Dubai:The National Agriculture Centre (NAC), as the Strategic Government Partner of Growtech Middle East 2026, played an instrumental role in supporting the exhibition and its associated events, held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 26 to 28 October 2026. This participation reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to advancing the UAE's agricultural sector and its 'Farmers First' principle, which guides its operations, initiatives, and partnerships.
According to Wam, the NAC signed five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with several key entities, including the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Club, Mahsool, ESG Farms Operations, SGS, Tathmeer Agricultural Technologies, and the National Agricultural Group. The agreements aim to strengthen partnerships across the agricultural sector and support farms through initiatives tailored to their needs.
Through its participation, the NAC sought to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, exploring the latest agricultural technologies and innovations. These efforts are directed towards translating emerging solutions into practical applications that address farmers' needs, encouraging the adoption of improved farming practices, and advancing sustainable agricultural development for the long-term growth of the UAE's agricultural sector.
During the exhibition, the Centre welcomed a group of local farmers and arranged guided tours of the exhibition's main sections, providing them the opportunity to discover the latest in global agricultural technologies and tools. This initiative aimed to support the adoption of improved agricultural practices, strengthen the local agricultural ecosystem, enhance agricultural and organic certification systems, and promote local products and more efficient supply chains.
Sultan Salem Al Shamsi, Director General of NAC, highlighted the Centre's commitment to cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the development of the agricultural ecosystem. He emphasized the importance of engaging with farmers, partners, and stakeholders to understand their needs, identify challenges and opportunities, and explore practical solutions aligned with the Centre's initiatives.
Al Shamsi also noted the Centre's strategy focuses on strengthening partnerships, advancing research, and leveraging modern technologies like artificial intelligence to conserve resources and improve efficiency, particularly water usage. By 2030, the NAC aims to have climate-smart solutions adopted by 30% of farms, contributing to sustainability and competitiveness while enhancing food security in the UAE.
The exhibition included a keynote address by Al Shamsi, emphasizing the role of farmers in food security, followed by an open panel discussion on increasing local production and crop diversity, strengthening competitiveness, and improving the quality of Emirati produce through UAE GAP standards.
The MoUs cover sustainable agricultural development, social impact, local innovation, certification, product marketing, supply chain development, and digital agricultural solutions. Joint efforts focus on advancing agricultural practices and promoting sector sustainability.
Growtech Middle East, formerly Agra Middle East, is the region's longest-running exhibition dedicated to agriculture, animal husbandry, and aquaculture, providing a platform for stakeholders to connect and explore industry developments.