On November 29, 2025, two distinct but equally transformative events in the world of technology and agriculture highlighted the growing influence of digital innovation across industries. In Dubai, the DATE MENA 2025 Summit convened the region’s top technologists, innovators, investors, and enterprise leaders at Madinat Jumeirah, setting the stage for a new era of digital transformation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Meanwhile, in India, Srideep N. Kesavan, CEO of Heritage Foods Limited, shared insights into how the company is leveraging technology and a deep-rooted commitment to farmer empowerment to shape the future of India’s dairy industry.
At the heart of Dubai’s bustling tech scene, the DATE MENA 2025 Summit—organized by Trescon and co-located with the CARE Climate Action, Renewable Energy and Sustainability Forum—brought together over 1,000 pre-qualified attendees. These included top investors, enterprise decision-makers, and industry leaders from across the MENA region, all eager to drive breakthrough solutions and set a new benchmark for the region’s digital future. According to Trescon’s Chief Strategy Officer, Sanjiv Singh, the summit was about moving “beyond experimentation, turning innovation into scalable, real-world impact.”
The summit’s opening was marked by a keynote from Dr. Marwan AlZarouni, CEO of AI at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. He spoke passionately about Dubai’s “Dual Engine”—the fusion of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology that is accelerating innovation and strengthening the Emirate’s digital economy. As reported by Trescon, Dr. AlZarouni’s address underscored how these technologies are not just buzzwords but real drivers of economic and societal progress in the region.
Throughout the two-day event, delegates engaged in a curated program of panels, fireside conversations, and executive roundtables. Key topics ranged from AI adoption and enterprise transformation to cybersecurity, digital assets, and governance frameworks. The summit explored how MENA is leveraging AI and blockchain to foster innovation, while discussions on virtual assets, tokenization, and liquidity frameworks highlighted the UAE’s growing influence in the global Web3 ecosystem. Cybersecurity experts examined next-generation architectures and Zero Trust frameworks, equipping enterprises with the tools to secure adaptive, resilient infrastructures against a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
The collaborative spirit was further strengthened by a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Digital MENA and the Dubai Blockchain Center, signaling a commitment to advance digital innovation across the region. According to Akhil Koka, CEO of Magure, “DATE has demonstrated how MENA is moving from experimentation to execution in AI, digitization, and emerging technologies. The Summit drove real solutions, collaboration, and the next wave of digital transformation across the region.”
One of the summit’s highlights was the DATE Launchpad, where student-led innovations took center stage. Five leading startups competed in the FutureTech World Cup, showcasing game-changing technologies that attracted investor attention and secured mentorship opportunities. Synapse HealthTech emerged as the winner for its revolutionary healthcare technology and data solutions, signaling the region’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of tech pioneers.
Across the exhibition halls, attendees explored cutting-edge technology solutions, engaged with innovators and AI-first startups, and forged partnerships poised to shape the region’s digital economy. Workshops and thought leadership sessions provided practical frameworks for deploying AI, generative AI, and agentic systems across core business operations—demonstrating DATE’s commitment to actionable transformation, not just dialogue. As Yousif Hussain, Director – AI Hub MENA Lead at EY, put it: “Thanks to DATE and Trescon for organising a fantastic event. We had great network opportunities with senior leaders in the industry and understanding the latest trends on AI. I’m looking forward to next year’s conference.”
While Dubai’s summit was setting the pace for digital transformation in MENA, Heritage Foods Limited in India was quietly revolutionizing the dairy sector through a blend of technological innovation and social purpose. Srideep N. Kesavan, CEO of Heritage Foods, outlined a vision that places farmer empowerment and technology at the core of the company’s strategy. Having attained debt-free status in November 2021, Heritage Foods has focused on expanding its value-added dairy product offerings, which contributed 38% of revenue in the first quarter of 2025. A new state-of-the-art ice cream manufacturing facility in Telangana is expected to raise annual revenues from this segment to approximately Rs700 crore over the next five years, according to Bizz Buzz.
Heritage Foods’ commitment to farmers is evident in its extensive procurement network, which supports over 300,000 milk producers across 9,000 to 10,000 villages. Notably, women account for 40% of both farmers and village-level representatives, and the company operates with 100% cashless payments, transferring earnings directly into farmers’ bank accounts. Out of the annual revenue of Rs4,500–4,600 crore, nearly Rs3,400–3,500 crore is paid directly to farmers for milk procurement, creating significant rural impact.
Kesavan described Heritage Foods’ mission as twofold: “To delight every household with fresh and healthy dairy products and to empower farmers.” This guiding philosophy has driven the company’s strategic transformation since Kesavan took the helm in 2021. The company has accelerated its shift toward value-added dairy products, with a portfolio that has grown at a 22–23% compound annual growth rate over the last five years—well above the industry average.
Technology is a cornerstone of Heritage Foods’ operations. The company’s processes are fully digitized end-to-end through SAP ERP, from milk procurement at village centers to consumer sales. Over two dozen tech applications support sales, procurement, and farmer engagement, including VetPlus—a veterinary app with over 120,000 daily active users. This platform amplifies the reach of Heritage’s 40 veterinarians, delivering videos, guidance, and best practices directly to farmers. The company is also exploring deeper integration of artificial intelligence to further strengthen both farmer empowerment and consumer delight.
Innovation at Heritage Foods is guided by extensive consumer research. The company conducts 40,000 consumer interviews annually across 48 research studies and reaches 100,000 households through syndicated panels. Insights from this research inform a robust R&D program, led by a team of dairy scientists and collaborations with institutions like NDRI, CFTRI, NIFTEM, and TACTASTE. “If we can’t create something exceptional, we won’t launch it,” Kesavan stated, emphasizing a commitment to quality and differentiation.
Building resilience against climate volatility is a pressing concern for Heritage Foods. The company has increased the average number of farmers per collection center from 15 to 21–22, facilitates Rs200 crore in loans annually for herd expansion, and has improved per-animal productivity by 20% in four to five years through better feed practices. The goal is to reach 100–120 grams of high-protein concentrate feed per liter for optimal yield, up from the current 75 grams.
Looking ahead, Heritage Foods aims for mid-teen revenue growth of 15–16% annually over the next three to five years and plans to double farmer income within five years, with measurable annual targets. The company is also expanding into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through an omni-channel, fit-for-purpose route-to-market model tailored to local dynamics.
From Dubai’s high-profile tech summit to the rural heartlands of India, these stories reflect a global trend: the convergence of digital innovation, strategic partnerships, and social purpose is redefining what’s possible across industries. Whether it’s driving real-world impact with AI and blockchain or empowering farmers through technology and research, the future is being shaped by those who dare to combine ambition with action.
