OAC Dean lent expertise to “Future of Agri-Tech” forum

The “Future of Agri-Tech” in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the potential for Canadian collaboration was the focus of a two-day virtual forum hosted by the Canada Arab Business Council in June.  

The forum brought together agri-food and technology experts from Canada and the UAE. OAC Dean Rene Van Acker sat on a panel to discuss agri-tech research and education. Additional panelists included Dr. Charbel Tarraf from the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Dr. Gil Ha Yoon from Sultan Qaboos University and Dr. Alex Melnitchouck from Olds College.

The Canada Arab Business Council (CABC) is Canada’s only not-for-profit association focused exclusively on promoting trade and investment between Canada and the Arab world. 

“There is a global interest in the growth potential of the agri-food sector and especially in the role of new digital and data technology in this growth,” says Van Acker. “We are excited by the opportunity the CABC has created for us to explore partnerships within the UAE and the broader region to work together to help the sector to grow.”

The UAE recently launched a Food Tech Valley, where clean high-tech meets global food demands. Their goal is to integrate a modern city with food and agricultural innovation to support sustainable food production and to provide answers to global food challenges. 

“Food Tech Valley will help us achieve our National Food Security Strategy objectives,” says His Excellency Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, ambassador of the UAE.  “This strategy not only aims to secure our food sustainability, but also includes providing access to safe, nutritious and sufficient year-round food, throughout the world.”

“We welcome Canadian food industry experts, entrepreneurs, researchers and academics to help us advance our research and development agenda to produce cultivated foods - alternative and lab produced foods, contribute research proposals, and new ideas in this field,” says Al Raqbani.

Starting this October, the UAE will host the World’s Fair - where Canada will join more than 190 other participating countries to showcase Canadian business and investment, research, academic and cultural sectors.

“We look forward to the partnerships we will develop in the UAE and what we will be able to do together,” says Van Acker.

The forum can be viewed on the Canada Arab Business Council website here.

Read Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani's article on the UAE’s New Agricultural Smart City here.