At the 4th Mexico Date Palm Festival, UAE and Mexico reaffirm their cooperation in palm agriculture, boosting research, trade and agricultural innovation.
SAN LUIS RÍO COLORADO: The United Arab Emirates and the United Mexican States are witnessing a steady expansion in agricultural cooperation, especially in the field of date palm cultivation, as highlighted during the 4th Mexico International Date Palm Festival, held in San Luis Río Colorado.
César Iván Sandoval Gámez, Mayor of San Luis Río Colorado, described the event as a vital platform for bringing together palm producers, researchers, students and international partners. He emphasised the festival’s role in promoting knowledge exchange and sustainable production practices, while expanding global opportunities for Mexico’s thriving date industry.
The event was the result of collaboration between Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonora State University, and the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, supported by Erth Zayed Philanthropies.
Lise Alschuler, President and CEO of Sonoran University of Health Sciences, underlined the festival’s significance as a national gathering for stakeholders across the palm and date sector. “This collaboration has strengthened the presence of academics, researchers, the private sector, and the wider community,” she said, praising the UAE’s support in enabling such international exchanges.
Representing the UAE, Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Secretary-General of the Khalifa Award, noted that the festival was a success due to the combined efforts of participants from San Luis Río Colorado and Mexicali, as well as regional and international contributors.
He shared that Mexico is the fourth-largest producer of Medjool dates worldwide, with this premium variety comprising 94 percent of the country’s total production. Annually, Mexico yields around 20,000 metric tonnes of dates, which are increasingly recognised in global markets for their high quality.
The UAE’s involvement in such agricultural initiatives reflects its long-standing commitment to strengthening international cooperation, promoting sustainable farming, and supporting agricultural innovation through institutions such as the Khalifa Award.
This growing partnership between the UAE and Mexico is expected to further enhance scientific research, trade relations, and technological exchange in the agricultural sector, particularly in the cultivation and export of dates—a culturally and economically significant crop for both nations.
