Dubai Municipality Joins Forces With Majid Al Futtaim To Bolster Food Security

Dubai Municipality has forged a strategic alliance with Majid Al Futtaim – Retail, the exclusive franchisee for Carrefour in the UAE, aiming to bolster the sustainable provision of strategic food commodities in Dubai's local markets. This collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the first day of the Gulfood Exhibition, marking a pivotal step in enhancing food security measures and preparing for potential future crises in the sector.

Alia Al Harmoodi, Acting CEO of the Environment, Health, and Safety Agency, and Jean-Luc Graziato, Chief Commercial Officer of Majid Al-Futtaim - Retail, were the signatories of this MoU. Al Harmoodi emphasized that the MoU is committed to creating a sustainable food system and developing flexible food supply chains to improve the quality of life in Dubai. This initiative aligns with the Dubai Food Security Strategy's vision and directives, focusing on diversifying import sources and ensuring the availability of high-nutritional-value goods.

"The agreement will aid Majid Al Futtaim – Retail in enhancing the flexibility, readiness, and preparedness of Dubai's supply chain to tackle challenges and crises efficiently," Al Harmoodi stated. This will be facilitated through effective coordination and sharing of strategic food commodity data on the Food Security Platform, aiming to guarantee access to healthy, safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all community members during crises and emergencies.

Jean-Luc Graziato highlighted the significance of food security in Majid Al Futtaim - Retail's sustainability strategy. "We are thrilled to partner with Dubai Municipality to forge a future that is more sustainable, healthier, and safer for our customers," Graziato remarked. He further noted that this partnership would enhance Carrefour’s position as a leading provider of essential products in the UAE by leveraging consumer data to support future customer service improvements. Additionally, this data will support Dubai Municipality's efforts to fortify food security within the Emirate.

The MoU specifies technical requirements for electronic connectivity concerning strategic food commodity data within the food security platform. It also covers monitoring challenges and constraints affecting these commodities' supply chains. Moreover, the agreement includes awareness programs promoting best practices for sustainable food security.

This partnership aims to improve coordination and proactive communication between both entities in situations where the supply of these food commodities is insufficient or compromised. This approach seeks to enhance decision-making and preparedness for addressing risks associated with food security crises and emergencies, further mitigating shortages and enabling expedited responses.

With inputs from WAM