Dubai | 21 October 2026 | Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira by IHG
Dubai will welcome agricultural leaders, agribusiness executives, AgriTech innovators, investors, policymakers, researchers and startups for AgriNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 on 21 October 2026. The event will be held in the Al Thuraya Ballroom at Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira by IHG, Salah Al Din Street, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The in-person conference combines keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking and the AgriNext Awards, with a focus on innovation, sustainability and the future of agriculture and food systems. The official event portal lists operating hours of 7:30 AM–5:30 PM (GMT+4), although the published programme includes an awards ceremony at 6:00 PM.
A Message from the CEO
Anas Jawed, CEO of Next Business Media and Conference Chair of AgriNext Dubai 2026, shared the following welcome message:
“Agriculture sits at the center of some of the biggest challenges the world is facing — food security, climate resilience, resource scarcity — and also some of the most exciting technology-driven change. AgriNext Dubai 2026 was built as a space where the people closest to that change, from growers and agribusiness leaders to investors, technologists and policymakers, can come together for honest conversation and real collaboration. We are proud to bring together such a diverse group of speakers and delegates for this event, and we look forward to welcoming the global agriculture community to Dubai this October.”
— Anas Jawed, CEO, Next Business Media
AgriNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026: Conference Agenda
The published programme runs from the 9:00 AM opening remarks through the 6:00 PM awards ceremony. Named sessions cover climate-resilient farming, agribusiness investment, AI, trade policy, circular agriculture, biotechnology and startup growth.
9:00 AM — Conference Opening
Anas Jawed, CEO of Next Business Media, opens the programme and introduces the main issues facing agriculture and food systems.
9:20 AM — Sustainable Farming Practices for a Climate-Resilient Future
Panelists Nazlı Gündoğdu (Safranatolia), Troy Setter (Consolidated Pastoral Company), Stuart Donald (Al Dahra) and Shirley Shahar (Desert Tech Ventures) will discuss regenerative practices, soil health and carbon sequestration.
10:40 AM — Coffee Break
A scheduled break for informal conversations and networking.
11:50 AM — Harvesting Value: Strategic M&A as a Lever for Food Security and Agri-Business Growth
Dr. Abdelilah Belatik of AAAID will explore how mergers and acquisitions can support food security and agricultural business expansion.
12:15 PM — AI in Agriculture: Transforming Farming Through Smart Decisions and Predictive Analytics
This panel lists Mohammad Razali Bin Ismail (Meraque Group), Amit Grover (Grover & Company), Sheikh Muhammad Noman (Pagasus Capital Investment) and Roman Ulyanov (Greeneration), discussing the role of predictive data and AI in farm operations.
12:45 PM — Global Trade and Policy Challenges in the Agricultural Sector
Panelists Jaclyn Wilson (Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch), Filipe Ribeiro (Al Dahra), Søren Kannik-Marquardsen (Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai) and Natalie Gleeson (Pure Harvest Smart Farms) will examine agricultural policy, regulation and trade.
1:40 PM — Lunch Break
A midday break in the conference programme.
3:05 PM — Circular Economy in Agriculture: Reducing Waste and Maximizing Resources
Saeed Al Shamsi (EXHub Holding), Jim Redmond (Yankee Creek LLC) and Dr. Sami Carouba (Nikai Group of Companies) will discuss food waste, biowaste recycling and resource use.
3:45 PM — The Role of Biotech in Shaping the Future of Crops
Tisha Livingston (Infinite Acres), Gaurav Sharma (Accenture Solutions Private Ltd), Maqbool Saleem (Hydrexa) and Nico Tarvonen (Rayo 3D Biotech Ltd) will examine crop innovation and resilience.
4:55 PM — Agri-Tech Startups: Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Scale
Adel Alawadhi (The Corporate Group), Gianpiero Menza (Alliance/CGIAR), Richard Kohn (26 Seasons), Fernando Mauriz (GreenSpire360) and Hanane Fellahi (Global Farms) will discuss taking agricultural innovation beyond early-stage pilots.
5:25 PM — Evening Coffee Break
A further opportunity for delegates to connect.
6:00 PM — AgriNext Awards Ceremony
The awards recognise individuals and organisations contributing to excellence in agriculture.
The wider published agenda also refers to sessions on agriculture on Mars, vertical farming, electrified agriculture, bio-fertilisers in Africa, rainforest microbiomes, fruit breeding and Brazilian farmers. The source did not identify presenters for those listings.
Featured Speakers
The source profiles 36 speakers and industry professionals from agriculture, AgriTech, biotechnology, investment, government, sustainability and related fields.
Anas Jawed — CEO, Next Business Media (Conference Chair)
Founder and CEO of Next Business Media, Anas Jawed oversees international B2B events in agriculture, AI, fintech, energy and plastics recycling. As conference chair, he will open the Dubai programme and introduce the day's discussions.
