UAE Food Innovation Hub Discusses Effective Solutions To Food Sustainability

The Food Innovation Hub UAE convened a meeting to explore effective solutions for food sustainability and address farming challenges using modern technology. This event took place alongside the Food Innovation Conference 2024, organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF). The theme was "Reimagining Future Food Systems."

The meeting aimed to position the UAE as a leading test bed for innovative farming solutions in arid climates and a global hub for agriculture technology. Key issues discussed included soil type, water scarcity, and climate change. Attendees included Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Saeed Al Eter, Assistant Secretary-General of MBRGI; and Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment.

Other notable attendees were Eng. Alya AlHarmoodi, Assistant Under-Secretary of Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment; Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO at MBRGI; and Tania Strauss, Head of Food and Water at WEF. Industry leaders such as Arnoud van den Berg, CEO of Al Dahra Group; Shiraz Abdul Razak Allana, Director at IFFCO Group; and Bernardo Perloiro, COO GCC at Majid Al Futtaim Retail also participated.

The meeting focused on developing a shared vision to achieve the goals of the Food Innovation Hub UAE. Discussions highlighted innovative solutions that could bolster the UAE’s food security efforts. One key topic was improving food consumption profiles by promoting sustainable dietary alternatives to support health and nutrition outcomes.

Participants emphasised boosting early-stage innovation through Uplink, an open innovation platform launched by WEF. This collaboration aims to support investments in innovative ideas for food security and empower innovators to scale their solutions in the UAE and globally. The meeting also covered enhancing food production mechanisms, increasing investments in innovative food systems, and fostering partnerships between innovators and investors.

Accelerating research to prepare communities for future shifts through targeted funding for food sustainability was another focal point. Following the meeting, attendees toured the Boulevard Showcase at Emirates Towers. They viewed services, products, and technologies from exhibitors aimed at accelerating food innovation and addressing challenges to global food supply sustainability.

Background and Future Goals

The Food Innovation Hub UAE was launched as a collaboration between MBRGI and WEF at COP28 in 2023. It is part of MBRGI’s efforts to enhance global food sector sustainability, create inclusive solutions to hunger risks, and drive future transformations in food innovation systems. Partners include the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment, Majid Al Futtaim Retail, IFFCO Group, Al Dahra Group, and Abu Dhabi National Hotels Compass.

The Food Innovation Conference 2024 brings together over 150 international experts, academics, private sector businesses, and farmers. It features discussion panels on technology's role in supporting resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems while facilitating global cooperation on food system sustainability trends.

With inputs from WAM