Date: 13 Nov, 2025
Location: Dubai - UAE
The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) participated in the Global AgroVet Research Conference (GARCX 2025), hosted in Dubai under the theme “One Health: Integrating Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Science for a Sustainable Future.” The event brought together leading scientists, policymakers, and experts from around the world, underscoring the growing role of research and innovation in supporting global food security systems.
Dr. Abdelilah Belatik, Counsellor/Chief Strategic Transformation and Investment at AAAID, delivered a keynote address during the opening session, highlighting the importance of integrating scientific research with applied investment to address global challenges in food security, climate, and water resources.
Dr. Belatik emphasized that the world stands at a critical crossroads where challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, water scarcity, and increasing demand for sustainable food systems intersect. He stressed that adopting the One Health approach, linking human health, animal husbandry, and the environment, is a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development.
Since its establishment, AAAID has placed early focus on applied agricultural research, through establishing pilot farms, research stations, and linking scientific outputs with field implementation, effectively bridging the gap between research and practical application through institutional mechanisms.
Dr. Belatik outlined AAAID’s strategic focus on enhancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles across all investments while mobilizing innovative financing tools such as green bonds and climate adaptation financing, accelerating the adoption of modern agricultural technologies including precision agriculture, biotechnology, and digital platforms adapted to arid environments, and developing smart farming systems that utilize sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to monitor crop and livestock health in real time.
He also highlighted AAAID’s commitment to ensuring that these innovations reach smallholder farmers and rural communities, making technologies inclusive, culturally appropriate, and economically viable for those most in need.
In closing, Dr. Belatik called for translating research into practical solutions deployable at scale, strengthening regional and international cooperation, and leveraging innovative finance mechanisms to support Arab and global food security.
He affirmed that AAAID is fully prepared to expand partnerships with research institutions, agritech companies, investors, and development partners to build a more sustainable and food-secure agricultural future in the Arab world and beyond.
Dr. Belatik concluded: “Building a secure and sustainable food future is not the responsibility of a single institution. It requires collaboration, innovation, and the determination to turn ideas into action”.
