UAE- UAE’s leading Agri-Tech Food Company, Silal has joined hands with Bayer in a pioneering collaboration set to strengthen the agricultural landscape in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), addressing climate change as a pivotal concern.
The partnership was announced during a signage ceremony of a Collaboration Agreement during the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in Dubai on December 4th, 2023, in attendance of key private and public sector stakeholders.
Bayer is a global leader in life sciences with a strong focus on healthcare and nutrition.
Recognizing the vital role of agriculture in mitigating climate change and enhancing resilience, Silal and Bayer are steadfast in their commitment to bolster the agricultural sector in the battle against global warming.
Together, Silal and Bayer will partner to enhance the capabilities of local agronomists, fostering an environment conducive to agricultural innovation and excellence, leveraging Bayer’s BayG.A.P. capacity-building program.
This strategic partnership represents a significant milestone in the journey towards advancing best-in-class agricultural practices, especially under the challenging climatic conditions of the UAE, which are only expected to intensify due to the ongoing threat of climate change.
As the world gathers for COP28 (the UNFCCC’s 28th Conference of the Parties), where discussions on climate change are taking center stage, this partnership underscores the urgency of advancing agriculture to address climate change.
Agriculture is both a source of greenhouse gas emissions and a critical tool for sequestering carbon and reducing emissions, making it a central focus in the global climate agenda.
Mr. Salmeen Al Ameri, CEO at Silal, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying that the collaboration holds immense promise for the future of agriculture in the UAE.
“By leveraging Bayer’s global expertise and our local knowledge, we aim to develop innovative solutions that will bolster the sustainability of our agricultural practices, against the climate change challenges.”
Mr. Hugo Hagen, Senior Bayer Representative – Middle East at Bayer, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We are excited to embark on this journey with Silal, a partner that shares our vision for a world where hunger is eradicated, and health prevails.”
He added, “Together, we will harness the power of innovation to support transforming agriculture in the UAE and contribute to the country’s National Food Security Strategy 2051, all while addressing the urgent global challenge of climate change.”
The program encompasses modules on essential topics such as Integrated Pest Management, Safe Use, Crop Protection Products, Application Technology, and Irrigation. The implementation of the program foresees to follow a train-the-trainer approach.
In the first step, agricultural engineers and farm managers will be trained. In the second stage, these trainers will then extend the capacity-building efforts to potentially reach over 300 growers in the UAE, who are part of Silal’s network
This collaboration between Silal and Bayer represents a formidable alliance dedicated to forging new frontiers in agriculture, sustainability, and innovation.
As the partnership gains momentum, it is aimed to help inform and shape the future of agriculture in the United Arab Emirates and other regions facing climate challenges in a meaningful way in support of creating a safe and sustainable ecosystem for generations to come.
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