people would not expect".
His team developed applications such as date seed milk, kombucha, fibre extraction, and even ice cream, demonstrating how waste can be transformed into high-value food products.
"We focused on using these valuable compounds in food," he said. Their zero-waste innovation won in the Distinguished Innovative Studies and Modern Technology Category.
Influential Figures
Dr Amgad Ahmed Mohamed El Kady from the Arab Republic of Egypt was named Influential Figure in the Field of Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Category.
Dr El Kady highlighted that in the global date sector, long-term cooperation matters: "This collaboration extended to rehabilitating date factories, establishing cold storage facilities, and supporting farmers with organic certification," he said.
Dr Theib Yusef Theib Oweis from Kingdom of Jordan was another influential figure honoured at the event. He emphasised the link between water and food security. Dr Oweis won for his work in agricultural water management in dry and semi-arid regions.
"The award plays a big role in motivating researchers and innovators," he said.
