Abu Dhabi is set to host the first edition of EuroTier Middle East, from 2-4 September 2019 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
The event will be organised by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), in coordination with the German Agricultural Society (DLG).
During the last edition held in Hanover, Germany, in November, the ADFCA announced a partnership to organise the world's leading trade fair for animal production.
The new fair will provide a comprehensive overview of the global modern methods pertaining to animal husbandry, inputs needed for livestock husbandry and production and the most efficient breeds. In addition to showcasing the most advanced technologies to digitalise livestock farming, the fair will highlight opportunities to exploit artificial intelligence (AI) and future technologies in addressing challenges that undermine efforts to achieve sustainable livestock development in the MENA region.
The MENA region has the fastest and highest meat market growth rate of any region in the world at almost 30 per cent. Between now and 2021, the livestock products market is expected to reach US$6.6bn. There are more than 25,000 animal holdings and 3.5mn heads of food-producing animals in Abu Dhabi. There are commercial farms for livestock production and factories for food industries and re-exportation.
Figures from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) suggest there are about 143mn sheep, 73mn goats and 49mn cattle in the MENA countries. The UN Comtrade database revealed that the UAE imported live animals worth US$204mn and meat and edible offal worth US$1.63bn in 2016.
At the same time, there are a number of challenges facing livestock farmers in the region. These include the costs of production and inputs; a lack of exploiting technology and AI in production processes, a focus on meat production that tends to ignore milk production and other animal products, and a lack of enough outlets for handling by-products, such as wool and dung, and related manufacturing industries.
The first edition of EuroTier Middle East features events and activities including an auction for the best livestock breeds, distribution of innovation and excellence awards for small livestock breeders and manufacturers, live shows for livestock husbandry using the latest equipment and machinery and sessions about herd management methods from an economic perspective profitable for breeders.
During the fair, animal husbandry professionals will be provided with a comprehensive insight into the various production and marketing segments for both specific species and across all product categories.
