AGRA Middle East, VET Middle East inaugurated by H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health 27.03.2013: Region’s largest agriculture, veterinary trade events open in Dubai featuring inaugural AGRAme Awards

Region’s largest agriculture, veterinary trade events open in Dubai featuring inaugural AGRAme Awards and four industry conferences


His Excellency Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health has officially inaugurated AGRA Middle East and VET Middle East today, the region’s specialist agribusiness and veterinary trade events.




photo caption:  His Excellency Abdul Rahman Al Owais, the UAE Minister of Health has officially inaugurated AGRA Middle East and VET Middle East today in Dubai.


Taking place until 28 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, AGRA Middle East is the region’s largest agriculture business trade event, further reinforced by a remarkable 20 per cent year-on-year growth in 2013.


The three-day event is hosting more than 200 agriculture, poultry, fishing, and horticulture businesses from 30 countries, with the seventh edition also featuring the inaugural AGRAme Awards at a lavish gala dinner ceremony tonight.


Eighteen finalists from more than 50 entries will contest for top honours among five separate categories, including the Best new Agriculture product for the Gulf Market; the Best new Landscaping Product for the Gulf Market; the Best new Poultry product for the Gulf Market; the Farm Innovation Award for Agriculture; and the Farm Innovation Award for Poultry.


Meanwhile, agriculture, horticulture, and poultry experts from around the world will share centre-stage at three dedicated industry conferences at AGRA Middle East – the Agribusiness Outlook Forum and the and the inaugural Middle East Horticultural Summit today (26 March),  and the Poultry Outlook Forum on Thursday 28 March.


With the value of GCC food imports expected to reach US$53.1 billion by 2020 – more than double the value in 2010 – ensuring food security remains a top priority for regional governments, and is the central theme of the Agribusiness Outlook Forum.


Brian Barriskill, Supply Chain Director of Abu Dhabi based Aldahra Agriculture, and one of the speakers at the one-day forum today said that GCC regional co-ordination must improve to advance food security, while increasing local food production using the latest technology such as hydroponics and green waste recycling can also help overcome the challenges the region faces.


“GCC governments must have a common policy regarding food security, and they must share resources and projects,” said Barriskill. “With a collaborative approach, food production will reach international standards in terms of yields, and sustainable agriculture of basic products will encourage food production companies to set up plants in the region, which will reduce imported food.


“We use the latest technologies at Aldahra that increase local food production such as water preserving on fruit and vegetables, and improving animal breeding programmes to increase herds. Developments such as these will make agriculture a commercial viability and not a subsidy driven business, and there is an opportunity for the region to be a world leader in arid farming techniques.”


While AGRA Middle East will be buzzing with thousands of visitors over the next three days, its co-located event, VET Middle East is also the largest it has ever been, with more than 50 of the world's leading names from the veterinary and pet supplies industry out in force.


Now in its fifth edition, VET Middle East highlights the increasingly dynamic animal healthcare sector, providing a dedicated platform for exhibitors to expand their presence in the region’s growing veterinary industry.




Held alongside the three-day show is tomorrow’s (Wednesday 27 March) free-to-attend Veterinary Outlook Forum, presenting the latest technologies, equipment, medicines, and other products and services available in the growing Middle East veterinary market.


Speakers include Majid Al Qassimi, Veterinarian for the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi; Stephen Chege, Senior Veterinarian for the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort; and James Messina, Vice President of Messina Wildlife Management.


Held under the patronage of His Excellency Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment & Water, AGRA Middle East and VET Middle East are expected to attract upwards of 7,000 agribusiness and veterinary professionals from across the region. Opening hours for the two events are from 10:00am – 6:00pm daily. For more information visit: www.agramiddleeast.com, or www.vetmiddleeast.com.




- Lindsay Johnston, Total Communications Dubai - also photo