UAE taking stringent steps to reduce food loss and enhance resilience of local food system
Rising populations, changing consumer trends and global climate change demand a revamp of food and agriculture systems. The UAE has food security high on its agenda as the country imports nearly 90% of its food due to its desert climate.
Food and agriculture play an integral role in every country’s economy, undoubtedly. The heavy reliance on imports has prompted a shift in focus to developing solutions that increase self-sufficiency and the resilience of the UAE’s food system and supply chain.
UAE supporting efforts to reduce food loss
The National Food Security Strategy 2051 carries a bold ambition to ensure safe, nutritious and sufficient food year-round. The UAE also has an ambitious objective to halve its food loss and waste by the end of the decade, abiding by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
ADQ – one of the most prominent global investors based in the UAE – and ne’ma – the Emirati National Food Loss and Waste Initiative – have partnered to support efforts to reduce food loss across the Gulf state.
The partnership is set to explore the development of joint initiatives and the collaboration involving third parties to reduce food loss across the entire value chain. It also seeks to strengthen investments in the food and agriculture sector in the UAE and abroad.
From production to consumption, and promoting responsible consumption habits, the partnership announced recently is aimed at effectively ending food loss. The partners seek to identify food loss hotspots and systemic gaps to better address challenges.
Sustainability and resource efficiency are the key
Through the latest development, ADQ and ne’ma seek to help the UAE move in the direction of sustainable food systems that can meet the requirements of the present and, simultaneously, avoid compromising the ability of future generations to meet their individual needs.
Sustainability and resource efficiency are the key to a more habitable planet. Through a more resilient food system, the UAE can ensure supporting vulnerable communities. The Gulf state is setting milestones through its chain of such initiatives.
