Gracia Group, Emirates Agricultural Pioneers Association provide one million seedlings for distribution to Emirati homes

As part of the ‘Plant the Emirates’ National Programme and in line with the objectives of the ‘National Agriculture Centre’, Gracia Group and the Emirates Agricultural Pioneers Association, held a high-level event that involved providing one million seedlings of ornamental plants and fruit trees to be distributed to Emirati homes across the country.

This initiative aligns with the UAE's commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices and actively involving the community in the agricultural production ecosystem to enhance national food security.

The event was held at Gracia Farm in Abu Dhabi today, in the presence of Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and a number of the Ministry's officials, as well as Hamed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Emirates Agricultural Pioneers Association and Founder of Gracia Group.

She said, “We are delighted with the generous contribution of Gracia Group and the Emirates Agricultural Pioneers Association, who have provided one million seedlings of ornamental plants and fruit trees. This remarkable initiative strengthens our efforts to engage the community in home farming and boost agricultural production. We are confident that the community will play an increasingly active role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and greening initiatives nationwide. We appreciate this significant contribution from our key partners to enhance national food security and hope to see more private sector partners join in these efforts.”

She added, “This initiative aligns with the mission of the National Agriculture Centre, a cornerstone of the country's agricultural efforts and an innovative platform uniting stakeholders to address agricultural challenges. By supporting national farmers and local farms, the centre aims to enhance local crop production and strengthen their role in achieving sustainable national food security.”

Al Hamed stated, “We are committed to realising our wise leadership's vision of elevating the agricultural sector, as it is a responsibility shared by all. In collaboration with our strategic partners, we will launch this initiative to distribute the one million seedlings to various homes, organisations, and schools across the country, promoting agricultural practices among all members of our community.”

The event kicked off with the distribution of the first batch of seedlings. 10,000 seedlings of different types, including ornamental plants and fruit trees, will be distributed to schools, individuals, government entities, hospitals, mosques, universities, and private companies. To ensure a continuous supply of seedlings, a special committee comprising Gracia employees and volunteers has been formed to prepare the subsequent batches.

The initiative engages all segments of society, including the public and private sectors, by providing a diverse selection of seedlings suited to the UAE’s climate. This effort aims to expand green spaces and enhance environmental quality. Additionally, the initiative offers awareness workshops on best agricultural practices and proper seedling care to promote healthy, sustainable growth.

A dedicated website for the initiative featuring educational videos on how to plant and care for seedlings, will be launched soon.

A select group of schools, government entities, and individuals will receive seedlings based on their submitted requests and demonstrated commitment to planting and maintaining them.