Winners of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm announced

Abu Dhabi - While choosing the winners, the jury looked out for innovations specifically for arid, desert regions that can be applied in the UAE and Middle East in general.

A total price of Dh3.5 million will be distributed among this year’s winners of the Abu Dhabi date palm award that focuses on agricultural innovation, officials said on Sunday.

Organisers of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation 2021 on Sunday, announced the five winners in the four categories during a virtual press conference in Abu Dhabi.

Dr Sarah Sallon, Research from the Development Division at Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel won the Distinguished Innovative Studies and Modern Technology category for her project on origins and insights into the historic Judean date palm based on genetic analysis of germinated ancient seeds and morphometric studies.

For the pioneering development and production projects, the prize will be distributed equally between: Boudjebel S.A. VACPA from Tunisa, for the Continuous Improvement of Date Palm Sector in Tunisia and Development of sustainable date palm production systems in the GCC project and Public-private-producer partnerships for a vibrant date palm industry and market and International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

The pioneering and advanced innovations to serve the agricultural sector category will be divided equally between: Teeba Engineering Industries Company from UAE for their palm and date devices and machinery – design and manufacture from “Teeba Engineering Industries Company and Dr. Aqeel Hadi Abdulwahid from Agriculture College and Basra University in Iraq for designing and building a smart pollination device for date palm and monitor using IOT.

The distinguished individuals in the field of date palm and agricultural innovation category will be divided between Prof. Abdellah Mohammed Haj Mohammed from Spain and Dr. Walid Abdul Ghani Kaakeh from Syria.

Dr Helal Humaid Saed Al Kaabi, member of the award’s board of trustees said the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, which is in its 13th session was distinguished by a set of key factors, the most prominent of which was the number of applicants reaching 153 candidates representing 28 countries from around the world.

The research and studies category gained the highest participation rate of 56 participants, followed by the pioneering innovations category with 42 participants, the distinguished individual category of 30 participants, and the category of development projects with 20 participants, noting that the work methodology of the Award’s General Secretariat is characterized by high transparency and complete neutrality.

While choosing the winners, the jury looked out for innovations specifically for arid, desert regions that can be applied in the UAE and Middle East in general.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi