Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award To Honour Winners Of Third Edition On 25th February

The Supreme Organising Committee has set 25th February for the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award ceremony. This event, at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, will honour winners of its third edition. Senior officials and key partners, who have supported the award, will attend. The ceremony celebrates farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms across various categories.

The award features four main categories with 13 sub-categories. The main categories include Best Plant Farm and Animal Farm Awards, covering open farms, greenhouses, fruit production, organic farms, productive livestock farms, small producers, beekeepers, and aquaculture breeders. The Commercial Farm Award recognises commercial plant and animal production farms.

Additionally, the Agricultural Innovation Award honours innovations in plant and animal sectors. The Outstanding Female Farmer and Breeder category empowers women with two sub-categories: Best Outstanding Female Farmer and Best Outstanding Female Livestock Breeder. A total prize pool of AED10 million is allocated across these categories.

During the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, over 400 winners will receive prizes worth AED4.4 million in accompanying competitions. These include five specialised festivals: Al Wathba Agricultural Festival, Food Festival, Livestock Festival, Honey Festival, and Flower Festival. Additionally, there are 87 competitions and seven livestock auctions held at the award’s pavilion.

The Organising Committee highlighted that the third edition saw significant participation since registration began on 11 September. A total of 451 entries were received across various categories. Specialised panels have completed judging and field visits to select finalists based on criteria and conditions.

Impact on UAE's Agricultural Sector

This award underscores collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the UAE's agricultural sector's sustainability for future generations. It aligns with the National Food Security Strategy 2051 by encouraging modern technologies and sustainable practices among farmers and breeders.

The first two editions attracted 676 participants from across the UAE. A total of 107 farmers and livestock breeders won prizes worth AED16.7 million combined. This demonstrates the award’s popularity and its role in promoting agricultural excellence nationwide.

The overwhelming participation reflects positive engagement with the award at a national level. It highlights leadership’s commitment to honouring outstanding farmers and breeders while encouraging innovation for sustainable development goals.

The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award fosters innovation to improve plant and animal agricultural products' quality. It enhances competitiveness within the sector while attracting younger generations to agriculture.

With inputs from WAM