AgriNext 2024: Driving Agricultural Innovation and Collaboration

Next Business Media has successfully concluded the inaugural AgriNext Conference 2024, held on November 13-14 in Dubai, successfully bringing together global leaders, innovators, and stakeholders in agriculture and technology. The event served as a dynamic forum for exploring the challenges and opportunities that shape the future of farming and sustainable agriculture.

CEO’s message:

“AgriNext is more than a conference, it’s a movement to drive meaningful change in agriculture through collaboration and innovation,” 

-Mr. Anas Jawed, Chair of the AgriNext Awards, Conference & Expo.

Sponsor: We were proud to have Aliyah Rizq Holdings Pte Ltd as the Gold Sponsor of our event. Renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to excellence, the company drives impactful change across industries. Their support has been instrumental in the success of this event, and we deeply appreciate their partnership in shaping a sustainable and innovative future.

Highlights of the Event:

• Distinguished Chief Guest: The AgriNext Conference 2024 hosted an inspiring panel discussion on Women in Agriculture Technology, graced by the presence of H.E. Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Board Chairman of AAAID, as the Chief Guest. The session emphasized the critical role of women in driving innovation and sustainability in agriculture. Esteemed speakers explored strategies for empowering women through technology, addressing challenges, and fostering inclusive leadership to shape the future of the agricultural sector.
• Strategic Collaborations: The conference facilitated six significant collaborations between leading agricultural organizations and technology firms, setting the stage for transformative projects in precision farming, sustainable agriculture, and agri-finance. These partnerships underscore AgriNext’s role as a catalyst for meaningful innovation in the global agricultural sector.
• Engaging Sessions: The conference featured thought-provoking discussions, including “Women in Agricultural Technology” moderated by Susan Payne, which emphasized the role of inclusivity in driving innovation, and “Challenges and Opportunities in Agri-Tech Startups” led by Noorhan Abusamra, which explored the dynamic landscape of agricultural entrepreneurship.
• Keynote Presentations: Visionary speakers shared groundbreaking insights, such as Ponsi Trivisvavet on “Agricultural Biotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges” and Felix Krujatz discussing the “Digital Twins for the AI-assisted optimization of next generation Controlled Environment Agriculture Systems”
• Excellence Celebrated: The AgriNext Awards recognized outstanding contributions to the industry, with companies and individuals receiving accolades for their innovation, sustainability efforts, and leadership.

Showcasing Innovation.

Over 12 exhibitors from around the world presented cutting-edge technologies, including robotic vertical farms, advanced biotechnology solutions, and AI-powered tools for precision agriculture. Companies such as Elite Agro Projects, Farm to Plate, and B-farm highlighted how technological advancements can address global food security challenges. List of the exhibitors:

1. The Smart Farmers
2. Seasony
3. Eight Orbit Urban Farms
4. Elite Agro Projects
5. Farm to Plate
6. Vitalizem
7. S.T.D.P.2A
8. Agro Advance Technology
9. Azienda Agricola Nenci
10.  B-farm
11. Wai Genetics
12. CAIMPEX
13. RESPECTfarms

Networking and Collaboration.

The event attracted over 500 participants, including agricultural experts, policymakers, and innovators, providing unparalleled networking and collaboration opportunities to address climate change, food security, and sustainable farming. AgriNext featured a distinguished lineup of speakers who shared their expertise on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in agri-tech and sustainable farming. Their insights are shaping the future of agriculture, inspiring progress and collaboration across the global agricultural community.

