Abu Dhabi gears up to host Second Edition of Agriscape from 29 to 30 October 2018

Event to host ministers of UAE, Brazil, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The second edition of Agriscape, the international exhibition dedicated to agricultural investments abroad, will run from 29 to 30 October 2018 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, event organiser Food Security Center Abu Dhabi (FSCAD) announced today at a press conference.

Set to be held at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, the exclusive, by-invitation-only event will convene 53 exhibitors associated with agri-land and other agri-assets in more than 50 countries. The exhibition will draw the participation of 300 visitors including 100 hosted buyers from all over the world, making it one of the biggest global gatherings of agri-investors.

Agriscape 2018 will feature twelve country pavilions, up from four pavilions in 2017. Saudi Arabia will have an unprecedented visiting of leading Saudi companies operating in the farmland and agri-food investment domains.

Furthermore, the event will host four ministers from the UAE, Uganda, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Minister of Agriculture in Brazil and the Minister of Industry in DRC will lead the workshops of their respective countries during the exhibition.

The agenda will include the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) related to food security – between the UAE and Uganda, and between the UAE Ministry of Food Security and Al Dahra Agriculture, headline sponsor of Agriscape as part of the ministry’s efforts to implement national programs aimed at enhancing food security within five strategic directions set by the MoU.

Her Excellency Mariam Bint Hareb Al Muhairi, the UAE’s Minister of State for Future Food Security, said: “Food security and sustainability are among the top priorities for the UAE government. In this context, the government is keen to facilitate multilateral cooperation with like-minded countries as well as via public-private partnerships. I am confident that Agriscape 2018 will enable its participants to leverage promising investment opportunities in agribusiness through offering an ideal platform to connect with decision makers and industry leaders. Furthermore, the event will go a long way in promoting the strategic role played by the UAE through developing state-of-the-art infrastructure that facilitates food trade and investment.”

His Excellency Khalifa Al Ali, CEO of FSCAD, said: “Following the great success of its inaugural edition, we are proud to announce the second edition of Agriscape that aims to provide companies seeking to invest in the farmland sector abroad with a comprehensive overview of current and future global trends in agriculture. This landmark event reinforces Abu Dhabi’s priority in ensuring the availability and sustainability of food supply under all circumstances in collaboration with key stakeholders in this sector.”

He added: "Since its inception in December 2015, the Food Security Alliance has become one of the key pillars of achieving and enhancing the UAE’s national food security. The continued agricultural investments made by UAE-based private companies abroad enhance the county’s economic diversification drive and support its food security, one of the top priorities of the government to achieve social welfare for the country’s growing population.”

“The presence of more than 300 investors from around the world at Agriscape 2018 will make this event an important platform for facilitating real investment opportunities in this vital sector, while reinforcing the status of the UAE in general and Abu Dhabi in particular as a key hub for important stakeholders in food security. At FSCAD, we are committed to providing all sort of support for our investors looking to invest in farmland sector abroad as part of our strategy to ensure the sustainability and stability of the supply chains of strategic food commodities.

With hosted buyers representing one-third of all visitors, Agriscape 2018 will guarantee a strong presence of decision makers from across the spectrum of farmland investment and food and agri-processing sectors, allowing the attendees to generate new business leads and forge strategic alliances,” Al Ali added.

Abdullah Al Qubeisi, Deputy Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The UAE’s wise leadership has directed to include food security as key priority within the government's agenda as investment in agriculture and food industries abroad serves as an enabler for enhancing food security. Towards this end, we need to allocate further investments that enhance the efficiency of agricultural production and achieve self-sufficiency for the UAE, while placing the country among the top exporters and re-exporters of agricultural products regionally.”

Al Qubaisi added: “To boost the UAE’s agricultural investments abroad, it is imperative to step up collaboration between public and private sectors. In this regard, the chambers of commerce in the country plays a crucial role in supporting investors and businessmen as well as helping them overcome various challenges facing food and agri investment abroad.”

Agriscape 2018 is hosted by ADFSA, a consortium of government institutions and private sector companies that aims to foster partnerships to achieve sustainable food security. In addition to FSCAD, the event is supported by Al Dahra Agriculture as the Headline Sponsor, Abu Dhabi Ports as the Gold Sponsor, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

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© Press Release 2018