Dubai | 21 October 2026 | Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira by IHG
Dubai is set to welcome agriculture leaders, agribusiness executives, AgriTech innovators, investors, policymakers, researchers and startups for the AgriNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026, taking place on 21 October 2026 at the Al Thuraya Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira by IHG, Salah Al Din St, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.The in-person conference is scheduled from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM (GMT+4) per the event portal, though the published agenda’s Award Ceremony is timed at 6:00 PM — so the day is likely to run a little past the portal’s listed close. The conference is designed to bring together professionals working across the rapidly evolving agriculture and food-systems landscape, combining keynote sessions, panel discussions, networking opportunities and industry awards recognizing individuals and organizations advancing innovation and sustainability across agriculture.
A Message from the CEO
Anas Jawed, CEO of Next Business Media and Conference Chair of AgriNext Dubai 2026, has shared a welcome message ahead of the event:
“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, Founder and CEO of Next Business Media, brings extensive experience in organizing business events, technology platforms and digital solutions that connect industry leaders across sectors.
Note: this CEO message is drafted marketing copy for your review and Anas Jawed’s approval — it is not sourced from a published statement, unlike the AINext Singapore quote it’s modeled on.
Conference Agenda — 21 October 2026
The full published agenda for AgriNext Dubai 2026 runs from the 9:00 AM opening through a 6:00 PM awards ceremony, moving between keynotes, panels and networking breaks. The sessions below are those with a named speaker attached; a handful of standalone keynote slots on the published agenda (“Agriculture on Mars,” the vertical-farm keynote, an electrified-agriculture session, a bio-fertiliser session in Africa, a rainforest microbiome session, a duplicate “Cultivating Cooperation” listing, a fruit-breeding session, and a session on Brazilian farmers) don’t yet list a presenter, so they’re omitted here rather than attributed to no one.
9:00 AM — Conference Opening — Conference Chair
Anas Jawed, CEO of Next Business Media, opens the conference and sets the tone for the day’s discussions.
9:20 AM — Panel: Sustainable Farming Practices for a Climate-Resilient Future
Featuring Nazlı Gündoğdu (Safranatolia), Troy Setter (Consolidated Pastoral Company), Stuart Donald (Al Dahra) and Shirley Shahar (Desert Tech Ventures). The panel explores regenerative agriculture, soil health and carbon sequestration strategies.
10:40 AM — Coffee Break
11:50 AM — Keynote: Harvesting Value — Strategic M&A as a Lever for Food Security and Agri-Business Growth
Delivered by Dr. Abdelilah Belatik (AAAID), examining mergers and acquisitions as a strategic tool for food security and agribusiness expansion.
12:15 PM — Panel: AI in Agriculture — Transforming Farming Through Smart Decisions and Predictive Analytics
Featuring Mohammad Razali Bin Ismail (Meraque Group), Amit Grover (Grover & Company), Sheikh Muhammad Noman (Pagasus Capital Investment) and Roman Ulyanov (Greeneration). The panel examines how AI-driven decision-making and predictive analytics are reshaping farm operations.
12:45 PM — Panel: Global Trade and Policy Challenges in the Agricultural Sector
Featuring 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). The panel addresses trade policy and regulatory challenges facing global agriculture.
1:40 PM — Lunch Break
3:05 PM — Panel: Circular Economy in Agriculture — Reducing Waste and Maximizing Resources
Featuring Saeed Al Shamsi (EXHub Holding), Jim Redmond (Yankee Creek LLC) and Dr. Sami Carouba (Nikai Group of Companies). The panel discusses food-waste reduction, biowaste recycling and circular food systems.
3:45 PM — Panel: The Role of Biotech in Shaping the Future of Crops
Featuring Tisha Livingston (Infinite Acres), Gaurav Sharma (Accenture Solutions Private Ltd), Maqbool Saleem (Hydrexa) and Nico Tarvonen (Rayo 3D Biotech Ltd). The panel examines how biotechnology is reshaping crop development and resilience.
