Silal Group cultivates expansion of premium blueberry production across the Emirates
A strategic partnership between the UAE's leading agri-food enterprise and IQ Berries heralds an ambitious development programme to establish 50 hectares of sophisticated blueberry cultivation, reinforcing the nation's commitment to agricultural innovation and food security.
Silal Group, the UAE’s foremost agri-food and technology enterprise, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Ayla Modern Farms, the exclusive Middle Eastern representative of IQ Berries, to advance blueberry production across the Emirates through the introduction of meticulously selected varieties specifically suited to the nation’s distinctive environmental and climatic conditions.
This ambitious initiative encompasses the development of 50 hectares of blueberry cultivation, representing a significant expansion of Silal’s horticultural portfolio. The collaboration will grant Silal exclusive access to premium blueberry varieties and genetics of exceptional quality, thereby facilitating the Group’s commercial expansion throughout the UAE and into selected regional markets under the stewardship of Ayla Modern Farms as the regional brand’s intellectual property manager.
The memorandum was executed during Silal Group’s participation at Fruit Attraction in Madrid, where Dhafer Rashed Al Qasimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Silal, witnessed the signing alongside Emil Moukarzel, Chief Farming Officer at Silal, and Abdallah Al Tayeh, Chief Executive Officer of Ayla Modern Farms.
Mr Al Qasimi remarked that the partnership represents a strategically significant advancement in supporting the organisation’s expansion ambitions for local blueberry cultivation, whilst simultaneously strengthening the nation’s food security objectives and developing indigenous agricultural production capabilities. He emphasised the Group’s commitment to introducing premium varieties capable of thriving under Emirati climatic conditions, thereby satisfying the requirements of both domestic and regional markets, whilst enhancing productivity and crop quality through sustainable, locally-grown blueberry supply chains.
The initial phase of the programme will focus upon two carefully selected varieties: MegaEarly and MegaCrisp, chosen for their exceptional suitability to protected cultivation systems within warm climate environments. These varieties demonstrate remarkable potential in terms of yield performance, superior fruit quality, ideal firmness characteristics and impressive shelf-life capabilities. The MegaEarly variety has demonstrated the remarkable capacity to maintain stable fruit quality for in excess of 30 days under conventional blueberry cold-storage conditions, whilst both varieties possess self-pollinating characteristics, thereby substantially reducing the complexities and logistical considerations associated with traditional pollination methodologies.
Silal anticipates developing the designated 50-hectare area progressively over the forthcoming three years, implementing a planting density of 6,000 plants per hectare. Planting operations are expected to commence in 2027, with the inaugural commercial harvest anticipated during the 2028 season, with the initiative advancing towards its designated production capacity by 2030. The expanded programme will principally occur across Silal’s existing farming operations, augmenting and replacing the current 14-hectare blueberry production area, with potential further expansion through selected contracted agricultural partners contingent upon market demand and grower engagement.
MegaEarly demonstrates additional potential for continuous flowering and fruiting within warm climates, presenting the possibility of extended or year-round production capabilities, subject to successful validation of this performance under greenhouse conditions throughout the Emirates.
Source: WAM