Expo 2020 Dubai – Off to a flying start

Expo 2020 off to a flying start with over 410,000 visits in first 10 days

Expo 2020 opened its doors on 1 October, and figures up to and including 10 October show that visitors belonged to 175 nationalities – not far off the 192 countries that are participating in the event, each with its own pavilion. One in three has come from abroad, with this proportion expected to increase as international travel ramps up.

A number of ticket options are open to visitors, with Multi-Day and Season Passes proving popular. One in five visitors have already visited Expo more than once, demonstrating that one day is not enough to enjoy the diverse and dynamic array of activities and entertainment on offer.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “We are very happy with this wonderful turnout. The numbers achieved in the first ten days reflect the enthusiasm of the world to attend Expo 2020 Dubai. The coming days and weeks will be full of special events offering a visitor experience that will be rich, purposeful and entertaining, and we look forward to welcoming many more people from around the world.”

These Expo 2020 Dubai-backed projects are shaking up the food industry

Leading experts from around the world gathered at Expo 2020 on World Food Day for a series of panel discussions on food security and future solutions. This all came as part of the mega-event’s World Food Day programming, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Inaugurating the day’s sessions, Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “We are global citizens, and we need to do our part as well as help others. Our national food security strategy will make the UAE a world-leading hub of innovation-driven food security in the next 30 years.”

Here are 10 Global Innovators supported by Expo Live that are already making a difference in reshaping our food security and food systems in ways that will ensure healthy lives and sustain the planet for generations:

Algramo (Chile): Algramo has developed a technology solution to deliver low-cost food and internet to poor and marginalised communities in Chile, using integrated vending machines.

AMAATI Company (Ghana): AMAATI works with farmers, particularly women, to produce and process fonio, in indigenous grain, creating sustainable livelihoods for women farmers whose lands are degraded because of excessive usage.

Bio Natural Solutions (Peru): ‘Life Cover’ is an ecological solution made from agricultural by-products from fresh produce, such as seeds and kernels, that extends the shelf life of fruits in the post-harvest stage. The solution benefits exporters and producers of fruits, reducing losses by up to 80 per cent and maintaining the quality of the fruits without using harmful chemicals in their packaging. The products also reuse organic waste and avoid the rotting of foods.

Desert Control (Norway): Desert Control’s innovative liquid natural clay can stop and reverse desertification and reduce water usage for agriculture, forests and green landscapes.

Hydroponics Africa Limited (Kenya): Hydroponics Africa empowers women and youths in the slums of Nairobi to become social entrepreneurs, enhancing their livelihood and nutrition levels through hydroponics – a method of growing plants without soil that is fast, economical and sustainable.

Meet My Mama (France): Meet My Mama’s digital platform to order catering aims to professionalise the culinary talents of migrant women and promote a multicultural vision to build a more inclusive and sustainable society.

PichaEats (Malaysia): PichaEats purchases homemade food from refugees before packaging, selling and arranging logistics to deliver to its customers, improving the culinary skills, consistency and professionalism of refugee chefs and lifting them out of poverty.

Plympton Farms (Guyana): Plympton Farms develops and commercialises an outdoor hydroponic growing method, using low-cost grow bags and locally available sand to turn infertile soil into productive farmland.

Re-Nuble (USA) – Re-Nuble’s nutrient delivery technology converts unrecoverable food waste into cost-competitive, controllable fertilisers, enabling farmers to produce more profitable organic produce at half the cost of inorganic production.

Second Harvest (Japan): Second Harvest Japan’s Marugohan (circle+food) creates a virtuous cycle of receiving assistance while giving back to society.

Novartis sheds light on Breast Cancer Awareness at the Swiss Pavilion

Building on Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, Novartis aimed to create global awareness in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting a remarkable panel discussion on October 8th that brought together top-tier stakeholders including Marie-Andrea Gamache, Head of Oncology MEA Region, Novartis, Prof. Humaid Al Shamsi, President of the Emirates Oncology Society, Majed Mohammed, Executive Beneficiary Support Services - Friends of Cancer, Sabrina Zucchello, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and Julie Rihani, a breast cancer survivor.

Consistently ranked among the world’s top companies investing in research and development, Novartis promises to showcase the most promising frontiers of science, the most transformative innovations in medicine, and the most significant healthcare needs during the month of October.

Accenture opens Technology Innovation showcase at Expo 2020 Dubai

Accenture Exchange, the company’s dedicated venue at Expo 2020 Dubai reflecting its role as the Expo’s Official Digital Services Partner, will showcase the company’s most powerful, cutting-edge and engaging innovations for the next six months, the space provides visitors the opportunity to learn more about its leading technology solutions and its role in bringing the Expo to life.

Located in The Partners Hub, overlooking Al Wasl Plaza, the Accenture Exchange is an immersive environment that showcases Accenture’s innovative technology demos in artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, quantum computing, and machine learning, among others. Demos include information security and customer relations solutions, e-ticketing technologies, AI-powered virtual assistants, geolocation services, and more. It is also home to a series of industry-specific client journeys in key areas such as sustainability, energy, health, travel and tourism, and global payments.