Sharjah Delegation Visits Italy's University of Bologna to Boost Scientific Collaboration in Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

A Sharjah delegation led by Dr. Khalifa Musbah Al Tunaiji, head of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, wrapped up a visit to the University of Bologna focused on building scientific partnerships. The trip aimed to share knowledge on sustainable farming, animal health, and beekeeping while exploring Italy's advanced greenhouse and smart agriculture technologies powered by AI.

The delegation included Dr. Rabiha Saboussi, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saadi from the College of Agriculture, and specialists in agricultural production, livestock, and beekeeping from both the agriculture department and Iktifa.

The team visited several key research centers at the University of Bologna. At the Big Data Innovation and Research Excellence Center (BI-REX), they examined the latest food tracking technologies and AI-powered agricultural data analysis. The Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) showcased cutting-edge research facilities for crop disease prevention and plant health. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) demonstrated their livestock health programs.

Al Tunaiji presented Sharjah's sustainable organic food security projects during the visit. He also highlighted Al Dhaid University's research and academic programs in agriculture and veterinary medicine.

Both sides discussed potential joint research projects covering beekeeping, agricultural production, wheat variety improvement, and modern farming techniques. The talks also covered student and researcher exchanges plus joint training programs.

Here's where it gets interesting for the region's food security goals. The UAE has been pushing hard to reduce food import dependence, which currently sits at around 85%. Sharjah's partnership with Bologna taps into Italy's expertise in precision agriculture and sustainable farming methods that could work well in desert climates.

The collaboration makes sense from an economic standpoint too. Italy's agricultural technology sector has been growing, and Middle Eastern markets offer significant opportunities for expansion. For Sharjah, accessing European research capabilities could accelerate their agricultural innovation timeline by years rather than decades.

The focus on AI and big data in agriculture reflects a broader trend across the Gulf states. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are betting that technology can help overcome natural limitations like water scarcity and extreme temperatures. Bologna's BI-REX center specializes in exactly these kinds of data-driven solutions.