Dubai: He is one of the faces at the UAE Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai, who has been honoured for his community service to residents of the emirate. Meet Yazen Al Kodmani, operations manager with Emirates Bio Farm, a one-of-a-kind organic farm that is attracting visitors from the UAE and the rest of the world and educating them on everything they want to know about agriculture and farming.
The Canadian-Syrian, who is elated about being the exclusive pick at the UAE Pavilion, said he was grateful for the recognition his farm received at Expo 2020 Dubai as it spreads a very positive message about farming and agriculture.
Emirates Bio Farm is the largest privately-owned organic farm in the UAE spread across 250,000 square metres within a million square-metre open land in Al Shuwaib, between Dubai and Al Ain.
About Yazen Al Kodmani
Al Kodmani is a seasoned organic farm manager who has developed and overseen the proven hybridisation of large-scale organic farming. He is regarded as one of the pioneers in introducing agritourism and retail to the UAE. With more than a decade of experience, he transformed more than 25 hectares of arid land into a profitable wholesale and direct-to-consumer farm and tourist destination.
Al Kodmani also established 3Y Agtech, an agritech consulting firm, to address the regional food security challenges that bring together the expertise of experienced consultants, developers and farmers.
The idea behind Emirates Bio Farm
The idea behind starting the Emirates Bio Farm is based on promoting environmental protection. The farm also serves as a centre for visitors to educate them about organic farming. “It is a way to promote healthy living,” said Al Kodmani. The farm utilises three types of farming: Open field, shade nets and greenhouses. “This variety of techniques ensures organic fruit and vegetable supply throughout the year. At EBR, we are committed to high-quality, chemical-free farming and that sets us apart. Today, Emirates Bio Farm is considered a trusted supplier of local organic produce.”
Not just that. The educational tours the farm offers is proving to be a hit. “We have more than 60 varieties of crops. The farm produces more than 8,000 eggs a day for the local markets.”
Other attractive features developed by Al Kodmani and his father — who pioneered the concept of Emirates Bio Farm — are a farm shop, farm tours, experience centre and a greenhouse restaurant.
‘The Land of Dreamers Who Do’ is the central theme of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, which features a diverse collection of human-centric stories that represent the UAE’s culture, heritage and values and the unique characteristics that have made the UAE such a welcoming home for people from more than 200 different nationalities.
‘Legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed’
“‘The Dreamers Who Do’ are a collection of individuals who embody the spirit of the UAE and carry forward the legacy set by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” explained Al Kodmani, adding that he was too grateful for being featured at the UAE Pavilion.
For the record, ‘The Dreamers Who Do’ are a representation of what the UAE has become. They are an eclectic range of individuals, who demonstrate a shared sense of ambition and determination and who authentically embody our values and epitomise distinctive aspects of the UAE’s past, present and future.
People who have been picked under the theme at the UAE Pavilion belong to a wide range of discipline.
Interesting stories to tell
From industry-leading innovators to creative minds and altruistic members of the community — they all have interesting stories to tell. Essentially, ‘The Dreamers Who Do’ are the real storytellers at the UAE Pavilion. They are showcased through a multi-sensory immersive experience that highlights their individual stories — stories that represent the nation’s shared values. Not only do these people bring fresh ideas to life in the UAE, but also symbolise hope for the region and beyond. ‘The Dreamers Who Do’ are actively building the future, honouring the UAE culture and diversifying the economy, and their dreams and determination have the power to inspire and unite people in the UAE and around the world.
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‘Values of openness and ambition’
Khalid Saad, Protocol Officer, Relations, said: “Our ‘Dreamers’ are a reflection of the UAE’s thriving culture and diversifying economy. They validate our values of openness and ambition, which allow us to create together and share knowledge for the benefit of all. This nation’s rapid transformation is the direct result of our earlier dreamers’ vision and hard work. ‘Dreamers’ from all over the world, who call the UAE home, are already playing a role in creating a better future for all and are giving us reasons to be optimistic about the future. The journey isn’t over yet. We have ambitious plans for the future and our confidence comes from our values and traditions of resilience.”