4:55 PM — Panel: Agri-Tech Startups — Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Scale
Featuring Adel Alawadhi (The Corporate Group), Gianpiero Menza (Alliance/CGIAR), Richard Kohn (26 Seasons), Fernando Mauriz (GreenSpire360) and Hanane Fellahi (Global Farms). The panel highlights the journey from pilot projects to large-scale impact in the agritech space.
5:25 PM — Evening Coffee Break
6:00 PM — Award Ceremony: Excellence in Agriculture Industry — Leaders & Companies
The day concludes with the AgriNext Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations for excellence across the agriculture industry.
Featured Speaker Profiles
The Dubai edition brings together 35+ confirmed speakers representing agribusiness operations, AgriTech, specialty agriculture, institutional investment, biotech, government and human capital. Profiles below are ordered as listed on the official speakers page, with each speaker’s LinkedIn profile linked.
Anas Jawed — CEO, Next Business Media (Conference Chair)
Anas Jawed founded Next Business Media and leads its portfolio of international B2B conferences spanning agriculture, AI, fintech, energy and plastics recycling. As Conference Chair, he opens AgriNext Dubai 2026 and sets the agenda for the day’s discussions.
Mazahep Musa Mohamed Turkawi – Officer, Ministry of Agriculture
Mazahep Musa Mohamed Turkawi is an agriculture professional with experience in agricultural administration, data analysis, food security initiatives, market monitoring, and agricultural surveys. She holds a BSc (Honours) in Agriculture from Khartoum University and has received additional training in project monitoring and evaluation, as well as climate resilience and nature-based solutions.
Nico Tarvonen — CEO, Rayo 3D Biotech Ltd
Nico Tarvonen leads Rayo 3D Biotech as CEO, joining Chairman Pekka Vallittu in bringing a biotechnology and advanced-materials perspective to the agenda.
Conner Tidd – Co-Founder and CEO, Just Vertical
Conner Tidd leads Just Vertical, an indoor farming company advancing sustainable agriculture and food security through innovative indoor farming solutions. He holds degrees in environmental studies and sustainability management.
Fernando Mauriz — Founder, GreenSpire360
Fernando Mauriz brings a founder’s perspective on building sustainable agribusiness ventures, drawing on his experience leading GreenSpire360.
Hanane Fellahi — Project Manager, Global Farms
Hanane Fellahi oversees project delivery at Global Farms, bringing hands-on operational experience in scaling farm production to the conversation.
Natalie Gleeson — Vice President of Human Capital, Pure Harvest Smart Farms
Natalie Gleeson leads human capital strategy at Pure Harvest Smart Farms, a Gulf-based controlled-environment farming operator, and is expected to address the workforce and talent dimension of AgriTech growth.
Dr. Abdelilah Belatik — Executive Director, Investment Sector, Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID)
Dr. Abdelilah Belatik heads AAAID’s investment sector, directing the pan-Arab institution’s capital deployment into agricultural development projects across the Arab world.
Nazlı Gündoğdu — Founder, Safranatolia
Nazli Gündoğdu founded Safranatolia, bringing a specialty and export-agriculture perspective to the programme.
Roman Ulyanov — Founder and CEO, Greeneration
Roman Ulyanov leads Greeneration as founder and CEO, bringing an entrepreneurial, sustainability-focused voice to the programme.
Shirley Shahar — Founder, Desert Tech Ventures
Shirley Shahar founded Desert Tech Ventures, focused on technology-driven approaches to arid-region and desert agriculture.
Saeed Al Shamsi — Chairman of the Board, EXHub Holding
Saeed Al Shamsi chairs the board of EXHub Holding, bringing a UAE-based investment and holding-company perspective to the event.
Adel Alawadhi — Co-Founder and Chairman, The Corporate Group (TCG)
Adel Alawadhi co-founded and chairs The Corporate Group (TCG), contributing a corporate advisory and investment perspective.
Stuart Donald — Independent advisor to large-scale farming and agriculture business
Stuart Donald advises large-scale farming and agriculture businesses, bringing more than three decades of international experience across farming operations, agricultural investment and agribusiness.
Søren Kannik-Marquardsen — Minister Counsellor for Food, Agriculture & Fisheries, Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai
Soren Kannik-Marquardsen represents Danish food, agriculture and fisheries interests in the UAE, bringing a government and bilateral-trade perspective to the conference.
