Sowing the seeds in the UAE for a future of food security – The National

Sowing the seeds in the UAE for a future of food security – The National

With global food prices skyrocketing and millions of people going to bed hungry every night, we all have a responsibility to build more resilient, sustainable food systems. The Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week at Expo 2020 Dubai left decision makers with plenty to chew on. While progress in many areas was made, the challenge is clear: collectively, all nations need to enhance food security to ensure a booming population – set to hit 10 billion by 2050 – has continuous access to safe, sufficient, nutritious and affordable food. Now is the time to sow the seeds of change.

Rising food demand requires a complete rethink of agricultural production. We need to develop and implement robust new policies and innovation-driven methods to boost sustainable agriculture, enhance resilience in the face of a changing climate, and reverse biodiversity loss caused by unsustainable practices.

Enhancing food security in a way that avoids putting undue pressure on our natural resources and supports our fight against climate change is one of the areas where we can excel. The UAE’s efforts are governed by the National Food Security Strategy 2051, which aspires to position our nation at the top of the Global Food Security Index.