Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award Field Evaluation Starts Tomorrow

The field evaluation stage of the fourth cycle of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award begins following completion of the desk assessment phase, which reviewed all submissions against approved criteria and conditions. This next step moves the process from paperwork to on-site inspection, and is central to identifying the most effective agricultural models that support sustainable food security goals in the UAE.

During field evaluation, expert teams visit shortlisted farms and facilities in person. They check how declared agricultural practices are applied on the ground and confirm alignment with the Award’s standards. This on-site work aims to secure integrity, transparency, and accuracy when deciding the final winners across all main categories.

The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award is positioned as a national initiative that supports development of the UAE’s agricultural sector. It promotes a culture of excellence and innovation in plant and animal production. The Award encourages the use of global best practices and motivates farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms to improve performance and achieve long-term agricultural sustainability.

The current cycle has attracted 476 entries in the main categories, showing strong participation from farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms. This level of engagement highlights confidence in the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award and underlines the Award’s contribution to strengthening the UAE’s sustainable food security system and broader agricultural development efforts.

The registered entries are spread across four principal categories: Best Farm and Best Distinguished Smallholding, Agricultural Technologies Award, Commercial Farms Award, and the Distinguished Female Farmer and Breeder Award. These diverse categories reflect the inclusive design of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award and its intent to support all parts of the agricultural workforce while encouraging innovation and sustainability.

Across its first three cycles, the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award received 1,127 applications from different emirates, with 162 winners honoured. These figures indicate a growing impact on the national agricultural landscape, as more participants seek recognition for strong performance and sustainable practices across plant and animal production activities.

Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs and Chair of the Award’s Higher Committee, stated that the field evaluation phase represents a pivotal milestone in the Award’s journey, given its essential role in identifying the real impact of outstanding agricultural practices and verifying the effectiveness of innovative solutions applied to achieve agricultural sustainability and enhance sustainable food security.

Al Muhairi explained that evaluation teams use a detailed and structured approach during their work. The methodology balances innovation and production efficiency with compliance to environmental and economic sustainability benchmarks. She stressed that the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award treats evaluation criteria as tools for ongoing development, rather than simple comparison, which helps strengthen competitiveness within the UAE agricultural sector.

Al Muhairi added that the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award has developed into a national reference point for excellence and leadership in agriculture. The Award directs farmers and breeders towards international best practices, supports higher productivity in plant and animal sectors, and encourages adoption of agricultural technologies that can raise local output and help meet food security needs.

The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award also focuses on boosting production efficiency and improving the quality of local agricultural products. It encourages the use of modern technologies and innovative solutions that reduce consumption of natural resources, protect environmental systems, and maintain a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability, which directly serves national food security objectives.

Beyond recognition, the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award functions as a platform for learning and knowledge exchange. Participants gain professional and technical insights through detailed evaluation criteria and associated development programmes. By highlighting successful agricultural models and encouraging constructive competition, the Award supports higher sector efficiency and contributes to sustainable agricultural development across the UAE, while the current field evaluation phase advances these long-term aims.

With inputs from WAM