Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Sharing their insights with Aletihad on the outcomes of the Global Food Security Summit 2024, which concluded at ADNEC this week, Badr Al Shehhi, Director of the Communication and Community Engagement Division at Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), and Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Food & Beverage Manufacturers Group, emphasised the pivotal role of the summit in positioning the UAE as a leader in food security and innovation.
Al Shehhi explained: "We came with more than 10 recommendations covering all aspects of the food security elements on the government side, on the national side how to empower women in the food security aspects and also how to engage the youth.
"There were several sessions about the youth and the engagement of the youth was a real part of it. Food loss and waste was also there and many recommendations to go around the world on how to save our food, to enhance the food supply chain and to ultimately achieve zero waste in terms of food waste."
He also highlighted a new project under discussion: "There is a new project, which is a collaboration between ADAFSA and the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organisation]. It is simply about a masterplan for the whole of Abu Dhabi. What to grow, when to grow and what is the best time and what are the best crops to be grown in this region."
The project includes recommendations for crop growth, animal production and breed selection for meat and milk.
It will provide farmers with clear data and actionable insights, enabling them to enhance their food production in terms of meat and milk.
Al Shehhi explained that farmers will be supported with data-driven solutions.
"The farmers who are registered with us will receive a clear picture through data. Once they access their data, they will know which crops are best to grow and which animal breeds are most suitable. This is how we can enhance our food production," he said.
In addition, Lootah stressed the importance of cooperation, stating: "It has to be a collaboration between private, government and academia to find solutions for the challenge on a level of national, like local, regional, GCC and globally."
He highlighted two key initiatives for the UAE's food sector: the Economic Cluster Economy, a revolutionary approach involving all stakeholders, and the Food Invest Hub, aimed at attracting regional and global investors to explore and assess food sector opportunities.
Discussing his expectations, he said, "The expectation is really for the UAE to play a bigger role in the world when it comes to the food sector, for one.
"The other thing is how can we bring the right innovation and the right technologies where we can utilise it, assess it and put it in action in the UAE and in the region?
"Third, to bring the right investment for this sector. By bringing talent, by bringing investment, by bringing the best brains to participate in such events, no doubt our sector will benefit and the region will benefit from this platform."
