Under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the third edition of Agriscape, the international exhibition dedicated to food security and agricultural investments abroad is set to kick off tomorrow (Monday) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Held in strategic partnership with ADAFSA, the invitation-only event is set to convene several high-level decision makers including the foreign ministers of South Africa and Ecuador, as well as agriculture investors. Set to showcase AED10 billion worth of agri-land and agri-assets in 22 countries, the two-day event will draw the participation of 50 exhibitors and 300 visiting investors from 37 countries, along with the national pavilions of countries including South Africa, Serbia, Moldova, Belarus, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In addition to one-on-one meetings, workshops and networking opportunities, Agriscape 2019 will debut the AgTech Area, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Investment Office and showcasing 15 agricultural innovations in the idea or concept phase with the aim of helping innovators find investors to commercialize the products. These innovations offer solutions within a broad range of farming and agricultural production domains including intelligent horticulture platform, lighting for indoor farming powered by laser technology, indoor and vertical farming solutions, monitoring water usage, precision irrigation solution, crop analysis using drone and satellite imagery, soil steaming systems, animal nutrition and 3D camera technology to estimate cattle weight. Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA, said: "Agri-food investment is an essential tool for enhancing nations' food security and strengthening the stability of food supply chains. The strong participation of leading international agribusinesses and key decision makers in Agriscape 2019 makes it an ideal platform to discuss investment opportunities available within the region and beyond." Al Ameri added: "As the UAE's population growth continues to drive demand for food, ensuring food availability for all has become a strategic priority for the government. Events such as Agriscape contribute to improving our preparedness to address this challenge through identifying the most promising investment prospects worldwide." Khadim Al Derhi, Deputy Chairman, Al Dahra, said: "Our participation as Headline Sponsor in Agriscape aligns with Al Dhahra's efforts to support national food security through building partnerships with key industry stakeholders. The event will go a long way in promoting sustainable food production through tapping into the unutilised potential of agriculture in the light of global climate change. For his part, Salvatore Lavallo, Sector Enablement Manager, Abu Dhabi Investment Office said: "The increasing prominence of Agriscape highlights Abu Dhabi's commitment to agriculture. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office is pleased to partner with organisers to dedicate a new section of the show ‘AgTech'. We are committed to innovation and our AgTech incentive programme is helping companies establish, innovate and grow in the emirate of Abu Dhabi." Agriscape 2019 has signed on Abu Dhabi Ports as Host Sponsor, Al Dahra as Headline Sponsor and National Feed as Registration Sponsor. Since its inaugural edition in 2017, Agriscape has become a firm fixture on the calendars of farmland investors, as it offers a comprehensive overview of the latest global trends in agriculture investment. In 2018, the event drew the participation of 53 exhibitors associated with agri-land and other agri-assets in more than 50 countries. The exhibition also attracted 277 investors, including 95 hosted buyers from all over the world. — SG
