10th Edition of AgriteQ 2023 Wraps up

Doha, March 19 (QNA) - The Ministry of Municipality concluded Sunday evening the activities of the 10th Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition 'AgriteQ 2023', with the participation of 675 companies representing 55 countries, including 523 international companies and 152 local companies.
The five-day exhibition saw a great turnout from the public with the number of visitors has reached about 35,000. On the sidelines of the exhibition, a scientific conference was held including many workshops on agricultural and food security issues.
On the closing day, HE Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie honored a number of participants and sponsors and handed over the State of Qatar's in-kind contribution amounting to 120 tons of packaged dates for the year 2022 to the Deputy Director of the UN World Food Program (WFP), GCC office Caterina Galluzzi, which in turn will support the WFP's operations in some countries.
This contribution stems from the concept of partnership with the WFP as a main UN agency supporting humanitarian and international initiatives, providing food assistance to people who suffer as a result of conflicts or emergencies, and contributing to changing the lives of millions through sustainable development projects. Since 2004, the State of Qatar has been providing an annual donation of locally produced packaged dates to the WFP.
AgriteQ 2023 witnessed HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HE Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Otar Shamugia to strengthen relations and cooperation in the field of environmental protection between the governments of the State of Qatar and Georgia. The exhibition also saw the signing of an agreement between Hassad Food Company and Al Mirqab Industrial Investment Company (AALAF) to distribute and sell fodder products. Partnership agreements were signed between Hassad Food Company and Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha and between Expo 2023 Doha and the Qatar Basketball Federation to promote Expo 2023 Doha in the EXPO 2023 Basketball Challenge Championship.
The closing day of the exhibition also witnessed the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between five companies and the International Islamic Food Processing Association to join the Islamic Organization for Food Security.
On the sidelines of AgriteQ 2023, there was a scientific conference of four workshops that discussed 54 research papers on food security studies, the Gharsa Home Gardening initiative (Gharsa in Arabic means "to plant a seedling"), the national strategy for food security, and aquatic research. The conference brought together a group of experts, scientists, researchers, and local and global government officials.
At the conclusion of the conference, Chairperson of the Scientific Committee supervising the scientific conference Dr. Mohammed Saif Al-Kuwari announced a number of recommendations on food security research and studies including switching to crops that consume less water, creating an advanced system for food storage, reducing food shortages by providing basic data and making the best advantage of rainfall.
The recommendations also included changing the mindset of participating in agricultural operations abroad by means of financial investment, supporting local agriculture through food supplies from foreign countries, introducing new varieties of economic palm trees, developing logistical services for the import and export of food products in the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). They also included the use of local plant species that are compatible with the local environment, the use of fertilizers of organic origin that have a positive long-term effect on plants and soil, and the preparation of a protocol and charter for farm owners to respond quickly during national, regional and global crises.
Also among the recommendations were the preparation of plans and programs to raise the percentage of utilization of cultivated areas in registered farms for at least 70 percent of the total area, the development of the livestock sector for economic growth and food security, and work to encourage farms to market their production of various animal products.
Commenting on the Gharsa Home Gardening initiative, the conference recommended the organization of activities on trees and home gardening at national events, cooperation with government initiatives, interaction through social media accounts, and the provision of expert and sufficient manpower to take care of agriculture.
With regard to the national strategy for food security, the recommendations of the global conference alerted the importance of addressing, strengthening and developing Qatar's strategy for food security, by implementing accurate and effective foundations and principles, raising awareness of food security, correct and accurate handling and storage of food, spreading awareness, supporting locally made food, and reducing recalled or recovered products as a result of reports of damage or health reasons.
AgriteQ 2023 witnessed a distinguished international presence at the level of exhibitors and participants in the side events, who confirmed their keenness to continue participating in the agricultural exhibition, as an opportunity to learn about all experiences, modern technologies and technology in agriculture, through international participation, exchanging experiences and making business partnerships with them.
The participants hailed Qatar's success in organizing the 10th edition of the exhibition as a strategic platform to explore new horizons to upgrade the Qatari agricultural sector as the backbone of food security and comes at the forefront of strategic priorities to achieve self-sufficiency, in addition to being an effective platform for offering innovative environmental solutions to meet current and emerging challenges, and an opportunity to exchange international and local experiences. (QNA)