Mazahep Musa Mohamed Turkawi — Officer, Ministry of Agriculture
Mazahep Musa Mohamed Turkawi works across agricultural administration, data analysis, market monitoring, food security initiatives and agricultural surveys. She holds a BSc (Honours) in Agriculture from Khartoum University and has completed training in project monitoring, evaluation, climate resilience and nature-based solutions.
Nico Tarvonen — CEO, Rayo 3D Biotech Ltd
Nico Tarvonen leads Rayo 3D Biotech Ltd as CEO. Together with chairman Pekka Vallittu, he brings experience in biotechnology and advanced materials to the conference.
Conner Tidd — Co-Founder and CEO, Just Vertical
Conner Tidd co-founded Just Vertical, an indoor-farming company working on sustainable food production and food security. His academic background includes environmental studies and sustainability management.
Fernando Mauriz — Founder, GreenSpire360
As founder of GreenSpire360, Fernando Mauriz brings firsthand experience of developing a sustainability-focused agribusiness venture and bringing new approaches into practice.
Hanane Fellahi — Project Manager, Global Farms
At Global Farms, Hanane Fellahi manages project delivery and brings practical experience in farm operations and scaling agricultural production.
Natalie Gleeson — Vice President of Human Capital, Pure Harvest Smart Farms
Natalie Gleeson oversees human capital strategy at Pure Harvest Smart Farms, a controlled-environment agriculture business in the Gulf. Her perspective focuses on the people, skills and talent required as AgriTech companies expand.
Dr. Abdelilah Belatik — Executive Director, Investment Sector, Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID)
Dr. Abdelilah Belatik leads investment activity at AAAID, the pan-Arab institution supporting agricultural development projects. He brings expertise in deploying capital to support the sector across the Arab world.
Nazlı Gündoğdu — Founder, Safranatolia
Founder of Safranatolia, Nazlı Gündoğdu offers experience in specialty agriculture and export-oriented agricultural businesses.
Roman Ulyanov — Founder and CEO, Greeneration
Roman Ulyanov founded and leads Greeneration. His work brings an entrepreneurial perspective on sustainable farming and the development of commercially viable agriculture ventures.
Shirley Shahar — Founder, Desert Tech Ventures
Shirley Shahar founded Desert Tech Ventures and focuses on technology-driven solutions for farming in desert and other water-constrained environments.
Saeed Al Shamsi — Chairman of the Board, EXHub Holding
As chairman of EXHub Holding, Saeed Al Shamsi contributes a UAE investment and business-development perspective to the conference.
Adel Alawadhi — Co-Founder and Chairman, The Corporate Group (TCG)
Adel Alawadhi co-founded The Corporate Group and serves as its chairman. He draws on corporate advisory and investment experience to discuss the business side of agricultural innovation.
Stuart Donald — Independent Advisor to Large-Scale Farming and Agriculture Businesses
Stuart Donald advises major farming and agribusiness operations, drawing on more than 30 years of international experience in agricultural investment and large-scale farm management.
Søren Kannik-Marquardsen — Minister Counsellor for Food, Agriculture & Fisheries, Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai
Søren Kannik-Marquardsen represents Danish interests in food, agriculture and fisheries in the UAE. He brings a perspective on government engagement, bilateral trade and agricultural cooperation.
Maqbool Saleem — Climate-Tech Entrepreneur and Co-Founder, Hydrexa
Maqbool Saleem co-founded Hydrexa, bringing a climate-technology perspective focused on water access, resource efficiency and innovation.
Tisha Livingston — CEO, Infinite Acres
Tisha Livingston leads Infinite Acres and contributes the perspective of a business working in vertical farming and controlled-environment agriculture.
Troy Setter — CEO, Consolidated Pastoral Company
Troy Setter heads Consolidated Pastoral Company, a major livestock and pastoral business. He brings experience in land management, cattle production and climate resilience across large agricultural operations.
Gianpiero Menza — Senior Manager, Partnerships & Innovative Finance, Alliance/CGIAR
Gianpiero Menza, PhD, works at the intersection of strategic partnerships, development finance and innovation. His work connects public and private organisations to advance sustainable solutions in agriculture, the environment and health.
Filipe Ribeiro — Senior Global Audit and Governance Executive, Al Dahra
Filipe Ribeiro works in global audit and governance at Al Dahra. His contribution draws on experience in risk management, corporate controls and governance across agribusiness operations.
Jaclyn Wilson — Owner, Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch
Jaclyn Wilson owns and operates Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch in the United States, bringing the experience of a working cattle rancher to discussions about agricultural policy and practice.
Muhammad Umer Rabbani — Senior Agricultural Engineer, Al Ghurair Facility Management Company
Muhammad Umer Rabbani has more than a decade of experience in climate-smart agriculture, including precision farming, vertical farming and controlled-environment technologies.
Richard Kohn — General Manager, GCC, 26 Seasons
Richard Kohn leads GCC operations for 26 Seasons, contributing an architecture and design perspective to controlled-environment and vertical farming.
Jim Redmond — Owner, Agricultural Systems International, LLC
Jim Redmond brings more than 40 years of experience in agriculture, from agronomy and production to agricultural asset management and environmental stewardship.
