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 Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Global Food Week is set to take place from October 21 to 23 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event will host local and international participants, including decision-makers, experts, and leading companies in the food sector.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event is organised by the ADNEC Group in collaboration with ADAFSA, the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. The event's key themes include food innovation, agricultural technologies, supply and distribution chains, sustainability, healthy nutrition, and regulatory policies. The strategic partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reinforces the event's focus on food security and agricultural sustainability.
FAO, a significant contributor to global discussions on food challenges, will participate with a high-level delegation. This collaboration underscores Abu Dhabi's role as a global hub for dialogue and joint action, reflecting the UAE's commitment to international cooperation in tackling food security challenges.
Ahmad Shaker, CEO of Capital 360 and Events, part of the ADNEC Group, highlighted that the event aligns with ADNEC Group's strategy to support national initiatives for agricultural sustainability and innovation. This year's edition shows record growth, with exhibition space increasing by 15% to 33,542 square metres, and the number of exhibitors rising by 9% to 2,070. The number of participating countries has increased to 75, marking an 11% growth.
Badr Al Shehhi from ADAFSA noted that this edition of Global Food Week signifies a qualitative leap in specialised events, reflecting Abu Dhabi's commitment to food security and agricultural innovation. The event features the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition, the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition, and new initiatives like Global Food Talks and the Agricultural Investment Forum.
Dr Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid from the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation stated that the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition will see participation from 20 countries, showcasing Abu Dhabi as a global platform in the palm cultivation and date industry sector.
Ahmed Al Obaidli from ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi emphasized the centre's readiness to host such a significant event, highlighting its capacity for indoor, outdoor, and marine exhibitions, powered entirely by clean energy.
Fatima Al Dhaheri from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office announced the launch of the Protein Alternatives initiative, which aims to connect investors with innovators in sustainable food production. This initiative is a pioneering effort in the region to address global food security and sustainability challenges.
The three-day Global Food Week will feature panel discussions, exhibitions, interactive workshops, and business forums, aiming to connect investors and innovators with commercial opportunities.