A shortlist of 18 agricultural projects will take centre stage as they contend to win the inaugural AGRAme Awards, featured alongside the seventh edition of AGRA Middle East opening in Dubai tomorrow.

The Middle East’s largest agribusiness and veterinary trade event will run until March 28 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The winning projects will be celebrated at an elaborate Awards Gala Dinner attended by 600 of the region’s leading agricultural professionals tomorrow.

The shortlist includes new products and projects in agriculture, poultry and landscaping from UAE, India, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Iceland, Netherlands and UK, emphasizing the event’s international appeal.

Major names including Advanced Machinery Company – AIMCO, IFFCO, Gulf Feed Co and Livestock Export Association of the USA will be taking part in the three day event.

Among the UAE shortlisted entries in the AGRAme Awards include the Growing For Market Initiative by Abu Dhabi Farmer’s Service Centre in the Farm Innovation category, as well as Poritex by Globcom General Trading in the Best New Product for Gulf Market category.

Other turn key projects from international finalists include the ECO Design Series by Munters from Sweden in four categories including Farm Innovation in Poultry and Agriculture, and Best New Agricultural and Poultry Product for the Gulf Market categories.

Richard Pavitt, exhibition director for AGRA Middle East, said: “The AGRAme Awards will help international companies to grow their businesses in the Middle East by providing a platform to engage in dialogue with potential partners.”

“The 2013 edition of AGRA Middle East is the largest so far featuring more than 200 exhibitors from over 30 countries. The increase in exhibitor space clearly shows UAE as the ideal place to showcase the latest in agricultural technology.”

Held under the patronage of Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment & Water, AGRA Middle East is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Al Dahra agriculture and partnered with VET Middle East, the leading event for the burgeoning veterinary industry in the region.

The two exhibitions feature four dedicated industry conferences, the Agribusiness Outlook Forum, The Middle East Horticultural Summit, the Poultry Outlook Forum and the Veterinary Outlook Forum, bringing together a combined 42 senior agriculture and vet professionals exploring opportunities and solutions to key challenges affecting the industries today. – TradeArabia News Service