Your Guide to Farming

23 July 2020, 17:00
Online

Overview

Food security and self-sufficiency are at the top of the UAE government’s agenda. A wide range of measures, policies and strategies are implemented to support and scale up domestic agricultural production.
However, there should also be a greater involvement of private-sector companies, civil society organizations and the general public to enhance long-term food security and self-sufficiency.
Every member of society can contribute to their own food self-sufficiency and healthy nutrition, but also to that of others. There are many ways to do that from reducing waste to growing food at home.
It is therefore important to promote an appreciation and awareness of farming and responsible consumption and production in local conditions, as well as share knowledge about smart approaches to growing food.
This is the idea behind a webinar organized by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and Gracia Group.
The webinar aims to serve as a platform for sharing expertise and knowledge and providing guidance on the challenges and opportunities for farming in the UAE.

Objective

Although farming is often challenging and resource-intensive under local conditions, there are a wide range of solutions and technologies which make it possible to grow food in the country and are well within reach of everyone who is interested to take up farming. To foster a farming culture and spirit in the country, it is important to raise awareness about these solutions and technologies, share expertise and knowledge with different stakeholders from farmers to consumers and encourage broader community engagement.
The webinar aims to address this need and serve as a platform for sharing expertise and knowledge on how to farm in local conditions, what technologies and crops exist to produce food in the country and elsewhere and how everyone in the community can contribute to ensuring food security and healthy nutrition.
It will also share tips on how school and university students, families, senior citizens and residents can make the most of free spaces at their schools, universities and homes to grow food.
The webinar will help to find answers to various questions related to farming, food production and food security in the UAE.

Guest of Honor
H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri
H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri

Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE

Moderator
Mr. Hamed Al Hamed, Founder and CEO, Gracia Group, UAE
Speakers
Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General, ICBA
Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General, ICBA

Dr. Ismahane Elouafi is Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

She is internationally known as a strong advocate of alternative approaches to food and nutrition security in marginal environments, including use of neglected and underutilized crops, and non-fresh water resources in agriculture.

She has around two decades of experience in agricultural research and development in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

She is a recipient of several prestigious awards and accolades, including the National Reward Medal by His Majesty Mohamed VI, the King of Morocco (2014), and the Excellence in Science Award from the Global Thinkers Forum (2014).

Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi

Acting Director General, ICBA

Dr. Khalil Ammar
Dr. Khalil Ammar

Program Leader on Sustainable Natural Resources Management, ICBA, UAE

Dr. Ahmed H. El-Naggar
Dr. Ahmed H. El-Naggar

Soil Management Scientist, ICBA, UAE

Dr. Henda Mahmoudi

Plant Physiologist, ICBA

Dr. Ehsan Almaysari, Wam Media, UAE
Mr. Hamed Al Hamed, Founder and CEO, Gracia Group, UAE
Agenda

Moderator: Mr. Hamed Al Hamed, Founder and CEO, Gracia Group, UAE

17:05-17:10 Opening remarks - H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of State for Food and Water Security, UAE
17:10-17:15 Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General, ICBA, UAE
17:15-17:20 Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Deputy Director General, ICBA, UAE
17:20-17:25 Dr. Khalil Ammar, Program Leader, Sustainable Natural Resources Management, ICBA, UAE
17:25-17:30 Dr. Ahmed H. El-Naggar, Soil Management Scientist, ICBA, UAE
17:30-17:35 Dr. Henda Mahmoudi, Plant Physiologist, ICBA, UAE
17:35-17:40 Dr. Ehsan Almaysari, Wam Media, UAE
17:40-18:25 Q&A session
18:25-18:30 Concluding remarks - Mr. Hamed Al Hamed, Founder and CEO, Gracia Group, UAE