Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Presidential Court, as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the second round of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award has been officially launched.
The award’s value has been significantly increased to AED 10 million, which will be distributed among participants in the main award categories, as well as participants in associated competitions within the “Sheikh Zayed Festival” in Al Wathba and various other festivals organized as part of the award.
The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award aims to promote and stimulate both plant and animal agriculture, while also recognizing outstanding farmers and livestock breeders in the UAE. The award aims to highlight their critical role in achieving agricultural sustainability, enhancing food security, and raising the quality of local production. Additionally, it fosters a spirit of positive competition among farmers and breeders.
The award underscores the UAE’s leadership in promoting sustainable agriculture and innovation and acknowledges the commitment of the Wise Leadership to honoring outstanding individuals in the field. It also reflects ADAFSA’s achievements in the realms of agricultural sustainability and food and biosecurity.
Dr. Mariam Hareb Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director-General for Operational Affairs and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Award, expressed her gratitude for the substantial increase in the award’s value, emphasizing that it reflects His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s dedication to encouraging and honoring outstanding farmers, commercial farms, and innovators in both plant and animal agriculture.
She highlighted the importance of promoting best agricultural practices and emphasized the vital role of the agriculture and livestock sector in the UAE’s sustainable development.
The second edition of the award introduces an increase in prize values and the addition of a new category. It features nine diverse festivals and 21 contests across 62 associated competitions.
The award is divided into four main categories, with eight sub-categories for distinguished farmers and breeders. These include awards for crop production-related sub-categories such as the Best Farm in Open Field Cultivation, Best Farm in Greenhouse Cultivation, Best Farm in Fruit Production, and Best Organic Farm. Similarly, awards for animal production-related sub-categories include Productive Farm, Small-Scale Producers, Beekeepers, and Aquatic Farms.
The Agricultural Innovation Category includes two awards for crop and animal production, while the Commercial Farms Category features two awards for commercial animal and crop production.
A new category has been introduced to recognize outstanding women in plant farming and livestock breeding. This category includes awards for the best distinguished female farmer and the best distinguished female livestock breeder, highlighting and supporting the role of women in the agricultural sector and their contributions to enhancing food security.
In addition to the primary award categories, this year’s edition includes various accompanying competitions, including the best product of dates, best manufacturing products from palm, best fruit basket of the house, best fig basket, and best Sidr fruits competitions. There will also be live cooking competitions, contests for the best animal and marine food processing, a competition for the best dairy product, livestock competitions, and an awareness and promotional competition. A competition has also been created for media institutions and social media influencers in the field of awareness and promotion of the agricultural sector in the UAE.
The award’s activities will be complemented by various festivals, including the Fig Festival, Almond Festival, Strawberry Festival, Sidr Festival, Corn Festival, Local Aquaculture Farms Products Festival (Our Farms Fish / Desert Fish), Traditional Food Festival for Productive Families, Agricultural Inputs Festival, and Dairy Products Festival – Factories Category, all organized within the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba.
The award’s registration will conclude on November 30th, followed by the technical and field evaluation phase. Qualified farms will be visited for evaluation according to the award’s criteria and conditions, established by a specialized technical committee of agriculture experts and technicians in both plant and animal agriculture, as well as agricultural innovation.
The finalists will be announced after the preliminary evaluation results are approved, and the award ceremony to honor the winners will take place in February 2024, with the participation of all contestants.