Sheikh Mansour Agricultural Excellence Award 2025 Launched

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has announced the launch of the fourth edition of the Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award. This award is a major initiative by the UAE to recognize and celebrate outstanding farmers, livestock breeders, and agricultural innovators who contribute to the nation’s food security, agricultural sustainability, and high-quality local production.

The 2025 edition of the award continues the UAE’s commitment to supporting both plant and animal agriculture, encouraging innovation, and improving farming practices across the country. With a total prize fund of AED 10 million, the award offers recognition across four main categories and thirteen subcategories.

In addition, the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba will host 77 specialized competitions and five major festivals, all organized under the award’s umbrella. These competitions and festivals aim to promote national products, celebrate farming excellence, and engage the wider community in the country’s agricultural achievements.

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Updates to the Award Structure

The Higher Organizing Committee has announced several updates to the award’s structure to ensure fairness, transparency, and the promotion of innovation. These include:

• Revised Categories: The main award categories have been redefined to cover the full spectrum of agriculture in the UAE.

• Enhanced Technical Criteria: Evaluation will now include precise performance indicators, such as resource efficiency, water footprint, and economic return.

• Transparent Evaluation Mechanisms: The award has updated its evaluation framework to ensure fairness and align with international standards for sustainable and smart agriculture.

These changes are designed to encourage innovation, efficiency, and sustainability across the UAE’s agricultural sector.

Leadership Statements

Her Excellency Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA and Head of the Higher Organising Committee, said:

"We are delighted to launch the fourth edition of the Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award. This award highlights agriculture as a cornerstone of our nation’s food and economic security. It has become a national platform to honour innovation and excellence, celebrating the vital role of farmers, breeders, and agricultural entrepreneurs in driving progress."

Her Excellency also emphasized that the 2025 edition coincides with the UAE’s Year of Community, and it has expanded to include youth and women in agriculture. This new focus encourages the participation of more young people and women, helping to build a stronger, more diverse agricultural workforce.

His Excellency Ahmed Khalid Othman, Deputy Director-General for Operations at ADAFSA and Deputy Head of the Committee, explained the four main categories of the award:

1. Outstanding Farm and Livestock Holding – Includes three subcategories for Best Farm, Best Livestock Holding, and Youth Projects.

2. Agricultural Technologies – Highlights smart solutions and innovations that improve productivity and sustainability.

3. Commercial Farms – Recognizes excellence in both plant and animal production.

4. Outstanding Female Farmer/Breeder – Focuses on the contribution of women to sustainable farming and food security.

His Excellency Othman said:
"These categories reflect the breadth of our agricultural ecosystem while ensuring fairness and transparency in evaluation."

Integration with Sheikh Zayed Festival

His Excellency Mubarak Al Qusaili Al Mansoori, Head of Associated Competitions and Festivals, announced that the award program will be integrated with the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, one of the UAE’s major cultural events attracting thousands of visitors each year.

The award will feature five flagship festivals under its umbrella:

1. Al Wathba Agricultural Festival – Celebrates farming achievements.

2. Al Wathba Livestock Festival – Recognizes excellence in livestock breeding.

3. Al Wathba Food Festival – Highlights food production and culinary innovation.

4. Flower Festival – Promotes horticulture and floral excellence.

5. Honey Festival – Focuses on beekeeping and honey production.

In addition, 77 specialized competitions will be held. These cover a wide range of activities, including:

• Agricultural and food products

• Packaging and design competitions

• Direct cooking contests

• Processed goods

• Food innovation

These competitions aim to engage the community, encourage best practices, and showcase sustainable farming achievements across the UAE.

Registration and Evaluation

Farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms across the UAE are invited to register for the award by 15 December 2025 through the official website: www.smaea.ae.

After registration, participants will be evaluated through desk and field assessments conducted by expert panels. Winners will then be honored at a formal awards ceremony in March 2026, recognizing their contribution to the UAE’s agricultural sector.

Historical Significance

Since its inception, the Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award has:

• Attracted over 1,127 participants

• Recognized 162 winners

• Awarded more than AED 26.7 million in prizes

The award has become one of the UAE’s most prominent initiatives in promoting agricultural innovation, excellence, and food security. It continues to encourage farmers and breeders to adopt sustainable practices, improve productivity, and contribute to the nation’s economic and food security.

Focus on Youth and Women

One of the key highlights of the 2025 edition is its special focus on youth and women in agriculture. The updated framework encourages young farmers and female breeders to participate, helping build the next generation of agricultural innovators.

By including precise performance indicators such as water footprint, resource efficiency, and economic return, the award ensures that participants focus not only on productivity but also on sustainable and smart agricultural practices.

Community Engagement

Through the Sheikh Zayed Festival and associated competitions, the award aims to bring the agricultural community closer to the public. These events provide an opportunity for people to learn about farming, food production, and innovation. They also promote local products and celebrate UAE farmers who contribute to food security.

The award, along with the festival, highlights the UAE’s commitment to:

• Encouraging innovation and sustainability in agriculture

• Recognizing outstanding farmers and breeders

• Promoting food security

• Engaging youth and women in the agricultural sector

The fourth edition of the Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award represents a major milestone in the UAE’s agricultural journey. By rewarding innovation, efficiency, and sustainability, the award continues to strengthen the country’s agricultural ecosystem.

Farmers, livestock breeders, and agricultural entrepreneurs are encouraged to register before 15 December 2025 and participate in the competitions, ensuring that their contributions to the UAE’s food security and sustainable agriculture are recognized and celebrated.

With its rich history, inclusive participation, and focus on innovation, the award remains a symbol of excellence and progress in the UAE’s agricultural sector, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for farming and food production.

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