Agenda

Welcome remarks by master of ceremony

Session 1: The journey towards operational excellence in the GCC Agri-nutrients industry

Driving EHSS and reliability standards through operational excellence

Achieving operational excellence: A case study of QAFCO’s framework

Session 2: Process safety – An integrated approach towards achieving operational excellence and ensuring workplace safety

Journeying towards Process Safety Management (GPIC case study)

Progressing towards reliability excellence and Mechanical integrity

Lunch break

Mastering operator care program for achieving operational excellence

Maximizing efficiency and minimizing downtime: Strategies for a successful plant turnaround

Closing remarks by master ceremony

Welcome remarks and curtain raiser

Opening remarks

Opening keynote: Looking ahead – Envisioning the world of agri-nutrients in 2050

Keynote address: 26 years of innovation: A look back from the future

Plenary: Challenges and opportunities of climate change and energy transition

Strategic panel: Adapting food security to climate change

Climate change has and will continue to significantly impact communities around the world, especially in rural areas. In particular, as weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, farmers struggle to support regular crop yields. Adverse weather conditions and other climate-related concerns contribute to unpredictability in terms of mechanization, pests and diseases, and market prices. These factors threaten the livelihood of smallholder farmers around the world, especially in the global south. Through this session, we will discuss:

• What is the state of global food security today, and what is the role of climate change?
• Impact of climate policies and the geography of food security
• Sustainably increase agricultural productivity and incomes
• Reduce and/or remove greenhouse gases emissions, where possible
• How can we advance progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Strategic panel: Taking stock – Mitigating GHG emissions in the agri-nutrients Sector

Amid an evolving food crisis and in line with environmental goals, the global agricultural industry is trying to reduce agriculture’s GHG emissions while contributing to global food security. Agriculture is estimated to contribute up to 24% of total GHG emissions worldwide. As the saying goes, “you can’t manage what you can’t measure”, and  monitoring emissions is a necessary first step in good management. The focus of this discussion is on the GHG mitigating opportunities that exist in the value chain. An important approach to cutting emissions along the supply chain is also making the switch to modern regenerative agricultural practices. Large food corporations have identified regenerative agriculture as a new core strategy since they see the great potential of these approaches. It’s also valuable to work with farmers to tackle the transition. With financial support and technical guidance, we can engage the suppliers.  Through this session, let’s focus on some of the following:

• How can the sector’s value chain partners reduce emissions in the agricultural supply chain?
• Using technology to accelerate sustainable practice adoption
• How can the Agri-nutrient producers strengthen value chain partners engagement, especially with farmers, to reach emission targets?
• Looking ahead, what does the Agriculture sector need to transform the sectors they source from
• Research and Innovation: The efforts that are currently in place and are necessary to develop and promote new technologies, practices, and products to minimize GHG emissions

Presentation: The far-reaching implications of geopolitics on the agri-nutrient sector

The global agriculture and food network is an intricate, interconnected system. Any disruption to one part can have ripple effects throughout the entire network, often with unintended consequences. Through this session, let’s look at:

• How can the international community respond in the short- and medium-term, under an increasingly challenging global actors’ environment, and with accelerating global climate problems, in order to feed the world?
• What new technologies and methods, policies, or other out-of-the-box ideas might exist to address these challenges?

Lunch break

Technical presentation: Feasibility of high-tech greenhouses in the GCC and their impact on reducing GHG emissions

Sustainable food production is a critical challenge in today’s world, especially in regions with arid or desert environments where traditional farming methods face severe limitations. High-tech greenhouses offer a promising solution by harnessing advanced technologies to create optimal growing conditions, enabling efficient and sustainable food production in desert environments. QAFCO presentation explores the application of high-tech greenhouses in desert regions and their potential to address key challenges related to water scarcity, extreme temperatures, and limited arable land. By utilizing cutting-edge techniques such as hydroponics and precision climate control, these greenhouses minimize water usage, maximize crop yield, and reduce environmental impact. Moreover, the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, further enhances their sustainability. The presentation examines various successful case studies and discusses the economic, environmental, and social benefits associated with sustainable food production in high-tech greenhouses in desert environments. Overall, the presentation highlights the transformative potential of high-tech greenhouses in addressing food security challenges and fostering sustainable development in arid regions.

Strategic panel: Biodiversity strategies and its impact on the fertilizer industry

Biodiversity is fundamental to human well-being, a healthy planet, and economic prosperity for all people, including for living well in balance and in harmony with Mother Earth. We depend on it for food, medicine, energy, clean air and water, security from natural disasters as well as recreation and cultural inspiration, and it supports all systems of life on Earth.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to catalyze, enable and galvanize urgent and transformative action by Governments, and subnational and local authorities, with the involvement of all of society, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, to achieve the outcomes it sets out in its Vision, Mission, Goals and Targets, and thereby contribute to the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols. Its purpose is the full implementation of the three objectives of the Convention in a balanced manner.

Through this session, we will discuss:

• The need to assess the implications and opportunities that the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework represents
• The major role we have to play as individual organizations and together, as an industry, to engage with policy makers and showcase how we can contribute

Closing remarks by MC

Opening remarks

Keynote address: The financial implications of transitioning to a sustainable future

Strategic panel: Adopting technologies to transform the agri-nutrient Industry

The agriculture industry has radically transformed over the past 50 years. Advances in machinery have expanded the scale, speed, and productivity of farm equipment, leading to more efficient cultivation of more land. Seed, irrigation, and fertilizers also have vastly improved, helping farmers increase yields. Artificial intelligence, analytics, connected sensors, and other emerging technologies could further increase yields, improve the efficiency of water and other inputs, and build sustainability and resilience Through this session our speakers will share,

• The tools will enable new capabilities in agriculture
• The potential for value creation through technology
• It is also becoming increasingly crucial for farmers, food producers, and technology managers to be knowledgeable and up-to-date with the latest technological standards. How can we ensure awareness around their responsibilities and the technical possibilities?
• Driving the necessary investment in agriculture

Presentation: The potential of Microalgae industry in the sustainability of food, feed and environment

Case study: Capturing the supply chain value leakage

Presentation: CBAM – A blessing or a curse for GCC producers

Recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, technological innovations in the market.

Presentation: Sanctions and Strategies: Understanding supply tightness

• Fertilizer price volatility since 2022
• Sanctions & supply disruption in Russia and Belarus
• Strategic decisions in Morocco and China limit export supply
• The uncertain direction of future prices

Closing remarks

Lunch