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Under the patronage
of the UAE Minister of Environment and Water
   
 

First Workshop on Investment in Protected Cultivation in the Gulf Countries
   
 

Monday, 15 May 2006
 

Rotana Beach Hotel, Al Thuraya Hall
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
   
 

Organisation
 

Al Rasheed Group
(Saudi Arabia)

 Agricultural Office at the Royal Netherlands Embassy (Abu Dhabi)
   
 

In collaboration with

 
   
 

Contact and information
 

Agricultural Office
Tel +971 2 6320712, Fax +971 2 6320198, Email abu-lnv@minbuza.nl
 
 
   
 

Rationale

In the GCC countries, agriculture is a challenge, due to harsh climate conditions, scarcity of water and poor soils. However, the demand for healthy food items is increasingly high and a clear tendency exist o become less dependent on imports from abroad.
Although significant achievement have been made in the horticultural sector, investment in innovative systems and techniques are needed to be implemented in the region, in order to meet the high demands. This is much supported by the relevant Ministries in the GCC countries and universities and research institutes. Additionally, international organisations like ICARDA and FAO have programs and technical assistance implemented, in collaboration with local governments, to improve the horticultural sector.

   
 

Organisation and goal

The Agricultural Office at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Al Rasheed Group for Greenhouses projects in Saudi Arabia are organising on Monday 15 May in Abu Dhabi the “1-st Workshop on Investment Protected Cultivation in the Gulf Countries”.
The workshop will be aimed at discussing (im) possibilities for a high-tech innovative greenhouse sector in the GCC countries, given the difficult conditions for horticulture in the region. It will build on existing experiences in Saudi-Arabia and the UAE, as well as on developed high tech solutions in the Netherlands for climate control, greenhouse coverage, non-chemical strategies and safe cultural practices, etc. It is believed that a significant improvement entails a significant investment. An important part of the Workshop will include a panel discussion and a general discussion in which the public can participate. The Workshop will be concluded with a lunch for all participants at app. 16.00 h.
   
 

Tentative programme

8:00     Registration
9:00     Opening speech by the Minister of Environment and Water, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi

  • Introduction by HE D. de Waal, Ambassador of the Netherlands
    Protected Cultivation in the GCC: At what price? Dr. Hans van der Beek Netherlands Embassy, UAE

  • Prospectus for protected cultivation in UAE,
    Dr. Abdullah Abboud, UAE Ministry of Environment and Water

  • Economic perspectives of protective cultivation in the Arab Peninsula
    Dr. Ahmed Moustafa, ICARDA, UAE

  • Current investment situation in the UAE
    Dr. Ahmed Almasoum, UAE University

  • Current investment situation in KSA,
    Eng. Mohammed Al Rasheed, Al Rasheed Group, KSA

  •  Investment in the Gulf from the Dutch Perspective,
    Mr. Aad Verbakel, Verbakel Bomkas, NL

  • Investment in a novel closed greenhouse system,
    Prof. Dr. Ir. Gerrit van Straten Wageningen University, NL

  • Investment in cooling and climate control,
    Mr. Gerard de Vries, Global Air Systems, Desert Greenhouse Consortium, NL

  • Experiences with soilless culture in the GCC.
    Dr. Abdulaziz Al Harbi King Saudi University, KSA

  •  Investment in IPM,
    Eng. Yosef Ouhlous Koppert, NL

  • Panel discussion, moderated
    Dr. Abdelaziz Al Harbi

  • Interactive discussion, moderated
    Dr. Kajan Jaff, FAO, UAE

16:00         Lunch + display of information by speakers
 
 
 

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