The UAE is expanding its Farmers’ Market as a central feature of the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2026, positioning it as more than a retail space.
The initiative is designed to connect local producers directly with consumers and industry, turning agricultural output into measurable economic value.
Food as a Strategic Asset
Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak frames the shift clearly.
Food is no longer treated as a basic commodity. It is now viewed as a core pillar of national security, shaped by climate disruption and global supply chain instability.
This reclassification changes how agriculture is structured, funded, and prioritized.
Farmers at the Core
The model places Emirati farmers at the center of the system rather than at its edge.
The Farmers’ Market creates direct access to buyers, reduces dependency on intermediaries, and opens new revenue channels.
Dedicated participation from female farmers, beekeepers, and date producers reflects an effort to widen inclusion across the sector.
Technology as Infrastructure
The exhibition aligns with the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051, with a strong emphasis on technology adoption.
Artificial intelligence and data-driven systems are positioned as foundational tools for modern agriculture, not optional enhancements.
The objective is uniform access, ensuring that technological capability reaches all levels of production.
An Integrated Ecosystem
The event is structured across four tracks: farmers, community, education, and entrepreneurship, creating a system rather than a standalone showcase.
More than 50 experts and over 40 sessions will bring together government entities, startups, private companies, and research institutions.
The structure reflects coordination across the full agricultural value chain.
Youth and Innovation
Students and startups are positioned as active contributors rather than observers.
Innovation programs, including hackathons, aim to generate locally built solutions rather than relying solely on imported technologies.
The direction is clear. Internal capability must match external ambition.
Expanding Local Production
The UAE plans to increase the share of locally marketed agricultural products from 10 to 15 percent to 25 percent in the coming years.
This target reflects a broader effort to reduce external dependence while strengthening domestic supply systems.
Current move
The UAE is shifting agriculture from a support sector to a strategic system.
Direct market access, technology integration, and ecosystem coordination are being combined into a single framework.
The Farmers’ Market becomes a mechanism, not an event.
Photo: KT File