Gaurav Sharma — Global Agribusiness Research Lead and Growth Markets Chemicals Research Lead, Accenture Solutions Private Ltd
At Accenture, Gaurav Sharma leads research covering global agribusiness and chemicals in growth markets, bringing industry analysis and consulting experience to the discussion.
Hidaya Benkassa — Director of Agriculture & Strategy, Agro Resources
Hidaya Benkassa has more than 13 years of experience in agriculture strategy, sustainability and climate resilience, supporting agricultural development and investment across African and Gulf markets.
Amit Grover — Managing Partner, Grover & Company
Amit Grover is managing partner of Grover & Company, contributing experience in business strategy and advisory work.
Matt Lewis — Founder, Ophelia Partners LLC
Matt Lewis advises on agricultural market entry, B2B distribution and resilient supply chains, helping agricultural biological-input businesses and growers expand sustainably.
Dr. Sami Carouba — Senior Executive & Business Transformation Leader, Nikai Group of Companies
Dr. Sami Carouba works on business transformation at Nikai Group of Companies, bringing experience in corporate change and diversified industries.
Julian Ćmikiewicz — Business Unit Consultant, Spyrosoft Innovo S.A.
Julian Ćmikiewicz works in technology strategy, solution architecture, business development and AgriTech. His focus is on translating complex farming challenges into workable digital solutions, including software testing and technology-led transformation.
Noorhan Abusamra — Financial Journalist, MONIIFY
Noorhan Abusamra is a financial journalist covering markets and macroeconomics in the US and Middle East. Over seven years with Bloomberg, The National and Asharq with Bloomberg, she has interviewed central bank governors, finance ministers and business leaders. At MONIIFY, she focuses on financial storytelling and education.
Laura Lukasik — Founder and President, Numen.Bio
Farmer activist and entrepreneur Laura Lukasik founded Numen.Bio to promote regenerative agriculture. Her work explores business models that support biodiversity, water resources and carbon balance while improving farm profitability.
Abdul Raouf Mahmoudi — Chief Technical Coordination Officer, ASM Process Automation
Abdul Raouf Mahmoudi leads technical coordination at ASM Process Automation. He has over a decade of experience in industrial automation, process engineering and plant digitalisation, including PLC and SCADA systems and the use of AI in food, feed and other industrial operations.
Neil Simmonds — Interim Chief Farming Officer, Al Dahra Group
At Al Dahra, Neil Simmonds focuses on farming performance, technical improvement, sustainability and operational excellence. His career includes farm management, agronomy, consultancy and large-scale agricultural operations.
Danny Thomas — Consultant – Agribusiness Transactions, LAWD
Danny Thomas brings more than 25 years of experience in agribusiness, including senior roles in Australia's commercial property sector and advisory work on major agricultural transactions.
Lee Ismail — CEO, Meraque Group
Founder and CEO Lee Ismail leads Meraque Group's work in robotics, drones and AI, applying automation to improve operations and develop smarter technologies for industry.
Connecting Agricultural Innovation With Business Impact
The Dubai programme approaches agriculture from several directions, including climate resilience, vertical and controlled-environment farming, biotech, specialty crops, investment and the business systems needed to support growth. Rather than focusing on a single technology, the sessions consider how new ideas can be applied at scale while keeping food security and sustainability in view.
Its speakers represent organisations such as Pure Harvest Smart Farms, Al Dahra, Consolidated Pastoral Company, GreenSpire360, Global Farms, Safranatolia, Desert Tech Ventures, Infinite Acres, Rayo 3D Biotech, Hydrexa, Accenture, EXHub Holding, Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch, AAAID and the Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai.
Networking, Awards and Industry Engagement
Alongside the sessions, the event includes an exhibition area and opportunities to meet other professionals. According to the organiser’s portal, paid passes offer access to an attendee directory, a forum, one-to-one chat and networking connections. The source lists Next Business Media at Booth 101 and Champions Coffee at Booth 111 among exhibitors.
Participants can also explore opportunities to speak, exhibit, sponsor, join as a media partner, serve as a thought leader or committee member, apply as an investor, pitch as a startup, or submit nominations for the AgriNext Awards. The awards ceremony will recognise contributions to agricultural innovation and industry development.
Event Details
Event: AgriNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026
Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Advertised time: 7:30 AM–5:30 PM (GMT+4); programme lists awards at 6:00 PM
Venue: Al Thuraya Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira by IHG
Address: Salah Al Din Street, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Join AgriNext Dubai 2026
As farming and food production adopt new technologies, the conference offers agribusiness leaders, growers, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors a place to discuss what works in practice. The programme connects conversations about climate-resilient farming, smart agriculture, investment, workforce needs and bringing new ventures to market.
Delegates can take part in panel sessions, meet peers across the agricultural value chain, and explore opportunities to participate through exhibitions, sponsorships, speaking roles, startup pitches and awards nominations.
Official Event Portal: https://portal.nextbusinessmedia.com/events/agrinext-awards-conference-dubai-2026
