Two major trade events – AGRA Middle East, the region’s largest agriculture business trade event, and VET Middle East, with a focus on the animal healthcare sector – opened today (April 2) in Dubai.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general, Dubai Municipality, officially inaugurated the specialist agribusiness and veterinary trade events, which will run for three days at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

AGRA Middle East is hosting more than 180 international manufacturers and suppliers of agribusiness equipment from 30 countries looking to showcase their products.

The exhibition features the one-day Agribusiness Outlook Forum, where a panel of international experts from leading agricultural organisations and local leaders will discuss the development of an integrated food policy in the GCC region, which currently imports 90 per cent of all its food needs.

Shameer Babu, business head of Greenmart, the leading agribusiness group in Oman, and one of the speakers on the opening conference session, called for regional collaboration from countries in the Middle East to tackle food security issues, citing technical research and government intervention as the best way forward in producing nutritious food at affordable prices.

“Regional associations and alliances need to be formed across countries in the Middle East to exploit agricultural potential of each country and produce a particular crop while maintaining a symbiotic trade relationship between member countries,” said Babu.

“The world population is estimated to increase by 1.8 billion people by 2030 and food production at the current pace will not suffice the extra mouths.  The challenge is to produce foodstuffs in a sustainable manner by maximising usage of available resources.”

“Effective research on producing ‘more crop per drop’ has to be carried out and effective steps need to be taken to ensure judicious use of scarce resources at farms,” he added.

Running alongside AGRA Middle East is the fourth edition of VET Middle East, providing a dedicated platform for exhibitors to expand their presence in the region’s growing veterinary industry.

Returning this year is the popular Veterinary Outlook Forum, where speakers will be busy addressing delegates on a diverse range of topics from the intelligent use of herbs in animal husbandry; falconry and veterinary medicines in the Middle East; and research on camel milk and its potential for export conditions.

Delegates will also get a rare insight into terrestrial animals in the UAE, by Dr Reza Khan, Wildlife and Zoo management specialist from Dubai Zoo.  Underlining the natural history of the UAE, he will cover coastal, sand desert and hilly terrain animal habitats and provide information on specific species native to the emirates.

“The Veterinary Outlook Forum is the perfect platform to share my views and ideas on terrestrial animals, as this is the meeting point for the region’s policy makers, technocrats and leaders from veterinary laboratories and institutions to discuss latest developments in the veterinary industry,” Dr Khan said.

Richard Pavitt, exhibition director of AGRA Middle East, and VET Middle East, said: “The 2012 editions of AGRA Middle East and VET Middle East promise to be the largest yet, as exhibitor and visitor interest remains strong from all sectors covered.”

“The exhibition will be buzzing as leading manufacturers and suppliers of agricultural and veterinary equipments take centre stage to showcase the latest agribusiness and veterinary products to importers, buyers and government officials from across the Middle East, while the two conferences present a unique platform for regional leaders and experts to debate crucial issues in food security and veterinary medicine distinctive to this region,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service