1. Kåre Johan Teigen, Wai Genetics – Co-Founder/CCO
2. Paul Sanz, TechneTerra – Founder and CEO
3. Dennis Levine, Water Garden Farms – Founder & CEO
4. María Jesús Verón Jarque, Viveros Verón – CEO
5. Lucas Proto, ONE SMART SPRAY – Global Product Manager
6. Michael Sexton, Exotic Plant Food, LLC. – Founder and CEO
7. Ghita Sabil, UNIMAGRI – Chief Operations Officer
8. Paolo Nenci, Azienda Agricola Nenci – Founder
9. Indra Subono, Lembur Hiling – Founder
10. Sky Kurtz, Pure Harvest Smart Farms – Founder & CEO
11. Alejandro J. Trueba Carranza, Startup Renaissance – CEO
12. Ricardo Daura, Algiecel – Chief Commercial Officer
13. Lorenzo Marconi, FieldRobotics – Co-Founder
14. Vinita Palaniveloo, Rakkon Enterprise Inc. – Founder
15. M S Akshar, Hasiru Farms – Founder & CEO
16. Nelson Neo, Musang Valley – Co-Founder and General Manager
17. Gianni Capalbo, Terrae Matrum – Founder
18. Magnolia M Yace, CAIMPEX – R&D Director
19. Juan Gilberto Limón Rugerio, City of Greens – Founder and CEO
20. Juan Pablo Brichta, Agro Advance Technology – CEO and Chairman
21. Fahmi AlKharusi, Firdous Biotech – Co-Founder
22. Seda Solmaz, Idea Atelier – CEO
23. José Francisco Fernández Serna, E-motion / Freshko DMCC – Managing Director
24. Susan Payne, Sustainable Planet – Co-Founder and COO
25. Meccay Nimmer, Carolina Seed Farm – CEO and Director of Business
26. H.E. Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, AAAID – Chairman of the Board
27. Gustavo Lemes, VITALIZEM – Founder
28. Sue Rose, PoliticalVIP – CEO, Founder
29. Laura Lukasik, Numen.Bio – Founder and President
30. Narendra Nerla, Climate Sense Inc. – India Director
31. Dr. Lutz Collet, Collet & Partner GmbH – Founder and CEO
32. René Tort Llanos, Bionatur Invernaderos Biologicos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. – Director General/CEO
33. Mark El Khoury, Green Peas S.A.L. – Co-Founder
34. Dr. Vladimir V. Matichenkov – Professor
35. Connor Harbison, Atlas Urban Farms – Founder
36. Marion Cantillon, Pitseal – Founder
37. Lebo Dhludhlu, Nkanyezii – Group CEO
38. Roberto Escalante, ISQUISA – CEO
39. Noorhan Abusamra – Financial Journalist
40. David Bell, J.C Bell Ltd & Fairfield Farms – CEO
41. Khalil Ibrahim Mansour, PepperWorld – General Manager
42. Dr. Eliud Urquidi, Valisye/Avogold de Michoacan – CEO
43. Raman Singh Saluja, Gramco – Founder
44. Jordan Herring, Hidden Valley Genetics (HVG) – Founder and CEO
45. Ponsi Trivisvavet, Inari – CEO & Director
46. Sanjay Borkar, FarmERP – CEO & Co-Founder
47. Imane Bounaga – Commercial Advisor, Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries
48. Andrew Young, Growth Point Agribusiness – Managing Director
49. Greg Wright, Food People – Co-Founder, Advisor, and Moderator
50. Marcel Sanchez, M&M Solargenics – Co-Founder and CEO
51. Mark Brian Semakula, Africa Agricultural Network (AAN) – Co-founder and CEO
52. Sergio Barrero, Agroclimatica/Ingemann Data – International Commercial Director
53. Simbarashe Chiro, BFA Bank & Nashe Agro – Agribusiness Project Analyst & Co-Founder
54. KOFFI Igor Constantin, S.T.D.P.2A – CEO
55. Luis Enrique, Hydrobit – COO
56. Taher Kassem, ALGOFAIT – CEO
57. Justinas Taruška, Nando – Head
58. Giovanni Angiolini, Dutch Greenhouse Delta – Director of Middle East & Africa
59. Jasper van Halder, Agnition – CEO
60. Demir Murat Aksoy, Cropto Agriculture Tokens – CEO
61. Khaled Radi, Radi Farms – Founder
62. Arun Raste, NCDEX – Managing Director & CEO
63. Nadine Benchaffai – Venture Builder Director
64. Deepak Pareek, HnyB Tech-Incubations Pvt. Ltd – Founder
65. Amit Grover, Grover & Company – Founder and Managing Partner
66. Burak Karslioglu, The Smart Farmers – Country Manager
67. Mehmet Emekli, The Smart Farmers – Co-Founder
68. Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture – President
69. Abdel Rahman Alzubaidi, Ivvest – CEO
70. Gaurav Narang, CityGreens – Founder
71. Hassan Halawy, Elite Agro Projects – General Manager
72. Shirley Shahar, Desert Tech-Venture  – Founder
73. Richard Kohn, Iyris – Marketing Director
74. Hussein Al Hussein, Farm To Plate – Regional Manager

Award Ceremony Recap: The event successfully recognized over 34 companies on Day 1 for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the industry. On Day 2, more than 26 prestigious awards were presented to outstanding leaders who have demonstrated excellence and innovation in their fields. The two-day ceremony celebrated the success of both organizations and individuals, highlighting the significant impact they continue to make in their respective industries.

Companies:

1. Hyggelig Hills Farm
2. Anavision
3. Green Peas S.A.L
4. VIVEROS VERON
5. PitSeal
6. Azienda Agricola Nenci
7. ElkeMelk
8. PFx Biotech, Ldas
9. Aya Kenz
10. Firdous Biotech
11. FieldRobotics
12. Wholomics
13. RESPECTfarms
14. Aliyah Rizq Holdings
15. Agro Advance Technology
16. Ingemann Data SA
17. Startup Renaissance
18. Acuspray
19. ADAFSA (listed twice)
20. Stiltons
21. CAIMPEX
22. Agrisud
23. Musang Valley Plantation
24. Atlas Urban Farms
25. FarmERP
26. Lembur Hiling
27. Nando
28. City of Greens
29. AgriGuruOnline
30. Wai Genetics
31. STDP2A
32. VITALIZEM
33. Cropto Agriculture Tokens
34. Seamon seeds

Leaders:

1. Dr. Gopal Kuchhadiya
2. Angel Berlian Fonataba
3. Cinnamon Sanchez
4. Rabih M. Kamleh
5. Raman Singh Saluja
6. Michael Sexton
7. Dennis Levine
8. Lebo Dhludhlu
9. Marcel Sanchez
10. Simbarashe Chiro
11. Susan Payne
12. Lutz Collet
13. Paul Sanz
14. Emrullah GÖKHAN
15. Lucas de Oliveira Arruda Proto
16. Sathish Surendran
17. Mark Brain
18. Taher
19. Meccay Nimmer
20. Luis Enrique Ortiz Madrigal
21. Felix Krujatz
22. Carlo De Biasi
23. David Bell
24. Roberto Escalante Soto
25. Jordan Herring
26. Nando

Looking Ahead:

Following the success of the Dubai edition, AgriNext is gearing up for its 2nd edition in London, scheduled for May 15-16, 2025. The event promises to expand on its mission of empowering the agricultural sector through technology and innovation. Additionally, the 3rd edition will take place in Dubai on November 5-6, 2025, continuing to drive growth and collaboration in the global agriculture industry.