Maqbool Saleem — Climate-Tech Entrepreneur and Co-Founder, Hydrexa
Maqbool Saleem co-founded Hydrexa and brings a climate-tech entrepreneurship perspective focused on water and resource innovation.
Tisha Livingston — CEO, Infinite Acres
Tisha Livingston leads Infinite Acres, a controlled-environment and vertical farming venture, bringing a CEA operator’s perspective to the programme.
Troy Setter — CEO, Consolidated Pastoral Company
Troy Setter leads Consolidated Pastoral Company, a major pastoral and cattle operation, bringing a large-scale livestock and land-management perspective to the climate-resilience panel.
Gianpiero Menza – Senior Manager, Partnerships & Innovative Finance, Alliance/CGIAR
Gianpiero Menza, PhD, specializes in strategic partnerships, development finance, and innovation, connecting public and private sectors to advance sustainable solutions across agriculture, environment, and health.
Filipe Ribeiro — Senior Global Audit and Governance Executive, Al Dahra
Filipe Ribeiro leads global audit and governance at Al Dahra, bringing a risk, controls and corporate-governance perspective to the agribusiness conversation.
Jaclyn Wilson — Owner, Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch
Jaclyn Wilson owns and operates Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch, a U.S. cattle ranching operation, bringing a working-rancher’s perspective to the programme.
Muhammad Umer Rabbani – Senior Agricultural Engineer, Al Ghurair Facility Management Company
Muhammad Umer Rabbani has over 10 years of experience in sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, specializing in vertical farming, precision agriculture, and controlled-environment farming technologies.
Richard Kohn — General Manager, GCC, 26 Seasons
Richard Kohn leads the GCC operations of 26 Seasons, bringing an architecture and design perspective relevant to controlled-environment and vertical farming.
Jim Redmond — Owner Agricultural Systems International, LLC
Jim Redmond brings more than four decades of experience in agriculture, with expertise spanning agricultural asset management, production agriculture, agronomy and environmental stewardship.
Gaurav Sharma — Global Agribusiness Research Lead, Growth Markets Chemicals Research Lead, Accenture Solutions Private Ltd
Gaurav Sharma leads agribusiness and chemicals research for growth markets at Accenture, bringing a global consulting and market-research perspective.
Hidaya Benkassa – Director of Agriculture & Strategy, Agro Resources
Hidaya Benkassa brings over 13 years of experience in agribusiness strategy, sustainability, and climate resilience, driving agricultural investment and development across African and Gulf markets.
Amit Grover — Managing Partner, Grover & Company
Amit Grover is Managing Partner at Grover & Company, contributing an advisory and business-strategy perspective.
Matt Lewis – Founder, Ophelia Partners LLC
Matt Lewis specializes in agricultural market entry, B2B distribution strategies, and resilient supply chains, helping biological input developers and growers scale operations and advance sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Sami Carouba — Senior Executive & Business Transformation Leader, Nikai Group of Companies
Dr. Sami Carouba leads business transformation at Nikai Group of Companies, bringing a corporate-transformation and diversified-industry perspective to the event.
Julian Ćmikiewicz — Business Unit Consultant, Spyrosoft Innovo S.A.
Julian Ćmikiewicz brings expertise in technology strategy, solution architecture, business development and AgriTech, with a focus on transforming complex agricultural challenges into practical and scalable technology solutions. His work also explores software testing, digital transformation and technology applications across interconnected agricultural systems.
Noorhan Abusamra — Financial Journalist, MONIIFY
Noorhan Abusamra is a digital financial journalist covering markets and macroeconomics across the US and Middle East. With seven years of experience at Bloomberg, The National and Asharq with Bloomberg, she has interviewed central bank governors, finance ministers and top executives around the world. At MONIIFY, she focuses on making finance accessible to the next generation through storytelling and financial education.
Laura Lukasik — Founder and President, Numen.Bio
Laura Lukasik is a farmer activist and technology and social entrepreneur who founded Numen.Bio, a purpose-driven company focused on transforming agriculture toward a regenerative economy. Her work centres on business models that enhance natural resources including carbon balance, biodiversity and water while supporting agricultural profitability and opportunities for future generations.
