SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the Second Global Conference on Saving Grace will be held at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre on November 26 and 27.
Organised by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), this event aims to enhance the UAE's dedication to global food security and sustainable resource management.
Under the theme "For All of Us", the conference will bring together leaders and experts from the food security and environmental sectors to discuss innovative strategies that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Echoing the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who noted, “Give me agriculture and I will give you civilisation”, the conference aspires to establish a sustainable future by ensuring the conservation of natural resources for future generations.
The event’s partners include the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), ADNOC, Dubai Charity Association, Emirates Driving Company, Al Ain Farms, and UAE Food Bank, and is coordinated by HDTC MEDIA.
Mohammed Yousef Al Fahim, Deputy Secretary-General for Support Services at ERC, said that the conference will unite experts in sustainability, agriculture, as well as food security to address hunger and promote environmental sustainability.
In order to lead environmental innovations that highlight the importance of culture and education in sustainability, he said, the conference will concentrate on future potential through technology and artificial intelligence.
By leveraging international expertise, it seeks to build on last year's successes and adapt to current trends in grace preservation.
Dr. Kayan Akram Jaff, Senior Advisor and Head of Mission for the FAO-SNG, stressed the conference's role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
He pointed out the urgent need to tackle food waste through the Grace Preservation Initiative.
Dr. Jaff highlighted that the conference represents a collective effort to reduce waste and promote sustainability amid significant food waste and hunger, while reaffirming FAO's commitment to long-term partnerships, especially with ERC.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the event, Sultan Al Shehi, Manager of the Grace Conservation Project at ERC, said: "We are devoting our efforts to the topic of sustainability and how to benefit from the seven graces: food, clothing, medicine, agriculture, environment, energy, and technology. These are the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. How can we harness them for future generations and find solutions to existing waste, whether food waste or any other type.”
Also speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Jaff stressed the significance of the conference, noting that the seven pillars of the initiative align with FAO's mandate, reflecting a shared vision.
"The Grace preservation conference is an important event in Abu Dhabi. While many events occur, this one stands out as a strong partnership for the FAO,” he said.
He called the conference a networking opportunity to tackle water scarcity, support smallholder farmers, as well as aid humanitarian projects in Yemen, Iraq, Sudan, and Gaza.
Dr. Jaff added that FAO's UN status allows it to deliver essential goods like medicine and food, in collaboration with ERC.
He also noted that FAO's technology focuses on greening agriculture, and they aim to promote this further with the support of the UAE, seeking partnerships with both the private sector and civil society for these projects.