Food and beverages company Agthia Group has launched a digital platform for buying and selling of dates, a major agricultural crop produced in the UAE. 

The business to business online auction space, called eZad, is designed to connect small and big farmers to bulk buyers worldwide.  

Farmers can list their produce for auction through the platform, while buyers in turn can search for listings to acquire, thereby providing a simplified and cost-effective solution across the value chain. 

“The eZad platform has been created to bring transparency, convenience and standardisation to the dates industry, through the technology and services we provide,” said Alan Smith, CEO of Agthia Group. 

“Our goal is to link small and big farmers directly to bulk date buyers via a single, simple and innovative platform. By creating this direct link, previously hidden margins, as well as travel expenses, would be eliminated thereby offering a cost-effective solution to buyers.” 

Initially, the dates to be auctioned off will be sourced from farmers in the UAE, but there are plans to expand the coverage to other countries. 

How it works 

The online platform will source dates from farmers and begin listing around August, the start of the harvest season.  

Farmers will then list their dates for auction and go through a trustworthy certification system that grades dates under reliable market standards. 

The listing will be made available to buyers around the world for 48 hours.  

Buyers can then search for their preferred products and after making a purchase, the items can be collected from one of eZad’s warehouses.  

Buyers also have the option to have the products stored, packed and delivered to locations worldwide. 

(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria) 

Cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com 

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