The SIAL Innovation Award

SIAL Middle East, the regional edition of the largest food exhibition network in the world, has announced that nominations are now open for the SIAL Innovation Award. The winners will be named at the SIAL Middle East: The Middle Eastern Food Exhibition which is scheduled on November 26 to 28, 2012 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The SIAL Innovation Award is a global food accolade presented at each SIAL Group event, which includes SIAL Canada, China, Paris, Brazil and the UAE. This year marks the award's second iteration in the Middle East, with entries judged by experts from XTC World Innovation, an independent food innovation consultancy that has a long history of judging food products at SIAL events worldwide.

Innovative concepts that highlight the growing demand for healthier food options among Arab consumers are expected to attract audiences at this year's show. Interest in natural and organic foodstuffs has been on the upswing in recent years as a result of enhanced awareness on the role of nutritional choices in preventing diabetes and other health threats identified with the region.

The ever-increasing wealthy and multicultural residents in the Middle East are especially drawn to advances that tap unique local food resources, such as camel milk and dates. These products were also popular at the SIAL editions in Abu Dhabi, Paris and Shanghai. For example, dates from the UAE were judged as the best-selling product at the SIAL China 2012.

"This award is highly anticipated in the industry and has become the showcase of food innovations from around the world. For the companies participating, this award has often been the springboard to
success and to the supermarket shelves," says Xavier Terlet, CEO of XTC World Innovation.

Ten creative concepts will be chosen and displayed within SIAL Middle East's Innovation Observatory. The overall winner will be announced at the official awards ceremony on November 26, 2012.

The top 10 products will be displayed at the SIAL Innovation Observatories in Canada, China and Brazil in 2013 and at SIAL Paris in 2014, giving companies a unique marketing opportunity to test their products in these markets.

"The visibility of nominated products to hundreds of thousands of food buyers during SIAL events, and to the international trade media, is second to none," adds Mr Terlet. Exhibitors can nominate products through the SIAL Middle East website at www.sialme.com. Entries will be accepted until October 12, 2012.

"Innovation is key to addressing the numerous challenges faced by the Middle East's food industry and growing concerns over the ability of the region to meet its burgeoning food demands. The quest for healthier living is another driving force for fresher approaches to the region's food initiatives. SIAL Middle East is an important platform for identifying and exploring the latest solutions, and its SIAL
Innovation Award promises to reveal new and exciting directions for the Middle East's long-term food agenda," says Chris Fountain, managing director, Turret Media.

Food security is a major challenge for GCC countries, a group that imports 90% of its food in the face of limited arable land and a rapidly growing population. The UAE's recent acquisition and leasing of over 1.4 million hectares of arable land in Sudan, Pakistan and Morocco and $1.4bn in investments into value-added food manufacturing characterises the growing urgency among Arab states to protect and preserve their food interests.

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