ABU DHABI,28th November, 2024 (WAM) – The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) announced the signing of four strategic agreements to enhance collaboration with its partners during the Global Food Week, held at ADNEC Abu Dhabi from 26 to 28 November.
The first agreement, signed with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), aims to regulate veterinary quarantine operations for live animals at Khalifa Port – KIZAD, Abu Dhabi.
The agreement was formalised by Mohammed Saeed Sultan Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary at MOCCAE, and Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA.
It establishes a framework to strengthen biosecurity, ensuring the health and safety of imported and exported live animal consignments via Abu Dhabi. It also aims to establish a regulatory framework that enhances cooperation between the two parties in conducting the necessary laboratory tests, ensuring compliance with animal health requirements, and implementing quarantine procedures at the veterinary quarantine station at Khalifa Port – KIZAD. In addition, the agreement seeks to achieve electronic linkage between service systems to facilitate operations and ensure integration, in addition to enhancing joint efforts to combat animal diseases and protect public health.
This agreement represents a strategic step towards achieving the national goals in the field of food security and biosecurity, in line with the UAE's vision to ensure the safety and sustainability of the agricultural and livestock sector. The agreement, valid for three years with renewal options, highlights areas such as inspection of consignments, management of non-compliant shipments, and external parasite control.
In a significant move to develop the poultry sector and enhance food security, ADAFSA signed a cooperation agreement with the Emirates Association Of Poultry Breeders. The agreement was formalised by Sheikh Hamad bin Khadem bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the Association, and Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA. This partnership aims to establish a comprehensive framework for organising and advancing this vital sector.
The agreement outlines several initiatives to regulate and modernise poultry production in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Key provisions include collaboration on policies and regulations affecting the sector, fostering knowledge exchange among specialists, and supporting producers through structured contract farming agreements with large commercial farms. The agreement also seeks to create marketing opportunities for small-scale producers, enhance the sector’s capacity through joint seminars, workshops, and training programmes, and ensure regular updates to the poultry sector database. Additionally, it emphasises cooperation in research and development to improve the sector’s efficiency and sustainability.
To oversee the implementation of the agreement, a joint committee will be formed to coordinate efforts and monitor progress. The two parties will work together on developing joint marketing strategies for local poultry products, exploring new domestic and international markets, and streamlining procedures related to foreign trade. These initiatives aim to bolster the global competitiveness of Emirati poultry products and expand their presence in international markets.
In another milestone, ADAFSA signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) to develop conformity programmes for agricultural professions and improve workforce skills in this vital sector. The signing ceremony was attended by Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA and Abdulla Ahmed Al Yazeedi, Acting Secretary General of ADQCC.
The partnership aims at enhancing joint cooperation and integrating the roles of government agencies. It further seeks to prepare and adopt professional conformity programs for agricultural professions, including farm supervisors, livestock, poultry, and aquatic workers, in line with market requirements and the needs of the agricultural sector. The cooperation also includes developing awareness campaigns and training initiatives to improve worker efficiency and adherence to quality and safety standards. This agreement reflects a shared commitment to sustainable agricultural development in Abu Dhabi, advancing food security by enhancing services and adopting best practices across agricultural professions.
Finally, ADAFSA partnered with the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to address pressing challenges in the agricultural sector using cutting-edge technology. The partnership focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity by optimising the use of natural resources such as water and soil, improving crop quality, and introducing high-nutrition, disease-resistant crop varieties. Additionally, the partnership will explore sustainable agricultural practices that preserve the environment and reduce pollution, as well as develop a circular economy in the agricultural sector by recycling agricultural waste into useful materials such as fertilisers and biofuels.
Specific areas of cooperation between ADAFSA and TII include developing camel-derived antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic use, producing bio-proteins as alternative protein sources, optimising water and energy use in agriculture through smart farming. This is in addition to combating crop and animal diseases using biotechnology, developing environmentally friendly biopesticides to safeguard human health and environmental safety, and developing advanced greenhouses using insulation materials and eco-friendly cooling technologies. Furthermore, the partnership will focus on improving soil quality by adding organic materials and developing smart irrigation systems to ensure efficient water use.