Abu Dhabi: The winners of the ninth Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation were announced in Abu Dhabi on Monday, with cash prizes worth up to Dh1 million set to be handed to the winners.
Established in 2007 by His Highness President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Khalifa Date Palm award aims to enhance the scientific development in the date palm sector, and to that end it has become one of the world’s premier showcases in date palm research, putting the UAE on the map for its efforts in preserving and highlighting the date palm.
The Khalifa Date Palm award is split into five categories — distinguished innovative studies and modern technology, pioneering development and productive projects, distinguished producers in the date palm sector, pioneering and sophisticated innovations serving the agricultural sector, and the influential figure in the field of date palm and agricultural innovation.
The winners of the first and second categories win Dh1 million each, while Dh750,000 is awarded to the winners for the rest of the other categories, with the awarding ceremony set to take place on May 15.
The first place for this year’s first category was secured by Dr Binu Antony from India, assistant professor at King Saud University. For the second category, the winner was the King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia for their contributions to the date palm industry. The UAE’s own Al Wathba Marionnet was announced as the winner for the third category.
For categories four and five, Mustafa Salim Abdullah Barami from Oman, and Dr. Hussein Samir Abdul Rahman Salama from Egypt were announced as the winners respectively for their endeavours in the date palm sector.
“The Award has been prompted to go ahead towards assuming the leading position at the Arab and international levels, and [has] contributed to promoting the UAE’s role in serving the blessed tree and agricultural innovation,” said Prof Abdelouahhab Zaid, secretary general of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural innovation while speaking at a press conference.
“The Award has also attracted the most important researchers, experts, farmers and those interested in the date palm and agricultural sector in the Arab and international levels. The award has achieved a distinctive shift for the development of date palm and related studies and was extended a year ago to include agricultural innovation, and to consolidate its position worldwide,” he added.
Commenting on the award’s continued growth, Dr Helal Humaid Al Kaabi, member of the board of trustees and head of finance and administration committee of the award, said that participants from more than 37 countries took part in this year’s edition, highlighting the award’s outreach and popularity.
“A tracker of the award’s march since it was first founded would notice that it has achieved continuous development and great success within a ten-year career, [with] full of accomplishments and gains, consisting of a qualitative addition to the date palm and agricultural sector,” he said.
“The ninth session was characterised by some key points, most notably that the number of applicants reached 201, representing 37 countries. [The] participation of Emiratis was concentrated in the studies and researches, developmental projects, distinguished producers and pioneering innovations categories.
“The qualitative participation of the number of applicants to the various categories of the award is a positive indicator. The distinguished researches and studies category have, as usual, recorded the highest participation rate,” he added.
Winners
Distinguished Innovative Studies and Modern Technology
Dr Binu Antony from India, assistant professor in chair of date palm research at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Pioneering Development and Productive Projects
Date Palm Research Centre of Excellence at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Distinguished Producers in Date Palm Sector
Al Wathba Marionnet, UAE
Pioneering and Sophisticated Innovations Serving the Agricultural Sector
Mustafa Salim Abdullah Barami, Oman
Influential Figure in the Field of Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation
Dr Hussain Samir Abdul Rahman Salama, Egypt
