Inspire Middle East: Camelcino, do you know?

The Liwa Date Festival takes place every year Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi. It is an event that recalls the importance of dates in ancient culture but also shows the role they will play in the future agriculture of the Emirates. During the 14th edition of the festival, farmers from all over the oasis reveal the best of their culture but also of their heritage.

The ripening of dates is done in four stages. The first when the fruit has a green, firm skin and is bitter in taste. During the second, the date is lighter and yellow or red in color, it is still firm but its taste is sweeter. The 3rd, which occurs in July/August is when the fruit is characterized by being half sweet like honey and the other half crunchy. The last step is when the dates are perfectly ripe and dry. This is the stage where they are usually exported around the world by major producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The United Arab Emirates is the 4th largest exporter of dates in the world with 8.5% of global exports, which represented approximately 96 million dollars in 2015 according to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Trade map.

Apart from business, dates also have a special place in the hearts of Emiratis.

“Dates are so important in our Emirati culture. Hundreds of years ago people lived in Liwa and other cities in the Emirates, and they used palm fronds for their homes,” explains Obaid Al Mazroui, director of the Liwa Date Festival.

Every year, the Liwa Festival organizes 15 competitions. Among them, a beauty contest with a first prize of 25,000 dollars. Like any beauty contest, participants must meet very strict specifications.

This show is not just about fruit. Traditions of the Bedouin culture of the Emirates are also highlighted, such as the role of women working in the agricultural sector. Traditionally, they weave baskets from palm bark to store and carry fruit after harvest.

Fight against anemia, strengthen bones

To attract new customers and boost their sales, young farmers in the region insist on the nutritional values ​​of dates. For centuries in the Middle East and North Africa, they were used as a cure for anemia, to strengthen bones and teeth and even improve poor eyesight.

The skin of the fruit contains minerals such as iron, potassium and calcium, but also vitamins, vitamin B2 and folic acid. Representatives of this company even say that dates can compete with kale and quinoa in the “superfood” category. The company also makes energy drinks from date juice and chocolate-date bites that can be used as snacks for children.

10,000 camels by 2020

Since camels were domesticated thousands of years ago, camel milk has sustained Bedouin and nomadic cultures. Today, the number of camel farms is increasing around the world, with farmers wanting to attract new markets by banking on the health benefits of this special milk.

25 years ago, in this corner of the Dubai desert, a camel milk production and research center was established. Camelicious, home to 6,000 camels. A number that should reach 10,000 by 2020.

“We always bring in animals from outside but we also have our own breeding program. Emirati camels have a high reproductive potential,” says Dr. Peter Nagy who works at Camelicious.

Every morning at dawn, the animals are fed, milked, and exercised and they know exactly what is going on around them.

“Camels are as smart as horses. Good milk can only be produced by a healthy and happy animal, and like humans, animals have their routines,” says Dr. Peter Nagy.

Camelicious has become a leading local player in the market. It exports to 14 countries and produces flavored milk, ice cream and even shampoo with camel milk extracts.

He also became the first dairyman to produce powdered infant milk from camel milk, for infants intolerant to cow's milk. Camel milk powder has other functions as well.

“We can produce 4,500 liters of milk a day to convert it into powder, which represents almost 500 kilos of powder. The Chinese make cheese from camel milk powder and people are interested in this type of product. The Russian market is very receptive so we will still be making cheese”, explains Koushik Choudhury of the Emirati industry for camel milk.

The company is taking advantage of the growing popularity of camel milk in recent years. The United States and India being the main markets.

The Bedouins call it “white gold”. It would be easier to digest by lactose intolerant people. Research has shown that it contains high levels of vitamin C, iron, calcium and has a positive effect on those who suffer from autoimmune diseases.

Mutasher al Badry from Camelicious invited us to grab a camelccino and take a tour of the farm to talk about the future of his business.

Rebecca MacLaughlin Duane: The cow's milk market is very entrenched. How can you compete?

Mutasher al Badry: It is a big challenge but people who learn about the benefits of camel milk are switching from cow milk to camel milk. Camel milk helps diabetics, autistic children, cancer patients to recover, that's what makes people switch to camel milk.

RMD: You have developed the first non-cow's milk powder. Is it easy to educate mothers in this sense?

MB: Our baby formula was developed after research into milk protein allergies. Camel milk powder was sent to the Pediatric Hospital in Mexico City. They fed it to kids with cow's milk allergy, drank it easily, and published scientific research on it.

RMD: Today it is estimated that nearly half of the world's population has difficulty digesting cow's milk. What is your product development strategy?

MB: Our next product is a camel milk protein bar for people who exercise. It will hit the market before the end of the year.

RMD: The United States is one of the fastest growing markets for camel milk and camel milk products. How about creating a farm there? After all, have you already exported across the Atlantic?

MB: We are planning to export camel milk powder to the United States and now we are looking for manufacturers there, where they can reconstitute the milk powder and produce other things because it is not doesn't make sense to send fresh milk from here.

As for setting up a farm in the United States, we have a franchise and license system, so any American investor who has camels or farms and wants to have our expertise can buy the franchise and the Licence.

RMD: You sell premium products, then I ask you if it is easy to make money. What about margins?

MB: That's a great question. It is very hard to generate good margins at this stage because we are starting from zero. Today we are developing and increasing the number of products we offer. We do not trade with fresh milk because on fresh milk there is no margin. It is very expensive. So we are looking at creating other products, like ice cream, cheese, the protein bar we talked about, baby formula and all kinds of products.