EuroTier, the world's leading trade show for animal husbandry and livestock management, has announced the launch of its inaugural exhibition in the Middle East. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, the event will be a first-of-its-kind gathering for farmers, farm owners, livestock managers and agriculturists in the region, featuring animal breeding contests and live auctions of foreign breeds alongside an extensive hosted buyer program, formal workshops and panel discussions. Scheduled to run on Sept. 2-4, 2019 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), EuroTier Middle East will bring together over 120 exhibitors from 16 countries. This will mark the first time that a sheep and goat breeding contest is conducted during the course of a formal exhibition, along with live bidding and auctions for foreign cattle breeds. Saudi Arabia will be the country of honor at the event. Visitors to EuroTier Middle East can avail significant discounts on the products displayed and receive comprehensive insight into the latest innovations in the farming and agriculture industries by attending live demos of equipment by several leading exhibitors. The animal breeding contest will be held across several categories including meat quality and milk production for Nuami, Najdi and Persian Somali sheep, and Boer, Ardi, Salali and Rahbi goats. The expo will also feature farm inputs and implements, including feeds, ingredients, veterinary products, crushers, mixers and pelleters. In addition, experts at the event will address a diverse range of topics – from breeding programmes and transport services, to climate technology and livestock environmental protection – through a range of conferences, panel discussions and workshops. Highlighting the relevance of the exhibition, Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority, strategic partner of Eurotier Middle East, said: "In a region where the effects of climate change and rising temperatures can be felt more acutely than others, the launch of EuroTier Middle East is welcome news. With global weather patterns becoming increasingly harsh and unpredictable, it is important for our local farming and agriculture communities to innovate and develop their agricultural and livestock-rearing practices in order to maintain current levels of food production and self-reliance, while investing in safe, sustainable technologies that ensure food security for the future generations of Abu Dhabi." He added: By targeting farmers and animal breeders directly, I am confident that EuroTier Middle East will contribute to the food security of the region through creating a platform that translates into increased productivity for our local agriculture and food production communities as well as increasing and enhancing animal production." Fadi Saad, Managing Director of Multibridge Event Management and organizing partner of EuroTier Middle East, said: "As the world's leading trade show for agriculture and animal farming, EuroTier packs a gold-standard mix of technological innovation, industry expertise, and international best practice in its events and exhibitions across the world. We are pleased to support its first venture into the Middle East and look forward to seeing it evolving to the largest gathering of farmers in the region through bringing together the farming industry's leading names." The launch of the event is timely and follows the announcement of several state-backed investments in Abu Dhabi's agriculture technology (AgTech) firms over the recent months valued at AED1 billion ($272 million). These investments, which include incentives by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), are expected to establish the emirate as a hub for desert agricultural innovation, generate over AED1.6 billion ($450 million) in gross domestic product, and create nearly 2,900 jobs by 2021. — SG
