Abu dhabi: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), 34 winners were honored in the fourth cycle of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award. This recognition was for their contributions to the development of the agricultural sector and strengthening the UAE's food security system.
According to Emirates News Agency, the ceremony took place at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and was attended by notable figures including Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture Club, and various ministers and senior officials. The event included an introductory film outlining the Award's objectives and its role in promoting agricultural innovation and sustainability.
Dr. Tariq Al Ameri, Acting Director-General of ADAFSA, expressed gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, acknowledging his vision in empowering vital sectors like agriculture. He highlighted the Award's role as a leading national platform for fostering excellence and noted the impressive number of submissions, with 476 for the main award and 3,395 in accompanying competitions. The evaluation was based on criteria such as resource efficiency and environmental commitment, recognizing winners who presented inspiring models in farm development.
Al Ameri emphasized the importance of strengthening national production amidst geopolitical challenges, congratulating the winners and participants for their roles in building a sustainable agricultural system. He reaffirmed ADAFSA's commitment to advancing the Award's role in agricultural sustainability.
Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA, expressed pride in the wide participation in the fourth cycle, reflecting growing national interest in agriculture. She praised the involvement of Emirati women and youth, highlighting their contributions to innovation and sustainability in agriculture.
The recognized winners included Rashid Salim Al Ketbi for the Best Open-Field Farm and Majid Mehair Al Ketbi for the Best Greenhouse Farm. Other notable winners included Ahmed Sultan Al Kaabi for Productive Farms and Khadija Darwish Al Qubaisi for Distinguished Female Farmer.
The ceremony also honored 13 government and private entities for their significant contributions to the Award's objectives and the agricultural sector's development.