Abdul Raouf Mahmoudi — Chief Technical Coordination Officer (CTCO), ASM Process Automation
Abdul Raouf Mahmoudi is the Chief Technical Coordination Officer and technical team leader at ASM Process Automation, bringing more than a decade of experience in industrial automation, plant digitalization and process engineering across the Gulf region. His expertise includes system design, PLC and SCADA modernization, advanced control architectures and the practical integration of artificial intelligence into engineering workflows, with a particular focus on food, feed and process industries.
Neil Simmonds — Interim Chief Farming Officer, Al Dahra Group
Neil Simmonds serves as Interim Chief Farming Officer at Al Dahra, where he leads efforts around operational excellence, technical improvement, sustainable farming approaches and continuous farming performance. His career spans farm management, agronomy, agricultural consultancy and the development and optimization of large-scale farming operations.
Danny Thomas — Consultant – Agribusiness Transactions, LAWD
Danny Thomas is a Consultant with LAWD and brings more than 25 years of experience, including senior agribusiness leadership positions within commercial real estate companies in Australia. He has advised on major agribusiness transactions and brings extensive experience in Australia’s farm sector.
Lee Ismail — CEO, Meraque Group
Lee Ismail leads Meraque Group as Founder and CEO, driving the company’s vision around robotics, drones and artificial intelligence. His work focuses on applying technology and automation to transform industries and create smarter, more connected business environments.
AgriNext Dubai 2026: Connecting Agricultural Innovation With Business Impact
What distinguishes the Dubai programme, according to organizers, is its focus on the practical implications of agricultural innovation across multiple dimensions of business and sustainability.
Rather than concentrating on any single technology or crop, the agenda is designed to examine climate-resilient farming, vertical and controlled-environment agriculture, institutional investment in agribusiness, specialty and export agriculture, and the workforce development needed to support sector-wide growth.
The breadth of the speaker profiles above reflects this approach, bringing together operators and executives from organizations including 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 and Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch, alongside institutional investment leadership from AAAID and government representation from the Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai.
Networking, Awards and Industry Engagement
Beyond the conference sessions, AgriNext Dubai is set to provide opportunities for attendees to connect through an exhibition floor, an attendee directory, forum, one-to-one chat and networking connections available through paid passes. Confirmed exhibitors currently include Next Business Media (Booth 101) and Champions Coffee (Booth 111), with a broad roster of media partners providing coverage of the event.
The event portal also provides opportunities to speak, exhibit, sponsor, become a media partner, join as a thought leader or committee member, apply as an investor, apply to pitch as a startup, and nominate an individual or organization for the AgriNext Awards. The day is set to culminate in the AgriNext Awards Ceremony, providing a platform to recognize individuals and organizations driving innovation in agriculture.
Event Details
Event: AgriNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026
Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Time: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM (GMT+4)
Venue: Al Thuraya Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira by IHG
Address: Salah Al Din St, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Join AgriNext Dubai 2026
With agriculture moving rapidly from experimentation into scaled, technology-driven deployment, the AgriNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 is positioned as a meeting point for leaders looking at what comes next — from climate-resilient farming and vertical agriculture to institutional investment, specialty crops and workforce development.
Organizations, agribusiness leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals are invited to be part of the next phase of agricultural innovation. Delegates can attend the full-day programme to hear from industry leaders, meet peers across the value chain through dedicated networking opportunities, and take part in the conversation shaping agriculture’s future in the region.
Those wishing to take a more active role are encouraged to get involved: speak as a session panelist or keynote presenter, showcase products and services as an exhibitor or sponsor, partner with the event as a media partner, join as a thought leader or committee member, or apply as an investor or startup pitch participant. Organizations and individuals driving meaningful agricultural innovation are also invited to submit a nomination for the AgriNext Awards.
AgriNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 takes place on 21 October 2026 at Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira by IHG.
Official Event Portal: https://portal.nextbusinessmedia.com/events/agrinext-awards-conference-dubai-2026
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