Alternative agricultural strategies and technologies that can provide better and sustainable solutions to the region’s growing food demand will be the focus for an upcoming agribusiness trade event in Dubai.

AGRA Middle East will run from March 29 to 31 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Middle Eastern governments are showing a greater preference for new agricultural models that minimize water use, pesticide application, and environmental degradation, a statement said.

Although the region is hard-pressed to ease its 90 per cent dependence on foreign sources of food, it is also recognizing the importance of adopting holistic solutions to its food dilemma, it added.

Organised by IIR Middle East, the event will gather local, regional and international manufacturers, suppliers and exporters to display and discuss possible solutions to the region’s present and future food security and water resource challenges.

“Traditional agricultural concepts will not be able to keep up with the numerous food-related problems faced by the Middle East, which are caused by multiple factors such as a burgeoning population, limited agricultural resources, and restricted water supplies,” said Goutam Malhotra, exhibition manager, AGRA Middle East 2011.

“Out-of-the-box approaches are needed to come up with more feasible and long-term solutions. AGRA Middle East is an important platform for unveiling and discussing equipment, services and expertise that can meet this need,” he added.

AGRA Middle East 2011 will feature the latest advances in agriculture and irrigation, animal husbandry and poultry farming, fisheries and aquaculture, floriculture and horticulture and agricultural machinery.

Over 4,000 regional buyers, dealers and distributors are expected to attend this year’s event, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service